Three hundred eighty meters left: You hurl yourself back into the lead and try to

pull away.

Three hundred fifty meters left: It is visible that your pain is growing; the runner in

blue challenges again for the lead.

Three hundred twenty meters left: The boy in blue passes you again and pulls away.

There are two more behind you.

One hundred eighty meters left: You bow your head, violently swinging your arms for a

burst of strength.

Twenty meters left: Two more competitors line up next to you trying to pass.

Ten meters left:

You can't hold on.

Two runners pass you.

You finish.

No medal; you have finished with nothing.

You decline to be interviewed after the race and go to be alone. There are no words I can say to you that

you would want to hear.

You should have won.

Something was gone.

“God made me to be a winner.”

Spring 2011

A result of poor planning caused you to develop a stress fracture. In some form of

philosophical arrogance , you explained it was "okay" and that "God is trying to give me the

time I need to reflect on things. I have made running the most important thing in my life. I don't

want to base my personal value off of how I'm performing on the track. If God wills me to run

fast, I will. If not, I won't."

After a solid six weeks off from running, your leg was mostly healed. The regional track

meet was around the corner. You decided “God says 'run'".

You’re not ready.

The Prophet Elijah was not

training for a marathon when he outran a

chariot 17 miles to Jezreel in the Old

Testament, but as you so eloquently put:

"the hand of God touched him and he

took off".

You out-kicked the field in your heat, winning. For the first time in a long time, I saw that spark

again.

You never forget how to win.

October 29 2011

You covered the muddy Lansing 8k course in 27 minutes and 36 seconds.

It was good enough to earn a plane ticket to New Mexico for the NJCAA Cross Country

Nationals.

November 12 2011

Your running journal reads:

Nov. 12 2011

Morning: Today is nationals for cross country. New Mexico sucks, the weather is dry and the air

is thin. The course has some whoops on it every Kilometer. I'm not too worried though, it has

been a fun build up getting here. I am just going to trust God with it. Kring and I saw

tumbleweed on our desert adventure before breakfast. I wonder if that is a sign of some sort? I

guess I am going to find out.

November 13 2011

Nov. 13 2011

Morning: The race[nationals] went terrible yesterday. Maybe it is time to move onto something

else.

November 2011

It can’t end here. Why would anyone want to hear a sad story with no happy ending?

Upon your return to Michigan, you didn't speak to me. After Christmas break you came down

with an illness which hindered you from any sort of exercise for months. Maybe you were right,

"Only if God wills it."

The first time I saw you, I said that you had an enormous talent.

Talent means nothing without the drive.

Spring 2012

It is 6am, on a Saturday morning. You wake up with this powerful urge.

You try to ignore it, but this urge is now a compulsion. You can't explain it, so

you head out your door to try and find an answer. Two hours later you come

back, legs burning, heart pounding, lungs pumping. You are speechless. You

know what you have to do now.

Our story is over, but your story is just beginning.

Something happened to you after you left your house. You would

probably say that it was God trying to direct you to your destiny or something

philosophical like that. I say that your spark was tired of kindling and decided

to burn.

God wills it.

1. Explain the inner workings of your story or poem:

a. What is the premise? (paraphrase the ‘story’ or what’s happening)

It is almost like a eulogy for an athlete written by his coach. We are taken through

the important peaks in the athletes career through the retelling of races. The story

explores more than just the racing aspect of the athletes career, but it explores

the contrasting views on what talent is, what role does God play in sports, etc.

We are presented with the coach's personal opinions through the narration.

b. What is the setting? (place, time, era, etc. be specific)

This story takes place at many different races within two years.

c. What is the problem or conflict? What is the resolution?

The coach and athlete don't really agree on much. The athlete struggles with

being consumed by performing on the track and cross country courses, and the

coach feels like that is what it takes to reach his full potential. In the end, the

coach and athlete still disagree, but the runner is able to finally find balance with

faith and sports, and he is able to return to what he loves doing.

d. Who are the character(s)/speaker/narrator?

There are only two main characters: the coach and athlete. The coach is

narrating, but the athlete is the main protagonist.

i. What are their personal strengths and weaknesses?

The coach becomes obsessed with trying to convince his athlete that his

talent is his own to use. The athlete struggles with finding balance in his

pursuit of God and his pursuit of personal glory

.

ii. What’s their ‘baggage’?

The athlete struggles to find inner peace, resulting in anger and confusion

about his purpose in life. The coach thinks that he knows best and tries to

"help" his athlete towards being a very competitive runner.

iii. Why would readers relate to them?

Many people feel like the runner. They struggle with finding balance in

their lives. In his case, his struggle was finding balance with running and

God.

iv. Did you want readers to sympathize with them or not? Explain.

No, I want my readers to see the struggle the runner went through and

analyze how he handled himself at different stages in his life so they can

avoid causing themselves pain.

2. Why did you choose to write on this topic?

I felt that the question of "what role does faith play in sports" should be brought up and

discussed.

3. What is the tone/mood of the piece? Explain how you established this through word

choice, character, and other elements.

It is episodic, it almost comes off as a eulogy with the beginning saying "the end". I tried

to create the same feeling one would get competing in a race with my structure. I

chose to change the "pace" at certain points, much like the way the a race would

unfold.

4. What did you want readers to think/feel/do after reading your work?

I want my readers to think about what they struggle to find balance with in their lives,

and to realize that finding that balance is ultimately their choice. I would like them to

see that this struggle effects those around them as well.

5. You were supposed to include a symbol—What is it?

The races were symbols for life and the adversity that comes with it.

a. Are there elements of the work that you hoped wouldn’t be immediately

apparent to readers (things that they would only pick up on after multiple

readings)?

No, I wanted the message to be apparent so that it is more appealing for a more

broad audience.

6. You were supposed to model your work after a piece or author—What/Who did you

choose? Explain.

I tried to follow Hemmingway's technique of placing the reader directly in the story. I did

this in the breakdown of races, and dialogue.