John ran along the track. His muscles gleamed with sweat in the hot sun. Pound, pound, pound, pound. His feet hit the rubber one after a time.

A drop of sweat dropped down John’s face. Pound, pound, pound, pound. He grunted with exertion, speeding up. The material was pushed down as he stepped on it. Pound, pound, pound, pound. The rubber came back up.

Beside him, John’s opponent tried to keep up with John’s relentless pace. Pound, pound, pu-pound. The opponent fell to the ground panting.

Pound, pound, pound, pound. John could see the finish line ahead. Poundpoundpoundpound. John sped up, running across the finish line in first place.