Running for a Dream I will never forget that November day. It was hotter than normal. This was the1my father and I had waited so long for, because we had been working towards this race for three years. Dozens of familiar faces from church and school flashed across my view. They had2come for me with encouragement. I saw worry and3on my father's face. Then the race began!
For the first two and a half miles, I felt4. I had never before been so ready for something. The weeks leading up to the race were filled with controlled5and a strict diet. My friends hadn't seen me in weeks, but they6the sacrifice（牺牲）required to make my dream a reality. As in all of my races, I didn't7out in the front, I loved the pleasure of passing people as my strength overtook their premature speed.
Then without warning, my strength began to decrease. Neck and neck with one of my greatest competitors, I8see the finish line. I had begun the final dash into glory9my knees became weak and my legs gave way. Nothing I could do would make them10weight.
I watched as runners rushed by me. 11I knew my dreams of victory were destroyed, I had to finish the race. However, my legs hurt badly. With all of the12left in me, I got on my hands and knees and crawled （爬）, inch by inch, across the finish line. Voices, both13and familiar, cheered me on. They gave me the courage to keep14until the very end.
The doctors were there in seconds, but my eyes searched the crowd for him. There was only one person I wanted to15to. I whispered, "I'm so sorry , Dad, I'm so sorry I16you. " He looked at me, saying, "You could never disappoint me. Sometimes these things just17. All that matters is that you did your best. "
"But we worked so18 . What about our dream?" He reached over for my hand and said, "Don't you know that you are my dream and it has come true?"
It wasn't long before my running shoes were back on, marking a19path for my journey, I learned that all of the miles, the tears, the sweat, and the pain my dad and I experienced together were not for a20. What I realized, though, was that to him, I was the greatest prize he had ever won.
