Prop Forwards Guide to Surviving Cross Country (Part 3) : "50 Meter's To Glory"

So we’re back!! You will remember from yesterday’s post that Luap was off and running. Leading the pack. This was his moment. Somewhere in the distance he could could hear Chariots of Fire being played.

The first 10 meters, Luap was in the lead, 20 meters still leading. Just past the 25 meter mark, Luap noticed a skinny boy enter into his peripheral vision – someone was trying to take his place – HIS LIMELIGHT before the first corner.

A split second passed and this skinny boy was removed from vision! Growler Jonrock (who now had seemed to appoint himself as Yrrah’s personal body-guard) eliminated the ”contender for the lead” with a beautiful school- boy ankle-tap, refined and perfected by years of tripping up other school boys in the hallowed halls of education that was this fine institution.

Luap was back in the lead. Chariots of Fire was ringing in his ears, the wind was whistling through his hair, his body shuddering with every adrenaline induced thud.

The corner flag was getting closer and closer and Luap could feel the vulturous pursuits of the “more speed than comfort boys” who were ravenous in their challenge to rip the lead from the martyr of “all things full-fat”.

Luap was not going to give up his leadership position without a fight though. Luap had always been a scrapper at heart (well, I say “always” – more like since a friend of the family told him that he had “better be a good fighter as he was not good looking enough to be a lover!) and this Rottweiler was not going to let the whippets past easily. He felt a sense of pride that he was leading his school in something that he was a laughing-stock at. There was no way in Hell he was going “Quietly in the night” – at least not before that corner flag!

20 meters to go and everything was going in slow motion, every step Luap was taking was getting him closer to his victory. His Everest. The flag post was getting closer and closer.

All of a sudden Luap caught a glimpse of another whippet trying to pass him before the flag, his mind begged the question, “Where is Growler …??” “Where is Playboy? Where are my protectors..??” He looked back and noticed both of his minders having scraps with other boys who had challenged for the lead when Luaps back was turned. They had “picked them out and picked them off” without his knowing – like truly great enforcers.

Without the “awesome two-some” Luap was left to his own devices. No longer could he just concentrate on getting to the corner flag first. He would have to defend his lead all by himself ! He glanced to the left and saw a wirey, long striding boy gaining on the inside.

This was it!! This was the challenge to Luap’s title that he was so desperately dreading. This wirely, spotty boy (who didn’t even PLAY rugby) was trying to take his moment of glory from him….

There were no protectors now (both were now being reprimanded by “Viper” for not taking cross country seriously) and it was going to be left to Luap to defend his honour and his lead that he had worked so “blerrie hard” for (well, not really but you know what I mean!)

Luap decided to take matters into his own hands. This boy was gaining on him and fiendishly coming up the inside. This was the do or die moment for Luap. The boy closed in and was about to pip Luap on the inside of the post. At that exact moment, Luap changed direction like a side-stepping centre, dropped his shoulder and bounced the long gamey boy out of the way leading to the whippet being knocked down and rolled down the side of the hill. This resulted in much cheering, jeering and flag waving from the audience and boys alike…

Luap had done it, he had lead the entire senior school on the first 50 meters of their cross country. He felt like a champion. He felt like a winner. He felt like a legend…. Then he realised, the race race had only just begun….!!

To be continued….

Coming tomorrow: ”Prop Forwards Guide to Surviving the Cross Country (Part 4) : When the Going gets Tough, the Tough hide in the bushes”

Health, Wealth and Happiness