Some ran to win, some ran to let others win, I ran to celebrate

Some ran to win, some ran to let others win, I ran to celebrate

The year was 1989 and the pressure of being in junior most class in Senior Boys’ School was getting to us. We had to do everything from washing hankies of our big brothers to finding their keys, which they seemed to lose every hour. Something had to be done to break this monotony of life and what better time could we ask for than the athletic season.

Inter house athletic meet was scheduled for first week of October, so practice had to be started in September. Came September and my entire class started gunning for gold. I think everyone knew that a good sports person was always treated with care during that period, so everyone tried his level best to catch the attention of senior boys. Of course, yours truly was as enthusiastic as anyone. I knew I could run, but fast, I doubted. With my weight around 28 kilos, I was in sub-junior division and my immediate aim was to make it to the relay team of my house.


Throughout the latter half of September I found the whole school running. Some ran to win and some ran to let others win. Since I was made to practice with boys bigger to me, I ran to let others win though it was becoming apparently clear that I was good at least for my division though individual cup was a distant dream. After all I had to compete with some class VIII boys. I don’t know whether they were hesitant to practice with me or I was scared to lose to them, but we never ran together before actual showdown.


The heats began. I could feel myself being treated as someone with some talent and even my house master inquired about my practice sessions. All this made me feel special and I made it my aim to win at least 15 points out of possible 25 for my house. The first race I ran was 100 m sprint. I ran as if my life depended on winning it but managed to come second only. There was disappointment and more of it was in store as I could not qualify for the finals of triple jump, an event I was expected to win. I qualified for 200 m finals from second place and for long jump I just made it from 4th position. I don’t know how and why I stood first in 400 m heats. I was jubilant that day and luckily had my little friends to share my happiness with.

Came the final day and though most had different things on mind like girls marching, girls holding banners, girls running, and girls jumping, my interest lay somewhere on the table the cups were kept. My day began rather sadly as I allowed one boy to touch the tape before me in 100 m sprint and at that moment went all my chances of touching the cup. Or so I thought. I was consoled left, right, and center by my closest friends. They were the only ones besides me who had this wild dream of me winning the individual championship. My head hung very low. I somehow managed to beat the field in 200 m and sun again shone brightly on my equally radiant face. Immediately calculations began and I was informed that I had to jump farthest in long jump and then win my favorite race to be able to share the cup with one my senior competitors. Unluckily for me, he was best at jumps and I stood fourth during qualifying rounds.


But encouraged by my captain I managed to do the impossible. I couldn’t believe I had beaten everyone including the best. It was late in my teens that I understood that pressure does funny things to people. My last individual race was to begin and I was heading towards the starting blocks and it was a great feeling to not to be an underdog for once. I remember singing Thums Up ad lines to myself to keep the adrenalin flowing. I won it and fell flat on my back to celebrate.


Calculations again started and I was just glad to know that I didn’t have to share my cup with anyone. I was the champion and at that moment almost everyone told me that they knew I had it in me to make it. My dearest friends had nothing to say except that relay race was coming up. For the first time in my life, I learned that victory has a thousand fathers. Coming to relay race, I was the anchor and when I started we were in the second place but the kind of day it was, when the race finished I was the first to touch the tape. That relay cake was the best I ever tasted though I had a few more in years to come.


I just cannot express what it felt to lift the cup and wave to my friends. Also it was the day when I was exempted from linen washing since champions don’t do it. Only good for nothings or for that matter good only for books were enough to wash hankies and find keys (to success).


Sudip Bajpai
Oak Grove School, 96’ Batch