Chapter 1: The Boy Who Could Run

Chapter 1: The Boy Who Could Run

Intro:

In the quiet town of Norwich, nestled in the east of England, a boy named Oliver Reed wasn’t known for his grades or for being loud—but for how fast his legs could carry him. Long before he knew the word “athlete,” he knew one thing: he loved to run.

Story:

Oliver’s first memory of joy was running barefoot through the dewy grass behind his house, chasing butterflies while the sun rose. His mum would call after him, laughing, “Slow down, Ollie! You’ll take off like a rocket one day.”

By the time he entered primary school, Oliver had a reputation. Sports Day was his stage. Teachers, parents, and students all paused to watch him burst from the start line like a shot. He won every race without breaking a sweat—and without understanding why it mattered.

One evening, after another effortless victory at school, his PE teacher, Mr. Latham, pulled him aside. “Ollie, do you know who Mo Farah is?” Oliver shook his head. Mr. Latham smiled. “He’s a British Olympic gold medallist. And I think, with the right focus, you could be on a track like that one day.”

That night, Oliver looked up Mo Farah on his mum’s old tablet. The crowd, the gold medals, the finish line cheers—it stirred something new in his chest. For the first time, he dreamed not just of running fast, but of becoming something more.

But Norwich wasn’t known for athletic programs. The school had a crumbling track and no real coach. So Oliver trained himself. He timed his own laps, copied warm-up routines from YouTube, and started eating better. His friends teased him when he refused chips for a banana, but he smiled through it.

When a regional track event was announced in Norwich, Oliver signed up. He had no spikes, no official coach, and had never run against anyone outside his school. He was scared—but when the gun fired, all fear melted away. He ran like the wind, overtaking runners who wore professional gear. He placed second.

It wasn’t gold—but it was his first real taste of the competitive world.

Outro:

That night, Oliver stood outside, cool wind brushing his face. He whispered to the stars, “I’m not just a boy who runs. I’m going to race the wind—and win.