an annual summary of a runner mid

Editor's Note: Previously, I received an 'end-of-year summary' that was over 8,000 words long. After reading it carefully, I couldn't help but admire the author's year of athletic experiences. Besides admiration, I also felt a lot of 'envy'—envy for her excitement and richness. So, I decided to split this article into three parts and publish them all. On one hand, it's to thank the author for her trust; on the other hand, I hope it can provide some reference for other Codoon friends. Sometimes, what sports can bring us far exceeds our expectations.

This is the second part.

A week after returning to Shanghai, the Shanghai Half Marathon began. That day, I wore a Mickey Mouse headband given by my best friend and played the role of a young girl on the track. The ears of Mickey Mouse were a bit large and wobbled in the wind as I ran, falling off several times along the way. Each time, fellow runners behind me picked it up and handed it back with a smile, reminding me to be careful. I knew stopping to pick up things on the track was not appropriate, as sudden stops could be dangerous for runners behind.

I was mentally prepared for their criticism, but they just smiled and reminded me to be careful. This made the sunshine that day feel especially bright, and my mood lightened considerably. In the second half, Mr. Hu caught up from behind and ran with me for a while. I told him not to worry about me and to go ahead and sprint. Soon, he disappeared from sight, leaving me feeling a bit resentful. Why is there such a big difference between men and women?

When the half-marathon medals were revealed, many runners criticized them. I didn't mind; even if they were flawed, they were unique in the world, earned through hard work and sweat over two hours. Flawed currency is even more valuable, haha. After all, when it comes to things we love, we never hold back our energy or fear the road ahead. If you can persist in something, it must be something you like.

I accompanied Mr. Hu to Wuhan, and he accompanied me to Yangzhou. It was April, with willow catkins flying and misty rain. We were joined by a few friends from the Shang Running Club (Little Bread, Nana, Fucheng).

Yangzhou is suitable for gentle breezes, moonlight, light rain, and food lovers.

There's a saying among runners: 'Run a full marathon in Beijing, run a half marathon in Yangzhou.' As the only gold-label half marathon in China, the Yangzhou Marathon attracts many runners. On the day of the race, the flags of various running clubs filled half the sky. Before the start, city leaders gave a speech that went on past the gun time, which runners jokingly said is a hallmark of the Yangzhou Marathon.

The Yangzhou government organizes units and schools to cheer for the runners. On the track, I heard a group of enthusiastic aunts shouting, 'Go, athletes!' I couldn't help but laugh. The Yangzhou aunts are so cute. In their minds, anyone who can run a marathon is an athlete.

La la la, we are all athletes.

The Huaiyang cuisine is well-known. Every marathon runner has a foodie's heart, and when they arrive in a city, they must try the local delicacies. After running, it's a great pleasure to feast. The best dishes are salted goose and lion's head meatballs.

After returning from Yangzhou, the weather gradually became hotter, and road running events were in the off-season. Hearing that it was cool in the mountains, I decided to try trail running. Mr. Hu played a significant role in getting me into trail running. As early as April and May, he would send me beautiful pictures of the mountains to entice me. Then I discovered that trail running gear is much cooler than road running gear, with a seemingly higher level of sophistication. 'Remembering Jiangnan, the best memory is Hangzhou, half mountain and half city.' Running in the mountains in Hangzhou was the right choice. In August, Salomon had a trail running event, and I gathered Mr. Hu, Xingyun, and Shanshan to join me.

As my first trail run, Mr. Hu took good care of me, ensuring I finished at a turtle's pace. I realized that while others were running, I was climbing. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my throat on the uphill sections, and I used various sticks as crutches along the way. I didn't care about how cool the gear was or how sophisticated it looked; I didn't even have time to enjoy the scenery, focusing only on catching my breath. I was exhausted, lying on the ground like a tired dog, not wanting to move. This experience made me realize that trail running is not something you can just casually play around with. It's very different from road running, requiring strong core strength to support you. If you're weak, you'll suffer; if you're strong, you can enjoy it.

In early September, Bear God (@Runner Bear) organized a trail run in Suzhou. Bear God's influence was so strong that 60 people went to Suzhou to conquer the mountains. The scenery was breathtaking, and everyone had a great time. After a short break at White Horse Stream, we headed to Lingyan Temple.

It was the height of summer, with the sun blazing in the sky, mercilessly scorching us. The first half of the route had almost no shade, and Shanshan got a bit of heatstroke. I also felt dizzy, but after a short rest, we continued. Later, Shanshan scraped her knees but gritted her teeth and made it to the finish line. I thought she would give up and advised her not to push too hard, but she just smiled and said, 'Who doesn't get a little hurt on the trail?' and kept going. Kudos to all the trail-running girls; you are all so strong and have taught me how to be strong. After crossing Dayang Mountain, I couldn't help but bow to the sky, thankful to be alive.

On September 10th, Bear Bear started his running journey from Shanghai to Kunming, a distance of 4,000 kilometers. Dozens of people joined him for the first leg to see him off. At each subsequent stop, unfamiliar runners joined to accompany him, making me feel that friendship is not a fleeting firework but a heartfelt painting. Although we didn't know each other for long, we all shared a deep connection. It feels like just yesterday we took photos at Jinniu Square, and now Bear Bear has already run 3,800 kilometers (Editor's note: The challenge has now been completed), and is about to reach Kunming. We sent him off with blessings, and now we look forward to his stories upon his return.

After reading so many Qing Dynasty novels over the years, I finally got to see the Forbidden City that haunted my dreams. The red walls, black tiles, and white jade bridges, along with tales of palace intrigue, left a lasting impression. The capital city is indeed very different from Shanghai, with the grand Chang'an Avenue and the majestic Zhongnanhai, exuding imperial grandeur everywhere. Autumn in Beijing is the most comfortable season. At the entrance of the hutongs, under the city walls, and beside the princely mansions, the autumn wind rises, and the autumn atmosphere deepens. The old-timers no longer go shirtless, and the Beijing girls still show off their beautiful legs.

The National Marathon in Beijing during the Mid-Autumn Festival was my second full marathon. Many people don't understand why we travel so far to run and why we run 42 kilometers. They think it's either self-torture or a sign of insanity. For us, a marathon is a celebration. 'If you are not a fish, how can you know the joy of a fish?' My toenail was injured by someone stepping on it, and after returning to Shanghai, I found it filled with blood and bulging. I gritted my teeth and pulled it out completely, and the pain from disinfecting with alcohol was excruciating.

Running makes people stronger. Things that used to seem like a big deal no longer feel that way.

To be continued...

Author: @OrientalXX Editor: @Codoon People