Hey, I am so nervous right now I am about to explode; I am so nervous.”
It was my first race ever—the big classic race. Western States is the biggest cross country race of the year. Before I started racing, my coach, Dave, said it is going to be okay.' I could only shake my head. My friend Maddy had said that it was going to be fun. Tessa coached us on some technique and Cheyenne was about to faint and all the prep team was laughing at us and Dave was saying something but I didn’t listen to him because I am so nervous about the race.
Back to the race, I’m about halfway through the 1 km course, and I feel like I am about to faint. Now I am trying to remember what Dave said.Soon everyone is shouting my name and I still don't feel that good.I see Maddy up ahead. Then I calmed down.
Soon I saw the T-bar up ahead, which marked the beginning of the downhill course.I tucked in the curves with the grooves, looked ahead, and saw the finish line. I was so relieved to see it, the end of the line of my first race as I tried my hardest.I knew that I didn’t have the guts to go on much longer.
Right when I was about to cross the finish line, a rock hit me I fell flat on my face. I was at the finish line, snot all over me, sweat dripping off me, huffing and puffing out of my wits. I felt like I was going to die. I couldn’t speak normally, then Dave came up to me and said I did very well for my first race. After that, I I started to laugh like a hyena. Every one stared at me; I felt like I was helpless.
At
the ceremony. I thought I was not going to podium so I did not have my hopes
up. I was sitting next to Maddy. She said she was going to get first and I believed her so I congratulated her
for getting first, When they started to call our age group, Maddy started to
get antsy. First they announced third, then second and then said, “Emily
Siegel, come up!” and I started to scream. I was so happy. Maddy was about to
kill me. I saw that it was a cross-country skier on the top of the trophy and
it said second place. I was so thrilled.
Keegan Whitefeathers (unauthenticated)
Feb 10, 2010 1:41 PM
Emily,
Emily nice job on your race! You gave me a great picture in my head. I hate when I'm nervous and I have a race and I get nervous.
I loved the story and great detail! Once again nice story and keep up the good work!
Your pal,
Keegan Whitelaw
carson (unauthenticated)
Feb 10, 2010 7:43 PM
emily,
I loved your story it was so descriptive. I do not nordic but I do alpine and I get nervous in the starting gate so I know what you were feeling
great story and good luck at western states
CJW
Dane (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 12:58 PM
I liked your story. I like the part when you exploded
BRADEN (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 12:59 PM
EMILY,
Cool story i do not nordic but I do freestyle so i no what its like in the gate. Keep up the good work
-Brraden
Ryan (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 1:02 PM
Emily-
First of all, congrats on getting second! That must have been huge fir your first race. You did a good job letting everyone know how it felt like at the starting gate. You put a good picture in my head, and you added some humor to the story too. Sorry you hit your face though, that must have hurt. Good story, and keep it up.
-Ryan
Hannah (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 1:02 PM
Emily,
I liked your story. It was really cool and I can relate to what you felt. You described that part well. You could work on past- and present-tense because you were jumping back and forth a little bit. But anyway, I thought it was really good. I would like to read more of your writing.
Hannah conn, duh!
Darby (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 1:02 PM
Emily,
I really liked your story! I know how you feel about being nervous. Good job in the race too! it sounded fun. Keep up the good work!!
-Darby
Olivia (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 1:02 PM
Dear Emily,
I loved your story. You had some really clear descriptions of your feelings. I can't believe you ended up getting second place! That is awesome! My favorite part was when you said " I was at the finish line, snot all over me, sweat dripping off me, and huffing and puffing out of my wits!" I think you could work on description and describing the race itself. I also think you need to tell us who some of the people you were talking about were. Keep up the good work, Em!
-Olivia
kristian (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 1:06 PM
Good job I liked how you descibed all the details the race was reaaly long i did it to it was really hard any way good job
Hope Perkins (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 1:13 PM
Emily,
I like your story! I think you could have added in more discription because i know you felt nervous but i dont know how you acctually how you felt if you know what i mean.
--Hope
jay (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 1:31 PM
good job on all of the details it really put a picture in my mind. i would be so nervous also.you did very good in the race.How long was the race?
Eliza (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 4:21 PM
Emily,
That was really good. I think you could of had a little more description on how you felt when you got 2nd place. I liked your pictures they were a great addition to the story! Good Job Emily!!!
Eliza
lukas (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 5:18 PM
that was a really good story. I know how you felt about being nervous in your first race. When I was about to start for the half boulder I did not know if I could make it or not but I kept a steady pace and then when I saw the two km mark I asked myself if I had any more power. I new I did so I started sprinting to the finish line and then I saw the one km mark and I went all out and crosse the finish line and got 12 place over all and second in my age group. Keep up the good work.
waverly (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 6:01 PM
Emily,
That was really good. I liked how you described the race. Nice job on getting second by the way, I liked you description and your pictures.
Evan Rocks!!!:) (unauthenticated)
Feb 11, 2010 7:37 PM
Good story! you did pretty well for your first race! I know how it feels to be nervous on your first race; everyone does! very good discription and great pictures!
Evan
kristian (unauthenticated)
Feb 15, 2010 8:55 AM
i am sorry my first one was not that good, but one thing I really liked was that you described it so well that I could picture it in my head. You did pretty well for the the first time. Why was the person lauphing at you again, any ways you did a very good job :]
Garrett Rawlings (unauthenticated)
Feb 15, 2010 3:29 PM
Emily,
That was a great story. You did a good job describing everything. you did well for the first time. i thing you could do a better job editing it.
your friend,
garrett
Thomas Gillespie (unauthenticated)
Feb 16, 2010 7:13 AM
Emily,
that story was fun and interesting i like how know we are the prep team laughing at the devo =) but like Garrett said a little better ediding would be awesome.
p.s. nice work on second place.
Max Tanous (unauthenticated)
Feb 16, 2010 7:20 AM
Emily,
you described your story very well. I know how that feels when you are nervous about a race. It was very interesting.
Max
Alex (unauthenticated)
Feb 16, 2010 4:58 PM
Emily,
Nice job in your race! You gave me a great picture in my head. I hate when I'm nervous and I have a race!
I loved the story which had great detail! Once again nice story and keep up the good work!
Alex or "Feldman"
griffin is awesome (unauthenticated)
Feb 17, 2010 5:01 PM
that was a cool story also nice job in the race
Blair (unauthenticated)
Feb 17, 2010 6:41 PM
Emily,
I could see the race in my head. I think you should write more often
Good story,Blair
henry (unauthenticated)
Feb 18, 2010 10:06 AM
great story like the ending good ideas
nico (unauthenticated)
Feb 18, 2010 1:37 PM
you had a really good story i liked how you we're very descriptive and how you had doubts about the placing but then they called you up to the podium
good job
Parker Joness (unauthenticated)
Feb 18, 2010 6:11 PM
Amazing story I especially like the subject and plus the part where you fall dow and you describe what you look like.
Great story
Lexi (unauthenticated)
Feb 21, 2010 3:35 PM
Great story! i know how nervous you must have felt! very fun story!
Tripp (unauthenticated)
Feb 21, 2010 8:30 PM
Emily, nice story I liked how you jumped from your thoughts to what you and other people were actually saying. something that you maybe could have improved on though was maybe not mention how nervous you were over and over it kind of got annoying.
Lilly (unauthenticated)
Feb 22, 2010 5:15 PM
Emily-
Wow! Nice job on your first race! That is an amazing story. You did great with your wording. Keep it up!
Lilly
Samie (unauthenticated)
Feb 22, 2010 6:53 PM
Emily,
that was a really good story!!!
I got a good picture of the race in my head.
You had great details and you summerized the story really well,
-Samie
Colby (unauthenticated)
Feb 24, 2010 5:00 PM
Il ike your discreption
Sarah (unauthenticated)
Feb 25, 2010 3:29 PM
Emily,
Nice job it was very discriptive i cant believe you got second in you first race Nordic must be fun Good job )again
-Sarah
jackie (unauthenticated)
Mar 3, 2010 11:12 AM
Oh thats kind of scary how its your first race and how you tripped but it was really funny.
congrats that you got 1st place for your first race.
jack goodwin (unauthenticated)
Mar 3, 2010 1:07 PM
emily,
nice story nice description it was a great story.... nice job on getting 1st place
great job
Jack