beima hang · china dream
In mid-August, I carefully checked my 'unsuccessful' status for the Beijing Marathon, only to find out on September 5th through an equipment collection message that I had actually made it....
Haha, I was as happy as a flower at that moment. From being a novice runner to running a marathon, the Beijing Marathon is a dream for every runner. This is my second full marathon. In a rush, I quickly booked my flight and hotel, and began my Beijing Marathon journey · China Dream!
The excitement of standing in front of Tiananmen Square
On the 17th, Beijing had blue skies and white clouds, with bright sunshine. It was a bit chilly in the morning but felt very warm. Accompanying me were Dong and Luo. We carried our respect for the Beijing Marathon, our love for Beijing, and our long-held wish to run freely in front of Tiananmen, starting the race with 30,000 marathon enthusiasts from different countries and regions.
When the stirring national anthem played, the scene of 30,000 people singing together was indescribably moving! Besides excitement, there was a lot of emotion. We took various poses and snapped photos, wanting to capture all the excitement and beauty in pictures.
Isn't my national flag-themed outfit cool? Originally, I planned to wear a Beijing-style outfit for the marathon. Dong suggested we run together and create a group look. Luo, being part of the Sunshine Running Team, needed to wear their red outfit. So, I got a national flag T-shirt from him. A plain T-shirt wouldn't satisfy me, so I took scissors and transformed it into a stylish off-shoulder top. I also modified Dong's outfit a bit. Haha, it turned out perfect! This outfit couldn't be more fitting for the Beijing Marathon.
I successfully completed the Beijing Marathon 520.
At 7:30 AM, the 2017 China Fortune Beijing Marathon started with a gunshot at Tiananmen Square. 30,000 athletes from 42 countries and regions participated.
The grand scene is beyond words; just look at the pictures. It's a pleasant surprise to find myself among so many people.
There were a lot of people along the way. For the first 3 kilometers, we were almost walking. The three of us moved forward happily. At the 10-kilometer mark, we started drinking water. We saw an elder runner, Xiao Lan Yongnian, whom I greatly admire. No matter the weather, he always runs and checks in, with a kind smile that is very infectious.
There was an unexpected incident at the 15-kilometer supply station. While I was getting water, two handsome guys stepped on my foot. I just want to ask, was it intentional? Coincidentally, they both stepped on the same toe, which hurt a lot. Later, I found two black toenails. Well, there's a saying: black toenails are a runner's badge of honor. Thinking this way, the black toenails felt like a glory, haha~
In the first half of the marathon, Luo had a leg injury, so we ran slowly with him. I could see he was uncomfortable, but he still tried hard to keep up with us. At the 21-kilometer mark, we took a happy group photo. Luo then told Dong and me to run ahead while he continued slowly, joking that he might need the rescue vehicle later. Unable to argue with him, Dong and I started running ahead together.
We chatted and ran forward. On the way, we met Jiangnan from Guangzhou. Since our paces were different, we greeted each other, took a photo, and then parted ways. Around the 36-kilometer mark, Dong suddenly said his knee hurt. At first, I thought he was joking because he had said earlier that he would run the whole course with me. He probably found it hard to run so slowly after running fast earlier. Normally, he finishes a full marathon in 3:30. Running so slowly must have been tough for him. We continued running slowly together. Brother, keep up with me!
I usually run about 300 kilometers a month, so running a full marathon is easy for me as long as I don't chase speed. I can smile the whole way. Looking back at the photos, I'm always smiling. Facing the camera, I automatically switch to smile mode. That's just me, always smiling.
Because we ran slowly, I didn't feel tired at all. At the 41-kilometer mark, I was eager to finish the marathon. I planned to run a 5:20 marathon, and the timing was just right. After taking a photo at the 41-kilometer mark, I sprinted forward. My net time was 5:20, a beautiful number to commemorate my beloved Beijing Marathon! Our dear Luo finished in 6:00! Congratulations! I admire his willpower!
Thanks to the photographers at the finish line who took many beautiful photos of us! They gave a perfect ending to my Beijing Marathon journey!
Summary of my Beijing Marathon journey:The Beijing Marathon had ample supplies: bananas, raisins, jujubes, tomatoes... The spectators were very enthusiastic! The finisher's bag was super generous, filled with goodies... This event deserves a perfect score! A medal carries the memories of my Beijing Marathon. Thanks to Dong and Luo for running with me! Thanks to all the staff and volunteers for their hard work! Thank you for giving us this grand event, much appreciated!
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