Running Rivals

By Jake Maddox and Tuesday Mourning

At the beginning of the track season, Amy hurt her knee during a race. Now her doctor has given her the okay to get back on the track, but Amy's still shaky. Her knee may be healed, but her confidence is still broken. The biggest race of the year is coming up, and it's on the exact same track where she was hurt before. With help from an unexpected source, will she be able to race again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: May 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781434289018

Jake Maddox

Who is Jake Maddox? Athlete, author, world-traveler – or all three? He has surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived in Australia, and climbed the mountains of Peru and Alaska. His books range from the most popular team sports to outdoor activities to survival adventures and even to auto racing. His exploits have inspired numerous writers to walk in his footsteps – literally! Each of his stories is stamped with teamwork, fair play, and a strong sense of self-worth and discipline. Always a team-player, Maddox realizes it takes more than one man (or woman) to create a book good enough for a young reader. He hopes the lessons learned on the court, field, or arena and the champion sprinter pace of his books can motivate kids to become better athletes and lifelong readers.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

BACK TO THE TEAM

The walls of Dr. Smith’s exam room were mint green. They were covered with certificates, diplomas, and drawings that looked like they’d been made by little kids.

My dad was sitting in a chair, reading a magazine. I was sitting on the exam table, wishing that Dr. Smith would hurry up.

All he had to do was walk in, look at my knee, and tell me whether it was healed enough for me to run again.

I was a mid-distance runner. I ran the 400. A lot of people think the 400 is the toughest race in track. It’s 400 meters, one lap around the track, running as fast as you can.

I usually got first place. I only got second place if my biggest rival, Madison Palmer, was running.

But you can’t run at all if your knee has been hurt, like mine was. I had hurt my knee almost two months earlier, at the very beginning of the season.

There was a knock at the door and Dr. Smith walked in. Hi Amy! Hi Mr. Reid! How are you two doing? he asked.

Dr. Smith shook my dad’s hand. Then he got out an orange rubber hammer and started tapping on my knee.

How has your knee been feeling? he asked me.

It feels normal, I told him. Can I get back to my team?

Dr. Smith laughed. That’s why I love sports medicine, he said. Athletes always want to get better so fast.

He looked at my chart and continued, Well, I’ve looked at all of your X-rays and scans. Your knee seems to be healed. I’ll let you go back, but you have to promise not to overdo it.

I’ll take it easy, I promised.