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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 – 123 stories

Make a race an important element of your story.

Narrative – 44 stories

Write about a character who suddenly cannot run anymore.

Character – 43 stories

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

Dialogue – 65 stories

Stories

“Hitting the wall” by Sophie Irish

Submitted to Contest #235

Getting in from work, I found myself stood in front of my long, rectangular mirror in my bedroom, filled with the usual self-hatred. At only fifty four years old I was dangerously obese, the sides of me not even fitting in the skinny mirror standing several feet away. My face was haggard, the lines filled with deep sadness and time wasted. My eyes looked like I had been in a bar brawl, dark circles engulfing my once pretty blue eyes; years of neglect and 3 hours sleep a night visible to everyone. What was left of my hair was grey and plaster...

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“One baby chicken for two” by Claire Trbovic

Submitted to Contest #235

Every couple has things they hate to do; they grumble and winge but inevitably get on with the task at hand. Anna hated to cook roast chicken but Max loved it when she did; so naturally she did it at least once a week. There was always so much sinewy mess at the end that just seemed to linger; the fat, the stocky smell of salt. He said it felt like home, she thought it felt stifling.They both worked hard every day, allowing the other space to prioritise their careers like good modern millennials. Deep down, he felt the publishing house was a...

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“Surrounded by the Darkness” by Mae-Ling Kao

Submitted to Contest #235

“You can’t run forever” The cold sharp cackle echoed throughout the stony chamber. Fear, silver and icy washed over Faelan. The fast warm pulsing of blood pounded in her ears. Her fingers gripped the cold stone behind her as her eyes darted across the dark recesses of the cavern. Her heart beat desperately like a trapped bird trying to escape its cage. Faelan tried quieting her breath, but she could barely focus. “Come now little rabbit” The familiar voice echoed louder in the chamber, “How much longer are going to make… me… WAIT”. The sickl...

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“The Reading” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #235

“I’ve reached out to Marie several times with no response.”“I have as well. She’s gotten older, it isn’t easy for her anymore,” Liz explained to the women waiting patiently with her.“You think tonight will be different?”“I do. There’s strength in numbers, we’ll make ourselves heard. If anyone can take down that bastard it’s Marie.”***“You know this is a crock, right?”“Come on, don’t be like that. It will be fun.”“Fun? I doubt it. I won’t even know anyone there.” He gripped the steering wheel tighter, thinki...

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“On the Air” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #235

“Ten and two with forty seconds on the clock. Pilgrims down by six. The Bulldogs apply double coverage to All-American wide receiver Tanner Scott. The ball is snapped. Jones fakes the hand off. Scott is off like a rocket. Jones brushes off a tackle and launches a Hail Mary. Scott has a read on it. Into the endzone they go. Look at the vertical on Scott, and he pulls it in! Oh, he’s hit hard, sent head-over-heels and lands in a twisted heap, folks. Scott is down. He’s not moving. Coach Wilson is heading to the field to check on his player. Ev...

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“Dead Last” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #235

His running outfit lay on the bed, with his number bib—ninety-four, a jab at his increasing age?—set to the side.Edmund Lyndone sighed. He’d been at this running malarkey for years and had never cracked the top ten even once. Still, today could be his lucky day. What was it the kids said? You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. He pulled off his t-shirt and slipped his designer running shirt over his head.Dena groaned from the doorway behind him. ‘You’re not actually doing another one, are you Dad? It took you almost two weeks to recover ...

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“Run for Good” by Keelan LaForge

Submitted to Contest #235

Lacy left her lazy husband. She kicked up the dust as she ran. She didn’t think beyond that moment. It was better not to think too far ahead. If she did, she’d panic. She left the house without anything but the sneakers on her feet and a couple of bank notes stashed in a wallet secured to her torso. Her legs felt long and free. They’d felt ensnared for so long. Stretching them was a kind of ecstasy she’d been imagining for a decade.She was an athlete in school before she met Tim. She thought he was a good guy, but she hadn’t known the real T...

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“Gone by Morning” by Nicholas Thomas

Submitted to Contest #235

When going downtown, say for a walk in the old park, in the early hours of the morning – especially when the sun has yet to rise – it’s never a bad idea to be aware of your surroundings; you’ll never know what else is there in the dark with you. This public park is not unlike any other; you’ve probably seen one just like it near your home. In this particular park, a young man named Michael Wren is walking home from the night shift at the twe...

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“A Tale For The Gods: Cassandra's Gift” by Khadija S. Mohammad

Submitted to Contest #235

Archinae, goddess of time, sat on her golden throne, absent-mindedly spinning the Sphere. She didn't mind if she span it too fast at times – the mortals on Earth wouldn't notice if time sped up a little more than it should have. “I will not be able to wait until my Horae have grown,” she whined to her twin sister, Aphrodite, who was sitting by Archinae's pool of sight and watching the affairs of men, occasionally dipping her finger in to create a ripple and see a different image. “But surely you do not wish to abdicate so early?” Aphrodi...

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“Racing Thoughts” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #235

I’m an Iron worker, and a foreman. This past week we have been working twelve-hour days through the hottest part of the summer trying to get the Highway 47 bridge complete. I have had to deal with missing materials, late deliveries, on-site injuries, absences, and a boss breathing down my neck. We’re behind schedule and a lot of that heat is falling square on my shoulders. So, I need a day, my day off. I get one a week. One day a week to sleep in. One day to relax and enjoy some time with my family. I had planned on waking naturally with a g...

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“The Boy at Robins Pond” by KC Fetch

Submitted to Contest #235

The small body of water became Jean’s sacred place away from the complications and expectations of the Wicked Witch of Massachusetts. Cattails, bullfrogs, lily pads, and the cloudy, moonless sky welcomed her as she submerged into the chilly water. It was here that she first learned of her gift. Albeit, a useless gift these days, according to Mother. Any chance she could get, the wench would find a way to knock her daughters down a peg. That weighed heavily on her mind as she thought of her little sister, Kimberly. Not even ten and Mot...

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“The Race to Freedom” by Kritika Bharadwaj

Submitted to Contest #235

Pitter. Patter. BOOM!!! CRASH!!! A bead of sweat traced its path down my forehead as I gazed at the window, rain battering against it like endless tears. Outside, the view blurred into a mixture of sky, grass, and trees. The steady fall of rain, unexpected bursts of thunder, and blinding lights of lightning created a stormy, cold atmosphere. The "race" loomed just twenty minutes away. I desperately hoped the rain would clear, but my optimism clashed with the day-long storm predicted in the forecast. Nervously, I fiddled with the metal clips ...

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“Running Through the Tape” by A. M. Conger

Submitted to Contest #235

Jill was angry. Angry that she had to take PTO during the biggest deal of her career. Angry that she had to use said PTO to fly home instead of going on vacation. Angry that she wasn’t going to be running in the marathon she’d been training for (EIGHT STICKING MONTHS), and angry that her dad had had a stroke. Fuming and with a clenched jaw, she stared at a framed picture on the mantel of her childhood home. It was a candid photo of her and her dad running in their first marathon. They were covered in sweat, mud, and smiles as her mom thrus...

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“Flight Risk” by Allis Connor

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #235

My parole officer said I’d hardly notice the system. Once I grew accustomed to the minor physical intrusions—the dual ankle monitors, the belt with no buckle, and the generic smart watch—it would be smooth sailing for the next month. My only task was to stay on the straight and narrow. She never said what was considered “antisocial behavior,” or clarified what form the “nudges” would take. The judge had said something about “diversion” when he imposed the system, but I couldn't bear listening to his full justification. My ears buzzed. Fu...

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“What Lies Beneath” by RC Riggs

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #235

In the deep, far, far beyond where the last flicker of sunlight fades away into an inky blackness, where the cold slows heartbeats to a nearly imperceptible pulse, and the incredible pressure of the ocean above warps the bones of ancient ships that lay deathly still on the seafloor, an unseeing eye blinks sleep away. Eons had passed along the surface as the creature slept. Puffs of clay muddies the water as it slowly writhes, working out its body's stiffness from its long slumber. In the deep, something dark stirs, one thought rippling acr...

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$250

Prize money

312

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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