once a runner (1)
TRANSCRIPT
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.