Animalympics: Blaze of Glory
Chapter 3: 'Never Surrender' (Corey Hart)
I was too young to compete in the last Animalympics, but still I kept up my on-ice training, knowing that my time will come. I watched Team USA get pretty far on the oval track only for them to get their skates blown off by the Dutch...again. Hype machines, gotta love them. I'm still young, but I'm ready for my first ever race in international competition
Dressed in my 'Team USA' suit and long-bladed skates, I went out onto the ice. I was hoping to race either Gilda or Greta today in the Women's 1500m. Nope, I'm facing the big bad 'Russian Wolf', Marina Petrova. She wore her blue, red, and white 'Team Russia' speed suit. As we went to the starting line, I offered her a hand "Hey, may the best one win"
She looked at it, and ignored it, "I plan to,"
"Alright," I replied, not offended by Marina's response as I pulled my hand back. I kept my focus on the track. One skate forward, and one skate back and to the left. My thigh made a wiggle as I stamped my left skate down to get some grip. I bent my knees, and leaned forward with my arms as bent as my knees. I kept my breathes nice, and steady.
The fingers on my hands were as straight as the edges of my skates. Just then, the gun went off and I skated as hard and fast I could. My arms swung like pendulums on fast-forward, and I pumped my knees as the scraping sounds of ice echoed in my ears. I could feel the swift, cool breeze against my face as I keeping up with that Russian she-wolf.
I leaned into the turn just right, and kept my arms like the piston rods on a locomotive. I was keeping up with Marina, and keeping the race close as we were both going at least 30mph at my best guess. I have to keep going. I need to keep going. I want to keep going. Just that little more time had opened the door. I won't let uncertainty bring me down
Lap after lap, I was keeping up with Marina and keeping it neck-and-neck. I was going into the last turn, and I had to time it just right as I went into the final stretch. Right after the last turn, and with just a skate before Marina, I turned on my icy afterburners. By my dark blue bill between us as we skated across the finish line, I'd won my first ever race
Marina glared at me, "You got lucky, Duckling,"
'I thought it was a good race though' I thought to myself
I rested my hands on my knees as I was taking a breather. I could hear the cheers, and the chants of 'USA!', 'USA!', 'USA!' from all the fans that showed up to the stands of the oval track. I peeled back my hood, and skated back to a bench where a bottle of 'Fierce Grape' Gatorade waited for me. Now it was time to sit, and watch the next races start up
I smiled, and said 'Hi' to the camera, and knowing my mom and dad are watching too from Pittsfield. As I sat down, it was Anne-Marie Le Phoque of Canada vs Haruka Tanukino of Japan. Right now, I am in 1st place. I'm probably not going to be there for long, "C'mon, Annie!" I cheered from a bench, and got a grin and wink from the cute Canadian Seal
"C'mon Annie, you got this," I said to myself
In these races, always have a snack on you. You never know how the race will start, or finish. I was munching on a chocolate brownie 'Clif Bar' as the race was underway. Annie-Marie was pulling away at about the halfway point in the 13 and a half laps around the track, but Haruka was still gaining on her. This kind of race keep really you up on the edge
Going into the final stretch, and crossing the line. Anne-Marie won the race with a time of 1:44:01 to my 1:44:00. Christ Almighty, I was crossing my fingers. Haruka Tanukino had knocked off Marina Petrova for 3rd place. As she slowed down, and went to the bench, I was the first to give her a hug, and I got a smile and a pat on the back from Haruka
"Whew, that was a good one," said Anne-Marie, catching her breath as she sat down next to me, and peeled back her hood. She smiled, and opened up a bottle of 'Lemonade' Powerade. Being the generous type as I was raised, I offered 'Annie' a chocolate-peanut butter 'Clif Bar', "Aww...you're such a sweetie, Delilah," she swooned in her compliment.
"It's how I am if you're friends with me," I replied, and then came the last race of the day. I knew who was on the ice. Greta Van De Vos of the Netherlands, and Gilda Von Ente of Germany. Half of me was saying 'well, it's been fun at the top', and the other half kept boosting my confidence in that I have a chance to win the Gold. This race is the big one
And they're my friends too, "Here we go,"
"It does not matter what the time is that they finish in, and even if you don't medal with what you wanted, or even if you don't medal at all, in the end, we are still your friends," Anne-Marie said assuringly. I smiled, and nodded as I put a hand on her shoulder. I know she is right. Still, I know the race between the two old veterans will be a very good one
