Final Race of the Night

It’s just before the final race of the night,

Up until now I was feeling all right.

My nerves are twitching; my muscles are tight,

I’m trying to stay calm, but it’s taking all my might.

They’re finishing up the gun lap of the previous race,

It’s time to act, to put on a controlled face.

We’re seated first, but lane two is a threat.

It would be hard to choose if placing a bet.

The Head Timer explains the rules and put us in our places.

Other shake out their nerves, I count my paces.

All around there are murmurs of “Good Luck.”

But all you really want to say is “I hope you suck!”

It’s been quite a few moments since we walked to the line

All the runners are starting to moan and whine.

We’re nervous enough; we don’t need the wait.

The timers are delaying; this is the part that I hate.

I’m down on my knees, saying a final prayer to God,

Asking for strength so I don’t look like a clod.

I’m still on the ground as the gun finally goes,

It’s time to take off all my layers of clothes.

I look to our runner; she’s falling a little back,

She doesn’t appear to be keeping up with the pack.

They rounded the final turn, coming down the home stretch

I unconsciously counted the teams our next runner would have to catch.

I moved to the track when they passed by and looked to the turn

Her face was set with determination; she looked rather stern,

But she had moved into second with a few long strides

And now she was pushing and running for pride.

I got the baton and made it my goal not to lose ground,

I could sense people cheering, but I had tuned out the sound.

With 200 to go, the opponent was still ahead,

My legs were cramping and I just felt dead.

I continued to push and fight through the pain,

Handing off the baton was the only thing on my brain.

The handoff was perfect, but then I looked to the clock,

It read three ‘o three, it was really quite a shock.

We were running so poorly and way off our game,

I looked to the others and knew they were thinking the same.

The girl we had running was our last resort

I didn’t know if she could do it but I gave my support.

Their lead was a lot, but gradually decreasing,

Our girl’s pursuit went for the time unceasing.

I still had my doubts and almost lost hope,

I put my head down and started to mope.

The cheers became louder; there was such a roar,

As I looked up, and my heart started to soar.

She was making a comeback in the last hundred meters

I wasn’t quite sure but I thought she could beat her.

With and final two meters, and the last two steps

I found myself wishing and holding my breath.

She stole the victory right out from under their nose

But that’s how the sport of track and field goes.

I ran to the girl and swooped her in an embrace

And thanked her profusely for saving us from disgrace.

Her split was amazing at fifty-five-five.

I didn’t know how she was still standing, or even alive.

The times were announced, awards given out

And from the crowd there were cheers and shouts

Once the pictures we’re taken, the smiled unscrewed

It was now time for the race to be reviewed

We broke through a barrier and set a new record

Our hopes we’re replenished, and our pride was restored.

But it was a bad night for three out of the four,

But that’s just something we’ll have to work on a little more.

So, that was the final race of the night.

Besides a few mishaps it went all right.

So like with shampoo, we’ll rinse and repeat,

And hope to be stronger at the next meet.