Page 6

Run Your Own Race

Coug naps high in an apple tree where far below Bixie runs alone.

So Coug climbed into the branches of that shady apple tree and made himself comfortable. At least now he could enjoy the day, run the race when the time came, and not have to be bored at the finish line, waiting for Bixie.

Coug laughed to himself as he rested. He had plenty of time to return to the race. Plenty of time to spare, he thought to himself.

Without knowing it, Coug’s few minutes of rest turned into a real nap. Soon he was dreaming about how good it would feel to win that first-place ribbon. How all the other Kidz would tell him that he was the fastest in the whole school. It wasn’t his fault that only a box turtle would race against him. Bixie was a nice girl, but NOT a racer.

Meanwhile, Bixie plodded along the course even though it looked like the winner of the race was pretty clear. But Bixie had been taught to try hard and not quit, even if she felt like quitting.

She ran as fast as she could on her short stubby turtle legs. Mainly she tried to stay in the race. She was tired and very hot and wasn’t even sure why she was racing against the fastest runner in school. She even felt a little sorry for herself, because here she was, a turtle who was racing against a cougar.

Bixie running far in the distance with a thought bubble of Coug running fast.

Coug had raced so far ahead of her, she couldn’t even see him. He probably was close to the finish line, she thought, and here she wasn’t even past the school building.

So, Bixie kept going. Once she set her mind to do something, she stuck with it,
in spite of any obstacles in her way. She was tired, she was hot, she was thirsty, and she wanted to rest – but she knew that it would make her even slower than she already was.

“I’ll just keep going,” she thought to herself.

So, she kept going. One foot in front of the other. Bit by bit, she came around the parking lot to the last part of the marathon.