WINNING PAST THE FINISH LINE
I have had to do this run many times, because that's what I do. For some reason today felt different as I bowed my right knee, while sizing up the distance to the finish line, I awaited the whistle. At the sound of the whistle I ran with everything in me, I thought of the drills, wounds, aches and the strain that had got me to this place. I could see the faces of those who couldn’t wait to see me fail, the indifference of some onlookers and the loving smiles of my loved ones as they cheered me on, but much more I realised I had stopped seeing the other competitors, it was just me. Something in me wanted to break into an early celebration as I figured I had outran all the others. But the words of my coach rang loud in my ears, “learn to run past the finish line”. To the amazement of many I doubled my steps, and then it happened. It was unexpected, but I slipped and fell face down. Mixed feelings gripped me as I wondered how many I will have to contend with. How many had go...