Final section of Lyric Essay

No way!  This is SO not happening!  I have finally reached mile 25 and there it is staring me in the face:  a giant, deathly hill.  At this point I’m barely putting one foot in front of the other and I seriously doubt I can make it up the hill.  I can’t believe they would put a hill right here!  Are they just trying to kill me!?  Figuring the answer to that question is yes, I glance over at my sister with a look of despair.  With a “we can do it!” cheer, we start trudging up.  My hamstrings are burning and I want to walk SO bad.  Then another small miracle occurs; my I-pod begins to play “Chelsea runs”.  I try to fight it as my eyes start to well up with tears.  I quickly wipe the tears and refocus my energies.  In 1.2 miles I will finish Chelsea’s run.  I can do it!

 

“Oh the places I’ll go, I know certainly not.

I know though, I know, that wherever I go I’ll learn a

Great many things not just about history or math, but in

Fact, about the Great Balancing Act.

I’ll travel great distance.  I’ll live far from home. 

I might just find myself all alone.

But nevertheless find myself I will and thus, I will go and

Continue to grow.

For I am myself, and this will not change

Today is MY day!

My mountain is waiting, and I am on my way”

            -Chelsea King (part of one of her college application essays)

 

            After making it up the miniature mountain, I turn the corner and I see the most beautiful sight:  the finish line!  With crowds along both sides cheering me on, I push with all my might and sprint the last quarter mile.  As I reach the finish line, I can’t help the emotions that bubble up.  Almost immediately, tears are streaming down my face.  I actually did it!  I finished 26.2 miles!  I can’t describe the mixture of joy, pain, excitement, and exhaustion I’m feeling.  I take one last glance at my orange bracelet and say to myself, “We did it Chels, we finished your run.”