In my twenties, I've been running for over 15 years. Sometimes, I think about it and realize how long I've stuck with it. After much thought and preparation, I've decided to write down my running story and share it with those who, like me, are passionate and enthusiastic about running.

"With a heart full of treasures, dazzling and brilliant."

My first encounter with running was during a physical education class in the second grade of elementary school. It was winter, and the teacher organized a running race. We were all dressed quite heavily, making our movements a bit clumsy. I don't remember much about the process, but the result was that my sister and I were selected for the school track team, beginning a decade of training. My story with running started on the 200-meter track in my elementary school. 

Ten years of daily training brought a mix of excitement, curiosity, boredom, and frustration. At that time, running wasn't a passion for me; it was more of a mission and a task. Training was neither easy nor free, and sometimes it felt like torture. Fortunately, I had a group of teammates who shared laughs and encouragement, helping us get through those special ten years of our lives. Our school team was quite famous in the city, and every time we competed, we all tried our best to achieve the best results and bring honor to our team.

I remember participating in a city track meet during middle school, setting a 'grand' goal of winning all the sprint events. However, the 400 meters was not my strong suit. I was so nervous that I felt weak and my mind went blank until I heard the starting gun. I then pushed myself to sprint forward with all my might. In the last 100 meters, my limbs were stiff, but I kept shouting and sprinting until I crossed the finish line and collapsed. Although I won the championship, I was completely exhausted. This is one of my most unforgettable running experiences. Whenever I think back to those training and competition days, and our track team, it feels like there's a beam of light behind each of my teammates, growing brighter as we ran.

"Persist in long-distance running, quiet the mind."

During the period of preparing for my postgraduate exams, life was quite monotonous. I commuted between the library and home, using a Nokia phone that only had the Snake game, with little contact with the outside world and minimal exercise. After being admitted to graduate school, I had some free time, and after six months of intense studying, my limbs felt like they were 'devolving.' At that time, marathons were just becoming popular. Seeing my sister running, I was eager to try it too, so I set a goal to complete a half marathon and resumed running.

Starting with five kilometers, then ten, I gradually pushed my limits and successfully completed my first 21-kilometer half marathon, finishing 16th in Chongqing in my first offline marathon race. In long-distance running, I found a different kind of joy compared to sprinting. For me, persisting in long-distance running is like a process of quieting the mind. During my graduate studies, whenever I felt stressed or had other worries, I would change into my running shoes and run a few kilometers on the track, focusing on my favorite music and my breathing. This helped to alleviate much of my anxiety. After running, I felt rejuvenated and ready to tackle my studies and life with renewed energy. 

"Challenge the unknown, live in the moment."

"I don't want to run today, so I will run. This is the mindset of a long-distance runner." Those who love long-distance running are surely familiar with this quote by Haruki Murakami. It's not about wanting to run or how much you can run, but always having higher expectations and better hopes for yourself. This has been my requirement for myself over the years of running. When I feel tired of running, I put on my sports gear and head to the track; when I feel tired of studying, I go to the library with my backpack. Overcoming laziness and procrastination always brings visible changes, and this is one of the greatest lessons running has taught me.

Whether it's studying, living, running, or anything else, strive to challenge the unknown and be a giant in action. You will find that one day your efforts will bring results and progress. In June 2019, with a sense of awe for nature and curiosity about trail running, my sister and I decided to participate in the TNF100 Qinling International Trail Running Challenge on my 27th birthday, completing our first trail run.

The decision was made in an instant, but realizing it made me truly experience the 'torture' of Qinling. The process tested both physical and mental endurance. Thinking about the many others persisting alongside me and the finish line waiting for me, I kept pushing forward despite the exhaustion, telling myself, 'I'm almost there.' Crossing the finish line and completing the race turned all the emotions and hardships into post-race joy, and I unexpectedly finished ninth among the women. I think this is the charm of running; despite its challenges, it always leaves you with a love for it, making you want to do it over and over again.

Running for many years has taught me not to fear starting late or facing difficulties, but to give my all and see things through to the end. It has also given me the attitude of striving to do my best in everything. In the future, there are many goals and challenges related to running, life, and the unknown waiting for me to complete. Both my body and mind must always be on the move!