I was never a quick kid, so I only got participation awards on the fitness challenge day, until I got my first blue ribbon. I don't remember if it was the third, fourth or fifth grade, but I was still in the cootie stage of development. Due to an odd number of boys and girls I was part of the only coed pairing for the three legged race. We won the three legged race easily because we were highly motivated. It's almost like we willed ourselves not to fall down like everyone else because we didn't want to touch each other. "Left-right, left-right, left-right, left-right. Done! Untie us dammit!"