Runner’s High
(A Colorado Universe Lesbian Story)
By: Blackthorn Dragon
*Hi again everyone, Blackthorn back at it with another lesbian adventure story with some smut.
Mostly just a bunch of one-shots in this fictional world in Colorado, all taking place in different areas of Colorado, but I do have some idea of tying in characters from others in the series. We’ll see.
I hope you like it. If you did enjoy it, you can always write to me about any other ideas or suggestions, comments or things you liked about it.
Email: lordblackthorn67@gmail.com
*Also, if you can, take the time to donate to Nifty. Even just a few bucks will help keep it going.
Part One - The Runner’s File-In
…
It was November 20th when Kelly Rossman, a junior in high school, was running the Colorado State championship for her Cross Country running team. She was a shorter, skinny, petite girl of 17 with medium-length red hair and blue eyes that she was very proud of to have from her mother’s Irish side. On top of that, she was also quite curvy for her age and athletic ability having been complimented on her toned abs and butt.
She was one of five other girls on her team to get the invite to State.
She won her Regional round.
She was runner-up in the Colorado League Championship with a 18:36 for 5km.
She also had four boys, and made it for their school as well; the boys had already ran their races. Having placed top 10 overall for their school in the podium. All of them did well for the class they competed in.
All the other divisions for both the girls and boys had raced and it was now the Class 5 girls final that was the last race of the long racing day. There was one more class to race.
That would officially wrap-up the year’s Cross Country championships.
A day filled with turmoil, sweat, and some heartbreakers for some.
As soon as she heard the gun go off, she knew it was going to be an uphill battle for the first half of this race. She was sore, tired, and a little nervous going up to the line, but as soon as she made eye-contact with her coach, Andie Miller, who was a legit legend coming from this very High school, and the assistant coach and head trainer, Marissa Ayala, a former Cross country runner herself in High school and college.
Her coaches, Marissa Ayala and Andie Miller had been out and dating with support from the majority in the school district and other neighboring districts.
Some were uncomfortable because Andie had the typical boyish haircut, but was a sharp-featured woman with a much larger bust than the majority of distance runners had.
As she crossed the finish line, knees to elbows, she was hugged and embraced by the other three girls on her team. She found out that she was 11th place overall. Shit. Fuck. Not again!
All she could do was go to her coaches and cry on her shoulder.
Andie simply held her girl and sighed and simply said they got three of the boys in the top ten and they still finished on the podium in 7th place as a team.
“Kelly,” Coach Miller said, hand on her shoulder briefly, “I can’t believe I have to say this, but your brutally fast time to start has led to an insanely fast time for the rest of the girls. And because you were prepared and were at your peak time two weeks ago, that allowed the other girls to get stronger and kick ass. You just peaked too early.”
Where Coach Ayala was all curvy Hispanic, and Coach Miller was all slender and long-legged, her younger niece, Jordan, was a bit more subtle in her blooming beauty.
Coach Miller then looked at her girlfriend and lover of three years, Marissa, and sighed before patting Kelly on the back, “I know you’re upset and disappointed, but both Marissa and myself know how strong you were, AND how much you’ve improved this season. You will be even stronger next year and will no doubt be in contention for that top 5 finish.”
The Results are In…
An older man wearing a pair of pants and a nice vest jacket, with a ballcap and thin glasses, approached the podium and named the top five boy teams for their Class 5 Championship.
The man spoke in a somewhat raspy voice and said, “Now for the Class 5 girls team results, but first, this was officially becoming the fastest girls race overall in a time of 19:57.”
There were a bunch of boys and girls, women and men, that clapped and applauded the efforts of each of the runners.
He then read off a card that he was given by someone and looking down at it,
“In 3rd place we have, with 129 points, Northfield High School,” quite a lot of clapping and cheering was heard for each team in succession, “In 2nd place we have… finishing higher than they ever have with a score of 115 points, Mountain Crest High School…” More applause followed while the girls came onto the podium, some looking a little more upset, I don’t believe it, did we? No, we only had 3 top 10s? “Finally in 1st place, and the Champions again Chayenne High School with 96 points!”
Kelly just looked around in shock at the coaches and the others as they hooted and hollered and the boys ran over to join them, as well as the JV girls and boys all surrounding them and showing their appreciation.
…
Kelly shook her head and said, when she saw that Marissa caught up to her, on to what she was trying to say, “I wanted to ask if Jordan was available this weekend, but I couldn’t get her number because she doesn’t go to this school… And she was swamped by reporters, too.”
After catching her breath, she explained, “So I was wondering if I could get hers… Lord knows there’s not many out gay girls in this school…”
With that, Marissa sent a quick text to Andie. Kelly may be trying to get with my niece.
“For what it’s worth, she’s definitely crushed on you before. You’re the reason she worked really hard last year to get better. I’d say she already looks up to you. As do a lot of the younger girls on this team.”
Then Marissa leaned into and asked, “Why my niece, though?” She leaned into Kelly’s ear and whispered, so nobody who may have been walking by would hear, “Do you just want to get her panties on your shelf, or do you really care about her?”
Kelly shrugged and moved back, saying softly, “I don’t know yet because I only know her a little. But I really want to get to fuck another girl… ”
“Language.” Marissa responded.
“Sorry, you know what happened with the twins. I just wanted to know what it was like with a boy before I ever got really serious with her. Well, they said he would not mind helping me, and they certainly didn’t mind helping me, either. It just felt good with the twins, and average with that boy.”
Marissa nodded in reluctant agreement, before she felt the vibration in her phone and checked it subtly, it simply read,
If she seems to like Kelly, give her the girl's number already!
With that, Marissa thought about it and agreed with Andie, Kelly really can learn a lot from Jordan despite being younger!
Marissa tilted her neck to the side and said, “You are a very beautiful young lady, and you are maturing fast, and probably have high sex-drive right now, but I think you have what it takes to become a good person for her. Just try not to lose her before getting her, she can be quite a bit to some because of her vibrant personality.”
Kelly then smiled happy and brighter than she’d ever seen, so she knew it was real for Kelly at least.
Maybe Andie has a point, though. Marissa thought as she watched Kelly brightly smile as she was walking out, texting someone. Maybe she really can help Kelly get better and to be more confident.
…
Kelly, on Saturday after work, found herself going home before getting into her own head about what to say to Jordan. How does one approach another girl just learning about herself? I’ve never had to deal with that really. Most of the girls I’ve been with knew they wanted it by the end, so how do I get her comfortable to explore me?
Within the first five days of conversation with Jordan, she immediately knew she was fucked, and that nobody else would satisfy her like Jordan could.
Marissa was wrong about one thing, this girl can talk.
Texting with the Freshman made her feel giddy and nervous.
She had also been masturbating two and sometimes three times a day to the thought of the younger Ayala’s butt.
She didn’t know how or why considering they were supposed to be from rival schools, but she knew the young girl made her want her badly.
She would have Jordan pleading for her to dig her out by the end of the weekend. She just needed a plan.
She texted her coach on her personal phone, not the team’s contact number, since she also didn’t have the other coach’s number, texted,
I wanted to ask Jordan on a date of sorts, but where does she like?
Within a minute, she knew the answer she was getting was a bit surprising. On it, her coach texted,
Take her to the climbing gym, that’s what me and Marissa did when we first started talking.
Kelly: Okay, that sounds like it could be fun.
A minute later, a text came from the coach,
Coach: Good exercise and a good way to get flirty physically.
And then a quick follow-up text,
Coach: Just be careful about this, Joran’s still not out with her family aside for Marissa and myself.
﹣﹣﹣
Part 2: It’s a Date
Kelly looked at herself in the mirror, happy about the physical changes in her body. Damn, I do think my ass looks toned more now than last fall.
Jordan: I don’t really mind surprises but I do like to know what’s going on. Also, I might need an hour, just finished with a mile time trial.
Kelly: Another 5:40?
Jordan: It was a better time than you hit I bet… jk.
Kelly: Any proof of this time?
Jordan: Look at the watch, it’s the proof if you need it.
Kelly saw the snapshot on the phone of the distance, time, and pace the younger girl hit. She wasn’t lying.
Kelly responded quickly,
Yeah, well I’m going to get you back, but before I do, I want you to come out on a not-a-date climbing adventure, in exchange
There, I said it. Kelly thought, as she looked down at her phone, while trying to ready herself for any rejection.
Holding her breath, and waiting for the response, she felt herself start to sweat a bit.
Then her breath she held was released when she saw the response.
Jordan: Yeah, I’ve got no real plans aside for what we had going on, so let's do it. Sounds like a fun time. You want to pay or should we split it?
Kelly, not having thought that far ahead, decided to go ahead and say,
I’ll pay for this time.
Jordan: Oh, sweet. Let’s do it! Also, my cousin and aunt wanted to know if you’d like to come and do the TurkeyTrot with us in a few weeks? It’s not serious, but it could be if you want to win a medal?
…
Another hour later, and winding up at her crush’s doorstep, she took in the small house on the corner of the street, a quaint little house that was white and had a front and back deck.
She finally took a deep breath and knocked on the door before calling out that it was Kelly, Marissa’s student and Jordan’s friend.
Kelly, pushing the long, curly red hair from her face, simply smiled at the brunette in front of her.
“Hi… you… look great.” Was Kelly’s bumbling response to the older woman standing in front of the door.
Jordan’s mother, another brunette with long, straightened dark hair and brown eyes that matched her daughters, was another stunner and was all of six feet tall.
She had the looks to still turn heads at 45.
Kelly introduced herself, ‘Hi, I’m Kelly. I’m here to bring Jordan out to climb for a few hours.”
She was about to finish with a handshake, but was rejected when the woman pulled her in for a tight hug, pressing her firmly against the woman’s busty frame, “Nope, we hug in this family.”
Before pulling back, Kelly’s mother softly but firmly whispered, “My name is Debra Ayala. Nice to meet the girl who gave my girl her smile again.”
Kelly simply smirked smugly at that and said, feeling no discomfort at the threats, “I respect you a lot more as my future mother-in-law for saying that straight out. I don’t beat around the bush when it comes to my affection.”
Kelly knew her mother got the meaning there.
She nodded and said, “I only want her happy, and if you can keep her smiling then we have no problems, but she seemed almost selfish and only wanted to focus on her racing until she saw you. That was when I noticed a change in her, but, if she says no..”
The woman let that hang in the air and Kelly knew what she meant.
Kelly finished the sentence for her, “No means no.”
Kelly’s mother, now growing a smile, said, “I know, I could tell in your conviction. Something like that connection and real chemistry are hard to find in your generation unfortunately.”
Kelly just nodded and said, “I know. It’s even harder for us in the LGBT community in some ways. Not everyone really wants to settle down even if it’s legal now.”
Kelly smiled at the younger girl, with long, dark hair and milky brown eyes looking back at her, “You ready? It’s a little cooler out today.”
Jordan just nodded and said, “Yeah, I’ll be alright. We’ll be inside, right?”
Kelly smirked at her and said, “Who ever said we’d be inside at a gym?”
Jordan then looked at her confused for a moment before responding, “I just thought that we’d be going to a gym, not outside. What about the payment you said?”
Kelly smirked and said, “It’s at a State park and they have online registration for year-round use at the lake, so I did that through my mom’s account.”
Her mother said, “Alright, but you two be safe and be careful. It’s supposed to get a bit icy tonight. I don’t want you out later than 8 pm.”
“Alright, mom. See ya tomorrow.” She waved back to her mom as they went to the car.
…
There wasn’t a lot of talking as the girls made their way to the State park that Kelly so frequented, but this time of year they wouldn’t have to worry about Mountain Lions, bears, or snakes.
When they finally got there, and found a good spot, Kelly was amazed at how light of traffic it was considering it was a nice day outside and a Saturday at that.
She looked over at the pretty girl in the other seat and explained, with the map in-hand, “So, we are going to be going about a mile in, and there’s a really nice, popular little climbers section for bouldering. Very good, solid climbing. I’ve come here a lot to run, hike, and climb with friends and family…”
She then explained, pointing to the point on the map, “I met a professional climber up at the bouldering spot there a few months back.”
Jordan looked back at her with a smirk, “What you thinking I’m gonna get jealous?”
Jordan then smirked back, before realizing something serious, “Wait a minute, who are you talking about?”
Kelly got out of the car, with Jordan following closely as she got her climbing gear and Jordan’s climbing gear, “I think it’s best if you just wear your sneakers there and then switch into these shoes,” she handed the shoes to Jordan, “you’re a size 8 right?” Jordan nodded at that and Kelly nodded back before saying, ‘Yep, on some of these rocks you don’t want to be slipping. We will have pads, and there’s probably going to be a few climbing already, but you gotta have the right shoes.”
Jordan continued to smile before saying, “Let’s go!”
When they arrived at their designated spot, Jordan realized who exactly Kelly had been talking about.
There were a few people at one rock wall talking and laughing amongst themselves. It was an all-around positive, fun environment that Kelly knew Jordan would love.
Kelly called out and there was an older, absolutely ripped, woman there and another slender beauty standing by her side, hand on said woman’s hip.
The one on the left was noticeably of Asian heritage and the other was of Eastern European descent. Specifically being born in Belarus until moving to the U.S. in 2017 at the age of 22.
The reason Jordan knew this was all because she had seen both of these two on the TV, representing their small city in Colorado, just at the last Championship.
The other reason was because after winning the Women’s Outdoor Doubles Championship for the USA.
They came out to the world after that win that they were actually, secretly, engaged and had been since their break the previous Summer. They had been dating fully committed to each other for three years and were ready to tell the world their story after getting engaged in Iceland while on vacation there.
They were the ultimate power couple, Elena Sweet and Lily Jones.
Who were single-handedly coming to take the rest of the world by storm in the climbing community.
Jordan just simply looked at Kelly in bewilderment, yelling, “I thought you said they were pro climbers, but not these pros.”
Kelly shrugged and said, “I told you you’d be surprised.”
Jordan surprised Kelly then by saying, “Damn straight.”
Then they heard Lily chirp in, with her raspy voice, “Damn curved more like it.”
That was met by a swift slap to her butt from her fiance, Elena. Who promptly told her to stay cool.
To which Lily then pecked her girlfriend on the lips in response. That led to Jordan squealing in excitement before she ran to and shook Elena and Lily’s hands.
“Hi, I’m Jordan. I’m Kelly’s gir-…” She said, before she stopped herself.
Kelly then finished it for her, “girlfriends.”
“Well,” Lily said, motioning to the wall behind her, “get your shoes on, jump in, and get some chalk. We’re usually here for pretty long.”
Once there at the bouldering wall she knew well and knew would challenge her and Jordan, they got set up and ready to go.
Jordan, as she got on the rock and started to scale it, “You know, Kelly. I used to climb hardcore competitions, until I was 13 and then got really hurt. My mom said 'no more climbing competitions, focus on running’, and that sucked but I learned to move on from that. I keep this as a sort of cross training method… you want to do something to compete against me? I promise friends still after?
Kelly leaned back at her shocked but then shook herself off before saying, “Are you sure this is the kinda game you want to make?”
Jordan just laughed and smiled before saying, “Oh, yeah I do. Hey, ladies!” She got the other two women’s attention, who were on their own boulder, “Kelly just said she wants to have a bouldering comp with me… and she said she’ll take me later if she wins.”
“No,” Kelly said to Jordan, “You said I would kiss you, not sleep with you. I don’t do that on first dates!”
Lily and Elena looked at each other briefly, wondering if it was okay to do on a first-date. Then realized they had done just that with each other.
Lily laughed before saying, “Well, make it fair. Map out the direction of the bouldering.”
Elena spoke up and added, “And whoever makes it up the short wall over there” she pointed to the short wall, “in the fewest tries possible, will win their prize.”
They agreed to do it one at a time and would each take turns going for the same portion of climb.
Once they were all warmed up and ready to go, with all the mats below them on the carriage road laid out neat, they started jabbing teasingly, borderline flirtingly, at one another.
She came up to Kelly and said, more confidently than she seemed at first, “See, told you what would happen? Now, do I get a prize for beating you again?”
Kelly briefly looked over to the other two women and saw they were once-again in their own little world, just looking at each other and talking amongst themselves. Kelly looked back at Jordan and teased, “Well, you did win and beat me out of State, and again beat me just on our first real date, but I suppose I can forgive you if you do something for me as well…”
Jordan let out a shuddering breath at what Kelly whispered to her, before biting her lip and nodding in acceptance.
Kelly saw nothing but tenderness and sincerity, which made her happy and she could tell it was a bit scary, too, so she would leave the girl wanting her as much as she wanted the younger girl then.
Kelly decided to hell with it and brought the girl in for what was a quick kiss and which soon turned into a full-blown, lip-locked makeout session. In front of two of their favorite people in the state watching on.
Kelly slowly moved her kisses down to the girl's neck and then was abruptly stopped when she felt a hand rest on her lower back. She pulled away slowly, still looking only at Jordan’s kissable lips, and then heard a throat clear behind them.
Jordan whispered, “You said you weren’t going on the first date.”
She moved to the girl’s ear and sucked it into her mouth before nibbling it. I could get lost in this girl’s taste. She’s that addicting. Fuck!
Seeing a longing for her in those beautiful eyes, with an obvious blush forming on her face, she said, “Well, Lily, Elena, it’s been amazingly fun climbing with you and I wish you the best at the U.S. open.”
Kelly asked, “Did you like the climbing, and the company?”
Jordan looked down at her empty plate of pizza and then back to Kelly before nodding shyly, only saying, “I also liked the other parts of the climb, and the company.”
Kelly sat back on her seat at the table, smirked, and then said, “See? I told you you would like it.”
She looked at Jordan and briefly nodded toward the film, asking, “Want to watch this? Coach Miller thought it was hot.”
Jordan looked at her, with a slight blush forming, before nodding and saying, “Sure, let us see if it’s as hot as they claim.”
As the movie began and steadily moved along, Kelly understood why it was an award-winning film. She also understood why her coach also scrutinized certain scenes.
It deserved the praise, moved along at a steady if sometimes annoying pace, it got to some very sexy scenes that got Kelly thinking. I wonder what she’s thinking right now?
They were stunned by the on-screen sex scenes and even just the little intimate moments.
Sharing the movie’s ending in soft sighs and “aw’s,” and yet the whole time, Kelly knew Jordan was making it tough on her on purpose.
She saw Jordan teasing her by either stretching out on her side of the couch, or even trying to fix her sweatpants by pulling them up into her ass, giving Kelly an amazing view of her toned little butt.
Damn you,Kelly! You had to go and be all chivalrous.
Eventually, once the film was done, they decided to get some sleep and get up early for a nice, easy run the next morning.
…
The following morning, after their date and night spent in watching movies, flirting a bit, and gossiping about all their favorite stories and rumors in school, the girls decided to get up and get dressed in workout attire to run.
They decided on an easy route outside Kelly’s house and just around the block.
It was a 2-mile loop and fairly hilly so they could get a decent intensity on the run.
When they got back, Kelly went up to her room and got ready to take a shower first. Jordan was just outside the doorway to the bathroom and was listening to Kelly while she told her something.
She then remembered what Jordan asked her about a few days prior.
She turned and she asked Jordan, “Remember what you asked me on the phone a few days ago? About the TurkeyTrot thing?”
Jordan, forgetting all about that due to thinking impure thoughts about Kelly, was pulled from those dirty thoughts and shrugged, saying, “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. We can go slow or fast or steady. My aunt and I, and my cousin, we kind of do it every year together. Like a family gathering thing… But, like I said, since the season’s over anyway, it wouldn’t hurt.”
Kelly shrugged, and explained nonchalantly, “I just was curious to see who won it because I’d never done that TurkeyTrot before. I’ve done other one’s, obviously, but not that one. It seems to be a casual TurkeyTrot for the most part, but it would be very hard to be top 15 overall.”
Jordan then jumped in, explaining, “I mean, training for a few weeks would keep us in fairly good shape, but I also think that It would be really fun to do this together. And my aunt, Marissa, and your coach, her girlfriend Andie, are both still amazing runners.”
Kelly smirked, then called back into the room, ‘I know! That’s why I looked it up! I wanted to see who won it for the women and I didn’t know that it was the coach who won it! That almost seems a bit unfair that she and Marissa took top 3 since they’re former college runners!”
Jordan then laughed cutely before saying, “Yeah, but that was also because they’d done a 10k race at the end of August! They were already in really good shape for it, and we will do really good, too, because we’ll pace together and we’ll have them.”
With that said, they fell into a quick silence before Kelly then nodded to herself before saying, “Do you want to join me in here?”
Jordan laughed again shortly before saying, just outside the shower, “Why I thought you’d never ever ask.”
Just after that, Kelly turned in time to see a beautiful sight.
Jordan, completely nude, hiding nothing from Kelly’s wide wandering eyes.
Kelly stared at her for a moment in shock but then snapped out of it and said, “Well, are you coming in or are you trying to freeze me out?”
She shyly looked away in embarrassment and Kelly nudged her playfully.
Once she looked back into Kelly’s blue-green eyes, she said, “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming in. Move over.”
Jordan let out a little shutter and then squealed cutely as Kelly plunged her in freezing cold water.
She looked at Kelly wide-eyed before Kelly explained, with a simple headshake, “What? I like it cold after a workout.”
They had to be fairly close to each other to be able to get under the water, but it was so cold Jordan could almost feel it in her bones.
“I can feel it going through my bones, that’s how cold it is.”
So Kelly just laughed at the other girl’s misery and made sure the water was turned up to actually a decent temperature.
Kelly’s own response to that was to simply chuckle before grabbing Jordan around the waist and drawing the young, lithe thing into her embrace.
Jordan gasped into the warm body against her own. A feeling she rarely, if ever, had felt before. And a sort of calming nature came over her as Kelly all but swallowed her lips.
Jordan pulled back suddenly, saying, “We shouldn’t waste the water.”
“We shouldn’t waste this opportunity. Time is short, and especially for us having these moments together.” Kelly stated, looking at Jordan for approval.
Once she saw nothing fearful on the young girl’s face, and a sort of calm rested over herself, she returned to her soft lips once again.
They became fully immersed in the other girl's lips and soon found themselves in a passionately heated kiss.
Kelly then said to her softly, caressing her cheeks, “I know I said I wouldn’t do this with you, until you were ready, but are you-”
Before she finished, Jordan met her with a kiss.
Kelly leaned back, looking and finding nothing but truth in the statement, and so she nodded and said, “I’ll be slow.”
Kelly slowly made her way down to a kneeling position at the younger girl’s fresh and tight-looking sex. Nearly devoid of any hair aside for a little tuft of newly grown down.
It was pink and had well-formed lips leading into a tighter-looking hole.
Kelly grew wet just looking at what would be hers for the unforeseen future. I can’t stop myself now that I’m here, but scare her off, either.
She felt the soft response of the younger girl when she shifted and pushed her mound out toward her mouth.
She looked up at the younger girl, seeing her eyes closed and head tipped back, and she knew she had her. She knew the girl wouldn’t be able to go to any boy or any other girl after she was done worshiping her.
Even with aching knees, from being on that unforgiving floor, she did not care because once she got going and added first one then two fingers into the girl.
She looked up at her and said, “Hey,” Once she got her attention and her dark eyes latched onto her own, “Look at me while I penetrate you for the first time. It might sting a bit, but if you’re sure with this, we can keep going.”
The girl nodded quickly and said, “Oh, it feels so good… don’t stop.”
She nodded and indeed penetrated the girl but slowly and softly. She eased her way into the extremely tight, wet, and very warm hole that she knew she would grow to love .
After the initial squeezing of her fingers and the sharp intake of breath on the other girl, she noticed slowly that the girl was starting to grow even wetter.
Kelly, sensing the girl’s first orgasm coming steadily along, stood up and with her knees popping from staying down for so long, embraced the girl tighter.
She pushed her back against the bathroom wall and softly slid inside her with two fingers. Eliciting a sharp and short, “Ugh YES!” Out of the other girl.
She loved the half-smirk on the young girl’s face and loved the girl’s oncoming orgasmic look. A look she’d known she could not ever get over seeing.
The younger reached over and, without a single word, turned off the water to the shower.
The girl quietly escorted her out of the shower both with a towel around them and hands in hands, they walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.
The younger girl closed the door behind them and then quickly pushed Kelly onto the bed.
Kelly responded to it with a short ‘umph’ at landing there, and was about to ask her what she was doing, when she saw the younger girl looking at her as if looking at her first meal in weeks.
Kelly knew, when the younger girl said ‘you’re not going anywhere for the next 20 minutes’, that she was in big trouble.
A few weeks later, the girls were at the TurkeyTrot and officially dating each other.
They were met by mostly positive reception by their parents with some mixed feelings due to their slight age difference.
After seeing them together, the others realized they really were special together.
The girls were called by their respective coaches, Andie Miller and Jewel Ingersol, who were good friends for the past few years outside of coaching for cross-town rival schools. Jewel and Andie were dressed in warm, comfortable clothing but decided to not race in the 5k.
“So, girls. This is not a competition so just go out and find a comfortable pace. If you want a medal, go for it, but if not that’s fine too.” Was what Miller said to them as a form of a pep-talk.
The girls went jogging lightly to warm up their tired, cold body, and were met with Jordan’s cousin, Jasmine, Kelly’s teammate and first girlfriend, with her own girlfriend who was a cutie in her own way.
Marissa Ayala, the assistant coach for Cross Country running and Track and Field, was also going to race this with them. She did say that if she got cramps, she’d have to slow down but would try and catch up wherever they were.
Marissa and the rest were all dressed and ready to race.
Marissa shook Kelly from her inner monologue pre-race and Marissa nodded softly before saying, “Why don’t we just go do a little quick warm up jog.”
Kelly herself was wearing just a running jacket with a breathable t-shirt underneath it and some sweatpants. She had on her favorite running shoes and was in the midst of re-tying them, something she did every time before a race.
Jordan was wearing her newly broken in Asics GelVenture’s.
9:10, we should be able to get going in about 5 minutes. Kelly thought as she looked up at the time running down to the start of the race.
She was excited and so were the rest of their little group.
Before going, Kelly softly grasped Jordan’s gloved hand in her gloved hands, and Jordan asked her, “You ready?”
Kelly nodded and smiled before asking, “Are you?”
Jordan then asked, looking between Kelly and the rest of the runners in their group, “Do you want to go fast or start off slow and pick it up?”
Hearing that, Jordan and Kelly looked at each other and smiled evilly.
Jordan responded, saying, “I think I’ll go fast.”
Kelly shrugged coolly before saying, “That’s fine. This is just for fun. So don’t get upset at me when I get you.”
Jordan smirked and then Jasmine chimed in saying, “Alright, so we start off steady and then?”
Kelly looked at her and said, shrugging, “Then we get progressively faster by each 1000.”
Jordan smiled brightly at that and responded, enthusiastically, “Yeah lets do that!”
Then there was an announcement made, “Will all runners come and get ready for the start!”
That was the women’s queue to make their way toward the front but not in the front.
A young girl went up and did a surprisingly smooth National Anthem then. Met by bright applause from all around them.
Then, after the host had explained how they had marked up the course well enough to be followed, they were off with a sound of a gun.
After only about 1.8 miles in, Kelly noticed there were guys passing them by and a few young kids as well.
Kelly looked to her right to see Jordan still hanging by her side.
Kelly then said to Jordan, “You wanna try and pick it up in the second mile? Or are you cramping up?”
Jordan smiled, gritting as she tried to stay the pace, “Yeah, I’m cramping a little in my calves, but let's go!”
With that, Kelly smiled and nodded before they upped the pace to a bit more of an intense pace. They looked back and saw that Jasmine and her girlfriend, who was also a runner but was not nearly as good as them, were starting off with Marissa well behind them.
There were people out already cheering them on as runners ran by their houses. Kelly and Jordan felt their applause and good praise wash over them and their competitive natures came into play.
They really were going for it on the last mile and Kelly just kept saying things to motivate them.
There behind them they saw Marissa catching up with them, and they knew that they had a little left in them to kick.
“We’ve only got a half mile to go, so let's get to the last 400 and then kick.” Was what Jordan said to her as she looked around and saw the marked course.
Kelly, too much out of breath, simply nodded back and acknowledged with a yes.
Then with only 400 meters to go they took off and shot past a bunch of other runners. Male and female walkers, joggers, and runners all passed by.
To the finish line, Kelly was first by only a few seconds.
Finishing the race, Kelly was hunched over when Jordan ran up to her and squealed while jumping into her arms.
Kelly didn’t know what to do other than to return the fond if somewhat tiring affection, before asking, “What? What is it that I get a tight hug for?”
Jordan backed up and said, “You got first place for the girls and overall females. 16th place. I got 17th place and first for our age group. We don’t know what place Marissa is going to come in yet.”
With Jordan, Kelly walked over to the finish line where others were gathering around talking and joking amongst themselves. It was a time that Kelly also felt incredibly lighthearted and accomplished.
Then they saw Marissa come running down the straightaway to the finish line, Kelly and Jordan called out, “Yeah! Go Marissa!”
Coach Miller and Coach Ingersoll were there greeting all of the runners and their group.
They got to go up and accept their awards and smiled at the cameras.
Marissa and Andie met and hugged tightly, with Andie’s hand gently resting on her lower back, while they talked about how the race went. Marissa was complaining about her calves tightening up. Kelly complained about her shin splints again, but was happy for the medal she got.
Then there was Jasmine and her girlfriend who didn’t come in until 24 minutes into the timer. They were both all smiles and hugs with each other for just having completed the race.
In the car ride back to Jordan’s parents house, they all smiled and laughed and joked around with the race jitters over and the awards received.
For one reason or another, seeing Jasmine, Coach Miller, and Marissa all huddled together and laughing about the race and people they saw and met, it made Kelly think about all of what she’d been doing those last few months.
She came to realize she wasn’t having enough fun. It became something of a chore for her to do.
Something like workouts and practices becoming akin to a job you did because you know it’s what you have to do to get the jobs you want. Not something that she made fun of or something she took less seriously.
While on the ride back, Jordan asked Kelly, “You okay?”
Kelly looked back at her wide-eyed before nodding and asking her why she asked. Jordan just shrugged and said, “I don’t know. You just seem a lot down all of a sudden.”
Kelly shrugged again and said, looking out her car window, “I’m just thinking about how I messed things up with your cousin. I know that’s not fair anymore to think, since she’s happy and I’m very happy with you,” that was met with a hand on her thigh squeezing gently, “but I wasn’t happy with training or preparing for races. I realize now of all times that I wasn’t letting it be a fun thing. I was just so focused on “I have to be top 10” or “I have to be the best” and not thinking about how much fun I could have during the process.”
“And now you are having fun?” Jordan asked, confused where this was heading.
Kelly looked back at her and met her eyes briefly, stating, “Yeah, I am realizing that having a lot of fun is what I missed from competing. I just made myself too serious. I lost focus on a lot of things... ”
With that, and a slight blush from Jordan, they held hands for the remainder of the car ride back to Jordan’s parents place. They agreed they would go back to Jordan first for breakfast and lunch, and then go to dinner with Kelly’s parents.
I don’t know what I’m doing or where I’m going, Kelly thought, as she stared out the window of Marissa’s car, I don’t know what I really want to do. I don’t know if this will be forever with Jordan, but for the first time ever I’m okay with trying hard for something other than running.
She looked over to see Jordan resting her head on her shoulder and then felt the car stop when they were in their driveway.
“Jordan?” She asked. Nudging the young, pretty girl, she said, “Jordan, we’re back.”
Jordan sat up and nodded before they all got out of the car and proceeded to head into the house.
Jordan’s mom and dad had met them at the door and ushered them all inside.
Yeah, everything’s good right now. Kelly thought, as she stepped into the house and was met with a house full of bustling people. All who were all too eager to introduce themselves to her, Who cares if I didn’t win that race? I got the girl who can help keep me sane.
That’s the end. Hope you liked it. If you did remember to tell me what you like on my email and I have a few more stories laid out already in this Colorado series. I really liked these characters and hope you do like the future ones. All different sports and different types of characters, but let me know what you liked or didn’t in the comments. They always help!