Brooks started out running cross country to stay in shape for baseball. His sophomore season he made the decision to run track and that decision helped his 800x4 relay
All cross country season his times were right where they were suppose to be but 19 days before his junior year’s conference championship Brooks stepped in a hole and sprained his ankle. He laid out for two weeks. The Monday before the Saturday championships he started running again and we all knew he was not in shape. He ran all he could that week trying to get back in shape but there is only so much you can do in one week.
The conference championships were held at N C Wesleyan. If you have ever watch a race there the open field to your left when entering the college where the Gateway Center is now is the section where the race started.
They would circle that open field which is around 400 yards and then run beside 301 South up to the corner of the Wesleyan property and then run through the woods and come out behind the baseball field, run down the road across from RM Prep and turn in the driveway at the back entrance and run toward the gym.
After watching them run the first loop around the open field as a spectator you could run to the gym and catch them as they came by which was about the halfway point. They would then shoot down that dirt street to the where the football offices are now and back in the woods to back track all the way around the open field again.
My dash to the gym when he came by he was in eighth place. Not a bad place but I could tell he was already gassed. After they disappeared into the woods it is a mad dash back up the street to watch the runners as they hit the open field again for that last 400 yard run to
The first few runners came into sight and no Brooks. The fifteenth runner came by and no Brooks. Since only the top ten make all conference then we knew he wasn’t going to make it this year. Twenty five runners finished, forty, fifty and still no Brooks. By this time I have started walking toward 301 expecting him to have passed out from trying to keep up the pace and just couldn’t do it.
There were only 59 runners in the race and before I got up near highway 301 57 had past me before Brooks came around the corner. You could tell everything he had eaten that day it was all over his jersey. Brooks was in a slow trot and as I started trotting along with him I told him ‘its ok you gave it your best you, can go ahead and stop now there is no point in going on’.
As he continue to drag himself forward his entire body in pain from running faster than what he was capable from being out of shape he said me “No Dad I have to finish, I just have too”.
I stopped and watch him finish the race with tears in my eyes as my son had just taught me a valuable lesson. Expecting to finish in the top ten he finished next to last but he finished. He finished what he had started. It didn’t embarrass him to finish next to last. All he wanted to do was finish.
We all have fond memories of our children and what they have given us during our lives. June the first of this year Brooks signed on as a United States Olympic track coach and if he is able to pass on to others his never quit attitude our country will have some great long distance runners.
His four years in high school at Rocky Mount he made all conference in Tennis, track and cross country but there was never a moment that I was prouder of him than that day, as he crossed the finish line next to last.
Happy Fathers day.
