On October 14, 9 AM, the chilly air makes the prospect of running 3.1 miles even more daunting to me, seeing as how this is my first 5k race. The New Beginnings race is sponsored by New Beginnings, a society which helps runaway and homeless youths in the Lewiston area. My mom, step-dad, and three siblings are all running as well. We cluster around the back of the car, searching for gloves and debating over what to wear to stay warm. I take my mom’s advice, since she is a longtime runner, and take off my outer layer. Luckily, we have to go inside to sign in and get our numbers, so warmth is soon seeping through our shivering bodies.

In no time at all, an announcement is made for all racers to go to the starting area. I see hardly anyone who looks to be in middle school, which is good for me, since the categories are by age. I feel a little daunted by the abundance of veteran runners that are stretching and chatting around me. My mom jumps up and down to stay warm, so I follow suit. After a small speech about the New Beginnings program, we all take our places.

“Take a spot near the middle,” my mom advises, so we step behind the first few lines of people. When the start is called, I run beside my mom down the hill, letting gravity send me flying. However, even though we started going downward, the next part of the race is up the hill by the Colisee. Volunteers are stationed along the way, sporting signs and cheering on the runners. Members of the Leavitt Cross-Country Team are there, and their coaches, Dustin Williamson and Tina Meserve are racing. This run illustrates one of the reasons why I love running: you get to see places that you normally drive by from ground level. We pass by apartments and delis, with people stepping out to get the paper in their pajamas watching us. I was so glad that my mom had been running with me, because during a 5k you need lots of endurance. I was a little tired when we reached the 1 mile mark, but we had passed the only other girl who looked to be my age.

Surprisingly, we were passing lots of people. Apparently, all of my training had turned out for the best. At the two mile mark, my mom and I started to pick up the pace, passing by the YWCA and running through the Lewiston Middle School area. At the three mile mark, I started putting on more kick (which means going even faster) but there was first a large hill to conquer. But after that, my mom cried “Sprint! All out!” so I went as fast as I possibly could, careening around the last bend and speeding down the final hill. As I passed through the chute and had my number removed, my mom walked up to me, bending over. I did the same, before slurping down a bottle of cold water.

Finally, it was over, and even though it was tough, I felt awesome. When everyone had finished, we went inside to hear the awards and places. I placed second in my category, which was 0-17. I felt incredibly happy and proud.