Bucky's Journal
December 2, 2006
This was it. The time and the hour. This morning, I left for Pugtacular. I decided I would not come back to this house without that first place medal around my neck. I had taken a final run-through of my strategy that morning, and saw a surprise guest in the gym where I practiced. It was Freeway. He had decided to come with me for moral support. I thanked him, and soon, we were off.
Me, Trinket, and Freeway stuck together in the car and when we arrived up in Antioch. At the front of the giant tent, I bid them farewell. I accompanied Mom over to get checked in, and found another surprise. Cali, one of the dogs defeated by Trinket in the tug-of-war contest, was handling dog check-in. I talked to her, trying to calm down my nerves. Mom lead me over to where Dad, Freeway, and Trinket had set up to watch. Freeway was babbling about racing strategy, and Trinket was thinking. I went outside to take a walk.
When I came back in, Freeway was enthusiastically watching the agility contest, and providing his thoughts on it. Trinket was getting a soda with Dad, and Mom was busy talking with Freeway. My invisible nerves began to become visible. Only the costume contest remained before my race. And then, in a blink of an eye, the PA was announcing, "All pug racers and their humans must join the line. Get ready to race, mighty pugs!"
I moved into line. Ahead of me, I saw Leia get checked in and find her spot on the track. I was second-to-last, so I got the seventh spot on the track. Mom went down to the other end to get ready. She got out a cookie. I narrowed down my vision so that all I could see was that cookie.
The length of the final race is very long. It can take 45 seconds to get there. A pug must go down, back, and then back down again. In a sense, the final race is more of an endurance exercise than something related to speed. And this where my advantage might lie. Leia relied only on speed, where as I had endurance. But could I win? This was unsure. But I decided not to think about it. The race was near.
The starter brought the starter pistol high. It was time. And the starter pistol went off. I jumped out, using the tricks Freeway taught me. Leia took off fast, and she soon had the lead. I was just a slight bit behind. I jumped up and took the cookie from Mom's hand before turning around to race back to the start line.
I kept weaving, keeping my paws light on the ground. Leia had speed, but I had endurance. I closed on the lead, just steps behind now. I made the turn, and it was time for the final sprint. Leia's speed kept her just ahead, but we were practically neck-and-neck. We jostled for the lead as the final sprint began.
The final sprint in pug racing is the most critical part of the race. A champion can take the lead in that final sprint and coast for the victory. But most times, the top two racers will make the turn together. It's often hard to tell who may win at that point. It all comes down to endurance. A pug who is towards the lead has been racing hard for over a minute and a half, and 45 seconds still remain. I knew all of this. Freeway had prepped me for it.
As we made the turn, the finish line was in sight. We both stepped it up a notch, jostling speeding up, and weaving to get that win and the medal that came with it. But I just couldn't make it. Leia began to pull away. Halfway through, I knew it was time for a last-ditch effort.
I brought out a secret trick Freeway had taught me. He told me it was for emergencies. This was an emergency. As I ran, I braced my legs. Getting pressure underneath me, I sprang. Leia was so surprised that she hesitated for just half a second, but that was enough. I landed and took off, using my last reserves of energy. I went right by her.
As I passed Leia into first place, I took a mental snapshot. I had done it. I had taken the lead. Seeing my acrobatic maneuver, the crowd burst into applause. I pored on speed, racing to the finish. Bracing my legs, I leaped again, right over the finish line into Mom's arms- a winner. I had done the impossible. I had won first place. I was no longer The Pug That Always Finished Second.
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