a mission of a wuxi wild rabbit
Registrationmorning, I finally stood on the course of the 2016 Wuxi International Marathon.16After the success of the 2016 Wuxi International Marathon, I heard that the course of the Wuxi Marathon is relatively flat, with beautiful scenery and pleasant climate, making it particularly suitable for achieving good results. So, I decided to train hard with the goal of setting a newPBand aiming to complete the full marathon inMarch:30to join the ranks of the "elite."
One day, a post appeared on my phone about the Codoon Running Group recruiting pacers for the Wuxi Marathon. My heart skipped a beat. "Marathon pacer," a title I never dared to dream of before, suddenly appeared before me. To be a pacer, one needs considerable marathon experience, significant strength, and a stable pace, none of which seemed possible for someone like me who had been running for less than a year. Could I really achieve this?
With a mindset of giving it a try, I signed up.
Not long after, I received a message on my phone: I was selected as a 4:30 pacer for the Codoon Running Group in the Wuxi Marathon! To this day, I still don't know why Codoon chose me. Was it because of my running data on the Codoon app? Or the information I provided during registration? Or perhaps someone influential helped me? Whatever the reason, I was now a pacer, and I couldn't sleep that night.4:30pacer! Until now, I still don't understand why Codoon chose me. Was it because of my running data on the Codoon app? Or the information I provided during registration? Or perhaps someone influential helped me? Whatever the reason, I was now a pacer, and I couldn't sleep that night.
Since Codoon believed in me, I couldn't let them down. So, I decisively gave up the idea of setting a newPBand focused solely on being a good "pacer."
2016year32020Before the race, I carefully prepared my gear: black running shorts, orange Nike running shoes, a fluorescent green "Ma'anshan Running Club" jersey, a bright pink Wuxi Marathon vest, and a Codoon Running Group headscarf with the word "Codoon" prominently displayed. I also wore pink "pacer" ears, and an orange balloon floated above my head.2016Wuxi International Marathon course.
Before the race, I carefully prepared my gear: black running shorts, orange Nike running shoes, a fluorescent green "Ma'anshan Running Club" jersey, a bright pink Wuxi Marathon vest, and a Codoon Running Group headscarf with the word "Codoon" prominently displayed. I also wore pink "pacer" ears, and an orange balloon floated above my head.On top of my headthere wasan orange balloon fluttering in the wind..
I was a colorful and eye-catching sight, attracting the attention of many fellow runners.
"Bang!" The starting gun fired, and the crowd began to move.
After running for a short while, some runners came up to chat: "Are you a pacer?" "Are you the 4:30 pacer? I'll run with you." "Are you an official pacer or an unofficial one?"4:30pacer? I'll run with you." "Are you an official pacer or an unofficial one?"
I didn't know there were official and unofficial pacers. Soon, I saw a runner with "Official Pacer" written on their back and realized I was probably an unofficial pacer. But regardless of the title, as long as I maintained a stable pace, I would be a good pacer. Even official pacers can be "rogue pacers."
Around the20kilometer mark, a runner reminded me, "Pacer, you have a lot of followers!" I turned around and saw about twenty or thirty runners following me. When I asked, they said they found my pace consistent at around 6 minutes and 20 seconds per kilometer, making it easy to run with me. I felt a surge of pride.6minutes20seconds per kilometer, making it easy to run with me. I felt a surge of pride.
Usually, my fastest pace for a half marathon is 4 minutes and 37 seconds per kilometer. But on the racecourse, I couldn't slow down. Too fast, slow down a bit; too fast again, slow down a bit more. I kept reminding myself, missing much of the scenery. I didn't see the blooming cherry blossoms by Lihu Lake, the beautiful women in qipao by the small bridge, or the picturesque campus of Jiangnan University. I only vaguely heard the sound of the erhu playing "The Moon Reflected on the Second Spring," but I wasn't sure if it was the same as the one played by Abing years ago. However, I didn't regret it, as it was all for the dedicated runners following me.4minutes37seconds per kilometer, making it easy to run with me. I felt a surge of pride.
Around the30kilometer mark, I felt the urge to use the restroom. Seeing the temporary toilets along the way, I really wanted to relieve myself. But with so many runners following me, I couldn't just leave them to go on my own. No, I had to stick it out. So, I ran the entire 42.195 kilometers without stopping for a break. I didn't regret it, as it was all for the dedicated runners following me.42.195kilometers, making it easy to run with me. I felt a surge of pride.
Unforgettable was a female runner with the online name "Eleven," who started following me around the 15-kilometer mark. She said it was her first full marathon, having previously only run up to 30 kilometers. She wanted to challenge herself to complete the full marathon and hoped to run with me. I was deeply moved by her perseverance and decided to help her achieve her goal. The further we ran, the harder it became for her. She fell behind several times, and I stopped to wait for her, constantly encouraging her. In the last two kilometers, I realized that if we continued at our current pace, we wouldn't finish in 4 hours and 30 minutes. So, I grabbed her hand and sprinted towards the finish line.15kilometer mark. She said it was her first full marathon, having previously only run up to 30 kilometers. She wanted to challenge herself to complete the full marathon and hoped to run with me. I was deeply moved by her perseverance and decided to help her achieve her goal. The further we ran, the harder it became for her. She fell behind several times, and I stopped to wait for her, constantly encouraging her. In the last two kilometers, I realized that if we continued at our current pace, we wouldn't finish in 4 hours and 30 minutes. So, I grabbed her hand and sprinted towards the finish line.30kilometers. She wanted to challenge herself to complete the full marathon and hoped to run with me. I was deeply moved by her perseverance and decided to help her achieve her goal. The further we ran, the harder it became for her. She fell behind several times, and I stopped to wait for her, constantly encouraging her. In the last two kilometers, I realized that if we continued at our current pace, we wouldn't finish in 4 hours and 30 minutes. So, I grabbed her hand and sprinted towards the finish line.4hours30minutes. So, I grabbed her hand and sprinted towards the finish line.4hours28minutes exactly, while my net time was4hours29minutes32seconds. It was a perfect result.
To my surprise, after crossing the finish line, she gave me a big hug, thanking me for helping her achieve her goal. Although we were strangers, the camaraderie between runners was pure and beautiful. We exchanged WeChat contacts and agreed to run the next marathon together.
After the Wuxi Marathon, I wrote in my WeChat Moments: "I am a small pacer, showing the world how I run marathons; the drops of sweat on the track forge a strong marathon runner."
I am not the fastest runner, but I am the most dedicated runner;
I am not the best runner, but I am the most serious runner.