As a member of that Team I never came in first, second, third, fourth or anywhere near the top. My expected finish by everyone on the Team and the spectators was always dead last. I mean that I was really dead, exhausted.

Having once been a good runner with dreams of running in the Olympics, I was always humiliated with my finish. My goal for each race was just to finish without falling down. I thought that if I fell during a competitive race I wouldn’t be allowed to run with the Team.

However, I had an Olympian’s heart and never gave up in a BYU race, not once.

One particular race I participated in was run on a nice late Spring day at the BYU track. I had been practicing hard in my workouts and was in my best shape since being totally paralyzed. In my mind, I felt I was ready to run a good race. During the first laps of the 10,000 meters, I ran in my usual last place. I tired to keep up with the main pack of distance runners, but my legs felt like putty and my lungs burned whenever I attempted to pick up my slower pace. I had been lapped nearly twice by the winner. The event was clearly over and I was still in my usual spot, last place.

I had gained a nick name on the BYU team of "Goat," because I never quit on a track race. Some of the track team members were shouting my name "Goat, Goat, Goat. Goat" I thought they were yelling "go, go, go, go." My mistake inspired me to keep running and to pick up my pace.

As I neared the turn of my last lap in the run, I noticed one solitary BYU runner just ahead. I became even more inspired to run faster. I wanted to beat him and not finish last. My heart pounded faster as I charged past the good runner and I finished a very distinguished "Second to Last."

Some of my great team mates rushed out and congratulated me on my finish. It was so nice. I felt like I had won the race instead of second to last.