Sorry for the long wait. Thanks to NITRO PSYCHO for beta reading it. Disclaimer: I don't own Ninja Turtles or song

"(I realize)
I ran as fast as I can run
I pushed as hard as anyone
But still there's nothing for me"

- "Race Against Myself" by: The Offspring

Saturday morning; October 20th

I stretched my legs and then my arms, feeling my heart beat excitedly in my chest. The chilly October wind blew through my air, and in the distance I could see the last of the morning mist float from the Adirondack Mountains. It was the high school cross country championships, and I was one of the runners from my team nominated to race for the gold. First place winner gets a gold metal while second through tenth place runners get silver. The winning school gets a trophy. I could see the golden sun peaking though the mountains in the distance, but my eyes weren't set for that gold. No, the gold that comes in the shape of a circle, and I can wear around my neck.

It's almost ten fifteen – the time for the varsity boys to run. I hear Coach Brock call my name. It's time for a team huddle. We had already done our stretches and warm up run.

I huddled up with a few of my male teammates. "Alright, men," Coach Brock started, "We've come a long way, especially you four. You are our top runners on the boy's team. Now it's time to give it your all – heart, soul, and muscle power – out there and win! Raiders on three! One, two, three…"

"Raiders!" all five of us shouted. Then we placed ourselves on the starting line.

The referee fired the gun, and we were off. Running. It's the only thing worth getting up in the morning for (although I prefer running in the evening rather than morning). I feel alive when I run. I feel powerful like I can take on anything and not even the physical agony can stop me. I feel free of any problem I have, any restraint, and it helps me see things clearly. Running makes me feel so glad to be…human. I don't know, but I have strong suspicion (but no proof or evidence) that I wasn't human before whatever happened, but ever since I started running with John, I felt glad – no –rejoiced in being human, probably, because I feel so alive and free. I don't want to change my species. Maybe that's why the visions or whatever they are aren't fully coming after a year without that drug. I enjoy being human too much. That could be the reason. See? Running really does make me think clearly, but right now, I gotta put my head on the game. I can think about this later.

I run harder, and my heart is beating faster than it was when I was stretching. If I win, I'm on top of the world. If I lose, it's the end of the world. The race is three miles, and I'm not even close to a mile yet. Keep thinking strong! Keep thing fast!

There's another reason I can't afford to lose. It's the first race that John is watching. Nora always comes to my meets, but John hasn't because of his job. Well, when I told him that I was chosen to run for the boy's varsity team in the championships, he made his boss give him a day off on the day of the championships. I really like John and Nora, and I hope I can stay with them. I heard that when being in the foster system, you're always on the move from one house to another. John and Nora have become like parental figures to me, I don't ever want to be moved to a new foster home.

I've reached the first mile mark, and I enter the woods. I hear birds chirping and a squirrel in a tree. There are puddles of sunshine on the forest floor. This beautiful woodland scenery contradicts the physical pain the runners are all feeling, but not me! Not even close. I run like I'm a sprinter, but I have the endurance and stamina of a long distance runner. I could probably run to the ends of the earth before I get tired.

And I feel it, too. I'm at a mile and a half. I feel like something is bubbling up inside of me, ready to burst like magma. I feel it coming. Is it energy? No. It feels like something else, but it makes me want to run harder so I do. Now I really do wanna run to the end of the world.

It's two miles and only one more mile to go. Suddenly, I feel tired. My legs are gonna fall off any second, and I want to vomit out my lungs. Boys run past me. I expended too much energy, and if I don't pick it up, I'm gonna lose! But whatever is bubbling inside of me burst, giving me encouragement and energy.

A race! Alright! After nothing but patrolling, it's about time we've had some fun! I'm sure to win!

Says my voice inside my head. It's crystal clear with no memory and its mine, but it feels foreign. Maybe I'm schizophrenic. Whatever. Can't keep dwelling on my possible insanity. I feel all the energy inside of me, turning my legs to titanium and filling my lungs with air. I run harder, catching up to all the boys.

Ha ha! We've barely just begun, and I'm already winning! This'll be easy.

Two and a quarter miles! I catch up to the last boy. Once I get past him, I know I'll make it out as the victor.

"Wahoo! Bet you can't beat me, guys!"

I can feel the last kid gaining up on me until I'm a good distance in front of him. And what that voice just said began to sound familiar. It was from a dream that I forgot as soon as I woke up.

I quickly pick up speed, nearly giving it my all. I see the finish line. "Almost there."

I can see the finish line, too. It's in a field. The sun is brighter up ahead. I'm almost out of the woods. As soon as I'm on the field, I give it my all.

I run through the chute, over the white line painted over the grass. I won first place. And Nora and John are all over me. Somebody hands me my place number and time written on an index card. I'm supposed to give it to Coach Brock for him to record. John gives me a water bottle. I drink it as if it were from the Fountain of Youth.

"Congratulations, Mikey!" exclaims Nora. She kisses me on the head – a motherly kiss. The first time she's ever kissed me. I'm touched.

"I'm so proud of you, son!" John pats me on the back. John called me "son" when he found me bleeding on the street, but that was just a term of endearment. When he called me "son" today, it felt like I really was his son. "Thatta boy!"

Coach Brock comes up to me, and I give him my index card. He records the number and time. "I knew I was right to pick you, Mikey. You truly do have a talent and a rare mixture of speed and endurance. Keep up the good work, kid!"

Nora says, "That's my boy." Then she hugs me.

Later at the awards ceremony, I receive a gold first place medal and my school receives a first place trophy. To celebrate my team and I go out to eat. I'm the life of the party as I make everyone laugh, and I cannot help but feel how wonderful – and familiar – it feels to be on a team, especially a cross country team, and I could not help but feel immensely proud of myself for winning first place and for making Nora and John not only feel proud of me but feel like that I'm their son. I'm so glad I can really run and that I'm placed in Nora and John's care. Life is great even if half my life is missing.