A/N: I run cross country for my high school, and “That Used to be Me” is basically about the past fall’s season.  Just for some background info on the sport, an XC team consists of seven runners who compete in a race—usually around 5 kilometers (3.1 miles)—and the team score is the sum of the first five runners’ placements.  Team rankings are based on the lowest team scores.  “Pack it up” refers to the strategy of pack-running, in which several teammates stick together, passing opponents and moving forward in the field as a unit for a set distance or as long as possible.

Also, I had an injury this season. 

Now that I’ve bored you to death J, on with the poem!

“That Used to be Me”

That used to be me

out there on the course,

me

in the fierce blue jersey,

in the coveted sorority—

cult of the quick-footed—

the glory and terror of the race

as you hear the breath of

the next runner

near behind

but you see

a rainbow of jerseys in front,

your teammates on either side (pack it up),

me

I was something

top seven

wasn’t I?

I was something

Cherylmallorybethann

wasn’t I?

I was something

number seven (reelin’ em in);

people behind me,

weren’t there?

That used to be…

This is my race, today,

going to run first but I didn’t—

legs pushed to their limits

but the limits…

keep your head,

stay on top

sure you’re meters behind the crowd…

once as Cherymallorybethann

twice seventh

eleventh

tenth

last

I look up through the harsh rain

at them ahead of me

and I wonder,

was that ever me?