Taylor [313] - Sarah

When the whistle blew, Sarah felt the immediate pull of the earth. Every step required twice the effort, the mud acting like a vacuum against her soles. By the second mile, her legs were heavy, and her pristine white socks were a distant memory. She watched other runners slip, their laughs echoing through the trees as they hauled each other up.

At the halfway point, a particularly steep, slick incline loomed. Sarah dug in. She didn't focus on the finish line; she focused on the rhythm of her breathing and the steady beat of her heart. She wasn't just running against the clock; she was running for the sheer, messy joy of being capable. SARAH TAYLOR [313]

Sarah grinned, adjusting her ponytail. "As ready as I'll ever be to lose a shoe." When the whistle blew, Sarah felt the immediate

The safety pins were the hardest part. Sarah’s fingers were numb from the damp morning air, but she finally managed to secure the bib to her chest: . She watched other runners slip, their laughs echoing