I used to run a 51 second 400M in hs as a junior. Small farm town kid. Broke a leg senior year playing football. Never got to see my potential. I was so bummed that Spring. I healed up enough so that I could run but it was painful.
My favorite race of all time, though, was the mile relay. Always the last event. Everyone else gone. Just the people who simply loved running left. You'd already given your all in multiple events during the day. Typically dark and under the lights. You would all suck it up and give it your best one more time.