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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#235: Running Wild

Every day, countless people around the world participate in some form of running, from jogs to ultramarathons. And that simple act of putting one foot in front of another is a deceptively meaningful one; it’s something that transcends pure sport, and that can be used as a metaphor for various life experiences.

Running has a powerful psychological effect, as it often mirrors or influences our mental state. Just think about how often it pops up as an image in literature, to express a character's behavior or mindset (think running on empty, moving in circles, heading towards trouble, escaping problems, racing against time, and so on). This week, let's explore the theme of running and some of its interpretations in storytelling.

This week's prompts

Start your story with one or two characters going for a run.

Adventure – 37 stories

Write a story in which a character is running away from something, literally or metaphorically.

Angst – 122 stories

Make a race an important element of your story.

Narrative – 44 stories

Write about a character who suddenly cannot run anymore.

Character – 42 stories

Write a story that includes someone saying, “You can’t run forever.”

Dialogue – 65 stories

Stories

“24 Hours of Fear” by Art Zepeda

Submitted to Contest #235

Jake's knuckles were white on the steering wheel as he sped down the empty road, the fields of corn and cotton whipping by in a blur. His mind was consumed with regret as he tried to reach Jenn on the phone, but she never picked up.He pounded on the steering wheel, angry at himself. He told himself he had panicked, nothing more and regardless of what he had said, he was eager to be a father. Jenn was the love of his life.As he saw the lights of a small town in the distance, he checked his fuel. He cursed his luck and slowed down to look for ...

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“The Promise” by Jesse Upchurch

Submitted to Contest #235

The day after he graduated from high school, Christopher got in the sedan he had purchased – with no help from his father – and pulled away from his childhood home. He had already said his goodbyes to everyone he cared to say goodbye to. His anatomy teacher, Mrs. Senecal, had wished him luck and reminded him of her offer to call a colleague in Boston about a job. “No, you have done so much for me already. Thank you, Mrs. Senecal. I will never forget you!” The conversation played over in his head as he drove down the familiar streets, not lo...

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“The Last Half” by Conrado Maher

Submitted to Contest #235

Wake up at 5:30 AM. Downstairs to the kitchen. Coffee. Water. Wolf down a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for fuel. Back upstairs to the bathroom, once my body decides it wants to leave yesterday behind. Some days it takes a second cup of coffee.Take a shower. I feel better, more awake. I also want to be nice to the others in my pace group. I run hot, and generate a lot of sweat. Don’t want to start out smelling like a wet dog.Put on running clothes set out the night before. Grab a bag with extra clothes. A spring half-marathon me...

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“Running Wild” by Kasie Suderman

Submitted to Contest #235

Running Wild The sun sets on the Sahara, blood red seeping into tangerine, as I stumble out of bed. I’m rarely up early enough to see a sunset but something woke me, and now I’m too curious to sleep. My belly is rumbling and I’m in search of a nibble. What did I hear that pulled me from slumber? Sounded like a flock of geese but the earth shook above my head so it couldn’t have been fowl. There it is again, chattering. I scurry faster, my long quills sway with the movement of my hips. Better keep to the shadows, maybe I’ll find some grubs...

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“To Save a Boy” by Zachary Thomas

Submitted to Contest #235

He had to find him. He had to reach him in time, going back through time, because his thoughts would not let him forget. That boy. That awkward thing with gangly limbs and a brain tweaked by hormones, standing on a rock in the wilderness alone. He had to get to him before the prowlers could. To put his arms around him and tell him that life was ahead of him and not behind–to help him lift his chin and scatter his emotions. To help him see there is a time and a season for everything, and to be young is to be dumb. “Did you bring the righ...

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“Breath of Resilience” by Regina Jiang

Submitted to Contest #235

I stand at the start line, my heart pounding with anticipation, my feet jiggling with excitement. The cool morning air fills my lungs as I glance around, taking in the scene around me. The crowd, buzzing with energy around me, cheering for their loved ones. Runners, of all age and size, each determined to complete these 26 miles. They all seem so strong, so capable, and for a moment, doubt creeps into my mind. How could a teenage girl with asthma possibly complete this grueling marathon? 26 flipping miles. My name is Emily, and today, I am...

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“John Paul, from TV” by Christopher Kooker

Submitted to Contest #235

Two weeks before election day in Columbus, Ohio, everybody already knew that John Paul Anderson would win. After all, abortion had become a swing issue and his challenger was saying all the wrong things. Furthermore, several key precincts were majority Black, so it was simple demographics. Perhaps a select few people even knew about the internal scandal brewing in his opponent’s camp, which threatened to topple the nascent campaign and all but gift wrap the seat for John Paul. The actual voting promised to be little more than a display of ci...

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“The Machine” by Amanda Song

Submitted to Contest #235

Beep, beep-beep, beep!New sound, new routine. My ears flick backward and forward, triangulating the source. There, in the center of the room, is a monstrous contraption my human installed the day before. It’s all wrong. The smell, the sight of it. The attention Sarah gives it as she taps the front panel.I stretch and jump down from my perch atop the cat tree. As I pad to the hulking grey and black beast, Sarah pauses to watch me. I sense her hold her breath the way she does when she’s curious to see how I act and afraid that the slighte...

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“New Old Habits” by Nhung Mach

Submitted to Contest #235

Excuse–, I’m sorry, Sorry, Excuse me, Par–, she apologizes quietly, slightly embarrassed, every twelve seconds or so, as she brushes past pedestrians who move—appropriately—at walking speed. Nobody is doing anything wrong; everyone is using the sidewalk as it’s intended. And while her sorrys are genuine, there’s no denying that she’s irritated, too. Squeezing through strangers she’s sharing the narrow, uneven sidewalks with isn’t exactly what she was expecting or hoping for. But what was she thinking? Going on a run in the middle of the...

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“Into the Depths” by J.A Liza

Submitted to Contest #235

I thought I had escaped them. I had been running from them for two years. This is probably the longest I had gone without being found in a while, but that’s not surprising considering where I was. I chose the only place that no one ventures. Except me, of course. I had been here since and I almost wish I had let them catch me, so I wouldn’t suffer in this wasteland anymore. Almost. I was desperate, but I wasn’t that desperate. Yet. Starving. Exhausted. Bleeding. I was in too deep, but I could not return. Not only because of them, but a...

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“I need at least four alarms to wake up in the morning.” by Muru Walters

Submitted to Contest #235

Okay, so I have to be out of the door at 7, which means breakfast at half 6 but I have to feed the cat, load the dishwasher and washing machine and shower before that so get out of bed at 6 to be safe. Will I go for a run in the morning? I probably should. Jamie’s on my back again about getting steps in and to start running again. Do I really want tomorrow to be the morning I start to push myself through it again. I could either get an extra hour of sleep or… No to hell with it, I'll do a half hour run and back to shower for 6. I w...

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“The Wall” by Marc Von Ahnen

Submitted to Contest #235

“I can’t run anymore!” I yelled out choking acidic bile back down my throat. My breath comes out in short and desperate gasps I drop to my knees, sweat pouring off my forehead, burning my eyes. Every part of my body is soaking wet, like I took a shower fully clothed. I sit on all fours, gasping for air. Pleading for air! Begging for air! My legs are limp noodles that can no longer support my weight. I wonder if they ever truly could. I roll on my back, feeling the soft green grass beneath my back and the hot su...

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“A True Story” by Travis Hitchcock

Submitted to Contest #235

I’ve never seen anything like it. Technically, that’s not true. I’ve seen it on TV. Although something in my brain tells me what I’ve seen on TV was fictional. Nothing I’ve seen in real life, or depicting real life, has been close to this. How do you estimate windspeed without equipment or relativity? The fastest wind I’ve ever felt is 70mph. This is faster than that. Much faster. But how much faster is much faster? 20mph? Double? Treble, even? I can’t tell. All I know is it’s faster. Much faster. Don’t go into the mountains, they to...

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“Running Through Memories” by Mads S

Submitted to Contest #235

Henrietta’s crinkled, papery skin curled towards her lips, where bright red lipstick had been painted on in one neat swoop. She wore rouge in a dark red, almost burned, color, and her eyes shimmered with sparkly blue eyeshadow that dropped fallout with each blink. Her hair was neatly pleated into a low bun of dark brown hair streaked with gray. “Hey mom,” Dorothy said, opening the door. The room was suddenly flooded with the fluorescent lights from the hall outside, and Henrietta groaned, raising a ringed hand to shield her eyes. “Cl...

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“Trail's End” by Suzanne Feinstein

Submitted to Contest #235

Augustine was sitting on an exam table, legs outstretched. A doctor was examining his left ankle, which was grotesquely swollen and deeply bruised. His wife was gently holding his right hand. Both hands were bandaged.“No more running,” the doctor said in a clipped tone. “With your disease, it’s dangerous. This injury won’t heal well. The next time you fall, it could be even worse.”For some reason, his falls had increased in the month since his 54th birthday. But usually when he fell, he was fine. He laughed, got up, and went on with his day....

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$250

Prize money

310

Contest entries

121

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 02, 2024 EST

Won by Kajsa Ohman 🏆

Title: KILLER IN THE WILLOWS

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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