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Alayna Babcock

Mrs. Kaitie Hawley

Senior Project

14 September 2023

The Last Lap

I have been running cross country for 8 years. I have been doing track and field for 7

years. Over that time, I have met a lot of really amazing new people from schools all over Idaho.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to be nice to people who I am constantly competing with and trying

to beat. However, I try my best to always be kind and encouraging. This has helped me to

befriend a few amazing girls. Specifically, Brylin Bills from Salmon and Sara Bagley from Teton

have been a couple of the most influential ones.

Track season my sophomore year was going well. I was winning a lot of races and

getting a lot of personal records at every meet. There was a girl from Challis named Taylor, who

was back and forth with me all season long. Sometimes I had faster times and sometimes she

did. I was really nervous to run against her at districts because she was ranked just ahead of

me (by less than a second) in the mile. My competitive streak was showing, and I really wanted

to beat her.

Districts that year was two days of very cold, very windy, Idaho “spring” weather.

Thunder Ridge High School hosted the 1A, 2A, and 3A meets all at once. It was approaching

time for the mile race, and I decided that it was probably about time to start warming up. I put in

my earbuds and turned on the pump-up song that I was obsessed with at the time (“Hit Me With

Your Best Shot”). After trying, somewhat in vain because of the cold, to warm up for a while, I

jogged over to talk to coach Dave. He laid out a game plan for me–

Game plan: Draft off Taylor. Stay right behind her for three laps. Outsprint her in the last

200 meters.
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Coach Sweeney then gave me his own plan: “Don’t let her beat you.”

The announcer called for the 1A girls mile participants to come to the starting line to be

checked in. As I made my way to the south end of the football field, I prayed that my nerves

would be calmed and that during my race I could make good decisions and be confident in

them. I was still really nervous when I got over to the group of girls I would be competing

against.

While I was waiting to receive my number and my instructions, my friend Brylin came

over to talk to me. She was super sweet and encouraging and helped settle my nerves a lot.

When it came time to take off all my extra layers of insulation, Brylin offered to take them to my

tent for me. She wished me good luck as I handed her an armful of outer layers. Just then, a

man called my name to line up on the starting line. As I stood on the line, the freezing wind

made goose bumps pop up on my bare arms and legs.

“On your marks. Get set…” Bang!

Forget the game plan. I got off the line fast and took an early lead in front of Taylor.

Lap one is always easy and a little too fast for the intended pace. That’s ok. Keep going.

Lap two: Stay engaged. Try not to zone out.

Lap three: Focus. Breathe. Stay on pace.

For all three laps, Taylor stayed right on my tail. I think her coach gave the same game

plan that Dave gave me because she was drafting off me the whole time! As I came around the

curve toward the 100 meter mark on my 4th and final lap, I passed my friend Sara. She looked

straight at me. I heard her clearly and firmly say, “Alayna, you have to go now.” I don’t usually

start my kick with 300 meters left in my mile, as that is way too far for me to sprint and I am

usually terrified that I will die out before crossing the finish line. However, I knew Sara was right

and her words gave me the confidence that I needed.

I sprinted the last 300 meters of the race with as much strength as my exhausted legs

and lungs could muster. I had no idea where Taylor was, but I was NOT getting passed. The last
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100 meters were straight into the roaring wind. I couldn’t hear anything. My quads were

screaming. That final stretch seemed to take an eternity to complete. I finally crossed the finish

line. As I stumbled forward to get out of the way, I looked back and realized that Taylor was

nowhere near me. Brylin ran over to tell me my time and to celebrate with me that I had run a

new personal record, in spite of the wind and the cold! I was super pleased with how I had

performed, and Brylin made me feel even better.

As I ate my celebratory ice cream cone on the bus ride home, I reflected on how thankful

I was to have good friends in my life who help me to do hard things. Brylin may not ever realize

how grateful I was for her kindness that day. Sara may not realize how much confidence and

determination she helped me find when I needed it most. However, I will never forget. And I will

forever try my very best to be kind to everyone, even to those with whom I am competing. It’s

hard to know how much impact a little kindness can have on someone's life or how far a little

encouragement can go in someone's time of need.