Personal Narrative Essay: Race And Stereotypes

Reporters, flocking around me, all my eyes could see were the staggering number of camera flashes and the reporters repeatedly asking the same question, “Hicham, how did you manage to smash the last world record by nearly 20 seconds?” Still being out of breath from the race my lungs could not manage to gather the air needed to answer the question that required a long explanation. Soon after, one of my coaches grabbed me what seemed like my 10th water, my brain descended from the notorious runner's high after taking a long sip of water. Knowing the reporter’s apprehension, I started explaining to the various reporters what exactly happened during the historic race I ran a mere 10 minutes ago. As I spoke all of the reporters from the many news stations leaned their microphones in so they could all hear what exactly happened during the historic 1-mile race starting the race in the middle of the pack was my original plan which my body carried out throughout the beginning of the race. My speed was not too fast but also not slow enough to be last, It was just on target with the pace needed to achieve the world record. Of course, the strong and fast Ethiopians led the pack going into the first 400 meters. By then my legs started to slightly pick up my pace as my strides lengthened and my body worked harder, but still, I was a good 10 meters behind the Ethiopians. Luckily my body was not running out of breath yet, my mind was close to the

Once again my still tired lungs were out of breath since they were still recovering from the race. One of the reporters passed me a water bottle. Eagerly my mouth gulped masses of water out of the medium sized water bottle, as though my tired organs were dying of thirst. No one was talking everyone was still eager to hear the ending my amazing 1-mile race. Sensing the eagerness of the reporters my retelling of the race