Heart leaping out of her chest and uncontrollable quivering of her leg; the pressure and the heat intensifies. Harmless shifting quickly turns to competitive elbows being jammed into her ribs. A gun sounds and releases a puff of smoke. The race has begun. Dust raising from the old field suffocates her lungs and she fights her way through. The cheering and pressure floods her ears with overwhelming deafness. Only 50 feet to go before somehow they all have to make it through the fence onto the next section of the course. The pressure is paralyzing to the new runner trying to prove herself to the team. Any faults would be devastating to her future in the race. Here comes the looming gate, and now it is shrinking behind her. The first leg of her race is concluded only to get caught up in the next challenge awaiting her. Here comes the hill.