Ready, Set, Race!

Penelope stood at the starting line. She had been practicing for this race for months. She wore her blue team T-shirt. Her helmet was snug on her head. Her feet were on the ground. She held on to her frame runner handlebars. She was ready.

This race was important. It was 100 meters, and she needed to run it in 2 minutes and 8 seconds or less. If she did, she could go to Junior Nationals. Kids from all over the country would be there to compete. 

BOOM! A gun went off. That meant the race had begun! 

Penelope was off and running. Her frame runner helped her go. She focused. One step at a time. 

Before she knew it, she had crossed the finish line. She looked up at the scoreboard. There was her name and how long it had taken her to run. 

She had run the race in 1 minute and 46 seconds. She had done it! She had qualified for Junior Nationals!

It was race day. Penelope stood at the starting line. She had been practicing for months. She had her helmet on her head. Her feet were on the ground. She held on to her frame runner handlebars. Penelope was ready.

This race was important. It was 100 meters. She needed to run in less than 2 minutes and 8 seconds. If she did, she could go to Junior Nationals. Kids from all over the country would be at Junior Nationals.

A gun went off. The race started!

Penelope was running. Her frame runner helped her go. She focused—one step at a time.

Before she knew it, she had crossed the finish line. She looked at the scoreboard. She saw her name. She saw her time. She had run the race in 1 minute and 46 seconds. She had done it! Penelope was going to Junior Nationals!

Penelope stood at the starting line. She had been practicing for this race for months. She wore her blue team T-shirt, and her helmet was snug on her head. Her feet were on the ground. She held on to her frame runner handlebars—she was ready. 

This race was important. It was 100 meters, and she needed to run it in 2 minutes and 8 seconds or less. If she did, she could go to Junior Nationals, where kids from all over the country compete.

BOOM! A gun went off—the race had begun!

Penelope was off and running, supported by her frame runner. She focused on taking one step at a time.

Before she knew it, she had crossed the finish line. She looked up at the scoreboard, and there was her name and time. She had run the race in 1 minute and 46 seconds. She had done it—she had qualified for Junior Nationals!

Penelope’s whole family flew to Denver. Penelope couldn’t imagine what such a huge competition would be like. 

On race day, Penelope looked around her. There were people with all different kinds of disabilities. Some used frame runners, like she did. Some used racing wheelchairs, like Lucy. Some ran on prosthetic legs. But they were all strong. They all loved to compete and do great at their sport. 

Penelope smiled. “I’m not alone,” she thought. 

But she had a race to focus on. At the starting line, Penelope was full of energy. She took deep breaths. She felt her feet on the ground. “I’ve got this,” she told herself. 

BOOM! The gun fired. 

Penelope was off. She ran. She ran fast. 

She focused. She took one step at a time. 

She thought, “Stay in your lane. Get your legs to the finish line.” 

And before she knew it, she crossed the finish line. 

She looked up at the scoreboard. 

Name: Penelope Fernandez

Time: 1 minute and 18 seconds

Penelope had run her fastest 100-meter race ever! And she had won!  

“I did it!” she said. She heard the crowd cheer. She hadn’t noticed it before—she had been too focused on running. Everyone was cheering for her! Her family waved posters with her name. It was amazing!

Penelope’s whole family flew to Denver. Penelope couldn’t imagine what it would be like.

Penelope looked around her. There were people with all different kinds of disabilities. Some used frame runners. Some used racing wheelchairs. Some ran on prosthetic legs. Everyone was strong. They all loved to compete. 

Penelope smiled. “I’m not alone,” she thought. 

But she had to think about her race. Penelope was at the starting line. She was full of energy. She took deep breaths. She felt her feet on the ground. “I’ve got this,” she told herself.

BOOM! The gun fired. 

Penelope was off. She ran. She ran fast. 

She took one step at a time.

She thought, “Stay in your lane. Get to the finish line.”

And before she knew it, she crossed the finish line.

She looked up at the scoreboard.

Name: Penelope Fernandez

Time: 1 minute and 18 seconds

Penelope had run her fastest 100-meter race ever! She won!

“I did it!” she said. She heard the crowd cheer. She hadn’t noticed it before. 

Everyone was cheering! Her family was waving posters with her name. It was amazing!

Penelope’s whole family flew to Denver. Penelope couldn’t imagine what such a huge competition would be like.

On race day, Penelope looked around her. There were people with all different kinds of disabilities. Some used frame runners, like she did, and some used racing wheelchairs, like Lucy. Some ran on prosthetic legs. But everyone was strong, and they all loved to compete.

Penelope smiled. “I’m not alone,” she thought. 

But she had a race to focus on. At the starting line, Penelope was full of energy. She took deep breaths and felt her feet on the ground. “I’ve got this,” she told herself.

BOOM! The gun fired. 

Penelope was off. She ran. She ran fast. 

She focused and took one step at a time.

She thought, “Stay in your lane. Get your legs to the finish line.”

Before she knew it, she crossed the finish line.

She looked up at the scoreboard.

Name: Penelope Fernandez

Time: 1 minute and 18 seconds

Penelope had run her fastest 100-meter race ever, and she had won!

“I did it!” she said. She heard the crowd cheer. She hadn’t noticed it before—she had been too focused on running. Everyone was cheering for her, and her family was waving posters with her name. It was amazing!

Penelope got to go to a medal ceremony. She won four gold medals for her four races at Junior Nationals. She went to a big party with the other athletes. She danced with Lucy and new friends. Celebrating was one of the best parts. 

Now Penelope is back to her normal life. She goes to school. She reads her favorite Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Mercy Watson books. 

And every Saturday morning, she’s back at the track. Her goal is to race the 800 meters. That’s a longer race than she has done so far. She wants to make the 2023 Junior Nationals. 

So she takes it one step at a time. She keeps practicing. She tells herself, “You’ve got this, Penelope.”

Penelope won four gold medals. She went to a big party.

She danced with Lucy and new friends. Celebrating was one of the best parts.

Now Penelope is back to her normal life. She goes to school. She reads her favorite Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Mercy Watson books.

She’s back at the track every Saturday morning. Her goal is to race a longer race. She wants to run 800 meters. She wants to make the 2023 Junior Nationals. 

She keeps practicing. She tells herself, “You’ve got this, Penelope.”

Penelope got to go to a medal ceremony. She won four gold medals for her four races at Junior Nationals. She went to a big party with the other athletes.

She danced with Lucy and new friends—celebrating was one of the best parts.

Now Penelope is back to her normal life. She goes to school and reads her favorite Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Mercy Watson books. 

And every Saturday morning, she’s back at the track. Her goal is to race the 800 meters—a longer race than she has done so far. She wants to make the 2023 Junior Nationals. 

So she takes it one step at a time. She keeps practicing. She tells herself, “You’ve got this, Penelope.”