a passion for perseverance led me to a stronger self
1. Foreword
On May 4th, I completed my first full marathon pacer task with a pace of 5:30, averaging 7:50. From running at a pace of over 7 minutes when I started, to now maintaining a similar pace for a full marathon, I think this shows my unwavering commitment!
It's graduation season again, and I'm about to finish my graduate studies. I still remember my first submission to Codoon during my undergraduate graduation season. I think this is my destiny with Codoon.
Time is a wonderful thing. It constantly records your laziness and your efforts, and one day in the future, it will either slap you in the face or reward you with a sweet date. Running is the best way to see if you are diligent and hardworking. Fortunately, up to today, time has remembered my efforts in running and rewarded me with a sweet date. It also tells me that whether the future holds more sweet dates depends on whether I continue to work hard. I will work hard!
2. It took me 5 years to go from a pace of over 7 minutes to a pace of over 5 minutes.
I started running, like most people, to lose weight! Although I used to be a strong girl who didn't look fat. I started running in 2014, and Codoon recorded all my runs, allowing me to look back at my running journey today.
I never thought I was running slowly because I always surpassed my companions. Until one day, I cleaned up my Codoon sports circle and realized I was running so slowly, with a pace of over 7 minutes per kilometer. Now, I start with a pace of over 5 minutes. But I still enjoyed that time, running alone with headphones and a pair of cheap running shoes on the track.
I still remember completing my first half marathon on the track, with blackened toes and a body worn out, making it hard to sleep that night due to the pain. Before graduating in 2016, I always ran alone, without a running group or guidance, so my speed, running knowledge, and gear didn't improve much.
Entering Ocean University of China in 2016 marked a period of rapid improvement for me. My first mentor, Uncle Wang Yongzhou, was someone I met while running laps on the university track. He taught me how to swing my arms, land my feet, and breathe properly. That day, my pace first entered the 6-minute range. Later, I consciously learned from others how to run and improve my pace. With increased mileage, my speed also increased, and now I occasionally enter the 4-minute range. So, in these 5 years, I'm glad I've persisted in running and continuously improved.
3. It took me 4 years to go from a running novice to achieving results.
I know I have a competitive spirit, and I know many female runners are better than me. But so what? I just want to achieve results!
When I started running, I didn't expect much, and I didn't dare to think about results. But when I started participating in offline races, standing on the track, I wanted to give my all and achieve results.
My first award was at the university sports meet. In 2017, my first year at the sports meet, I was delayed by running in the gym during winter, and I was defeated, ultimately placing third. I even experienced post-run vomiting and diarrhea. That day, I made a firm resolution to be first next year. In the 2018 sports meet, I was first. This year, I am still first.
Besides the university sports meet, competing with female runners outside the university fascinated me even more. In two 10-kilometer races, I placed seventh once and fourth once. On the day I placed fourth, standing below the podium, I told myself that next time, I would stand on that podium!
In 4 years, I started achieving results, so future, wait for me!
4. It took me 4 years to go from my first half marathon to a full marathon.
People are always greedy. After running 5 kilometers for the first time, I wanted to try 10 kilometers. After running 15 kilometers, I wanted to try a half marathon. After running a half marathon, I definitely wanted to try a full marathon.
So, after running over 10 kilometers, I ran my first half marathon on the track without any experience. Because I didn't know how to participate or have any channels, and my undergraduate school in Ya'an didn't host related races, marathons weren't as common as they are now. So, after 3 years of running, I participated in my first offline half marathon in Qingdao in 2017, finishing with a time of 1:56.
I never attempted a full marathon because I knew it was more than just two half marathons combined; it was a challenge against myself. I always felt unprepared. In the 2018 Qingdao Marathon, I knew the time had come. Since the marathon was right at the school gate, I could avoid the hassle of travel and compete in a familiar place, eliminating many unfavorable factors. So, I signed up for the full marathon. Before the full marathon, I ran 30 kilometers for the first time, giving me confidence. So, in my first full marathon, after accompanying a wheelchair athlete for 10 kilometers, spending 1 hour and 21 minutes, I chased hard and finished with a time of 4:36.
After 4 years of running, I finally became a full marathon runner!
5. It took me 4 years to go from an ordinary runner to a half marathon pacer.
Being a pacer is something many runners aspire to, and I am no exception.
My first time as a pacer was thanks to an opportunity from Codoon. It was also the only marathon outside my province that I participated in—the Beijing International Long-distance Running Festival Beijing Half Marathon. As a student, due to time and money constraints, I rarely participated in races outside my province. The Beijing Half Marathon was my first. If it weren't for being an official pacer, I wouldn't have spent money on travel and accommodation to participate. Near the race, I even considered giving up because the travel and accommodation costs were a burden for me.
I love running, but I usually don't spend much money on it to avoid burdening my parents. So, I save up for race expenses myself. However, I felt that being an official pacer was a responsibility, and I couldn't abandon it for personal reasons. So, just before the race, I booked my tickets and arranged to stay with Sister Na. I'm glad I went; otherwise, I would have regretted it because some things can't be bought with money.
The first time, I was just a novice and needed a lot of improvement. The second time as an official pacer was at the Qingdao Maritime Marathon. This time, I truly experienced the meaning of being an official pacer. Along the way, we encouraged runners, helped them maintain a steady pace, and motivated them to persist. In the end, a group of us sprinted to the finish together! After the race, many people thanked us, saying, 'Thank you, pacers, for helping us reach the finish line.' At that moment, giving up my pace and results was all worth it.
6. It took me 1 year to go from a half marathon pacer to a full marathon pacer.
Being a full marathon pacer is my ultimate goal.
Although I only have one full marathon experience, I am not worried about fulfilling my responsibility. Because the Qingdao Marathon course has many uphill sections, and I have become familiar with all the routes over the past two years, I believe I can handle this responsibility. Moreover, the Qingdao Marathon is like a partner in growth for me; we have witnessed each other's progress. My first half marathon was at the first Qingdao Marathon, and my first full marathon was at the second Qingdao Marathon.
This year's Qingdao Marathon started on May 4th, Youth Day, at May Fourth Square. As a new generation of youth, I felt I had to do something for it. So, for the third Qingdao Marathon this year, I signed up as a full marathon pacer.
Time is mischievous; it always gives you extra rewards when you least expect it. I was assigned as a 5:30 official pacer, the same pace as when I started running.
There were no half marathon pacers for the Qingdao Marathon, only full marathon pacers. So, we also took on the task of pacing half marathon runners. Before the race, Sister Zhang Chao, an experienced pacer in our group, carefully assigned us a 3-3-2 formation to avoid blocking other runners. I printed out a pace chart, wore my Huawei fitness band, and ensured I completed the task. We maintained a steady pace every kilometer and calibrated every 5 kilometers. Despite the slow pace, physical fatigue, and steep slopes, our 5:30 pacer group never stopped to walk.
The Qingdao Marathon course caused many out-of-town runners to collapse. We encouraged them to jog slowly, reminded them of upcoming slopes, and urged them to persist and replenish in time. We did our best to help more runners finish safely.
Running at a pace of over 7 minutes again, I initially felt unfamiliar and too slow, with my feet starting to hurt. The inertia caused me to speed up occasionally, but thanks to reminders from Brother Che, Sister Xiao Guo, Sister Chao, Sister Qing Qing, Brother Tao, Sister Xian, and Sister Ning, I gradually found the familiar feeling and ran more smoothly at a pace of over 7 minutes. Finally, our 5:30 pacer group collectively sprinted to the finish line in the countdown, successfully completing the task.
The 5.5-hour race was honestly not enjoyable, and the 5.5-hour sun exposure made me tanned, and my phone's battery didn't last. But the feeling of running together with a group was really great! This experience truly made me understand the responsibility and difficulty of being an official pacer. Pacers are not about looking glamorous in photos; it's about giving up your pace and results and the responsibility of not sprinting to the finish line.
7. Postscript
5 years have passed quickly, but time has remembered my persistence and efforts, transforming me today!
Weight. From 120 pounds 5 years ago to 104 pounds today, and my weight hasn't changed much over the years.
Appearance. From being energetic 5 years ago to still being full of energy today, my photo album is still full of smiling pictures.
Studies. From an undergraduate who never received a scholarship 5 years ago to a master's student with first-class scholarships and the Chunhua Scholarship today, I always knew that studying and running are interconnected.
Inner self. From having a short attention span 5 years ago to being able to proudly say today that I can persist!
The luckiest thing in life is to persist in what you love and love what you persist in. I am very fortunate to have started and fallen in love with running at a young age. So, if I want to be even luckier, I just need to keep going! I will, because I am Xiaowei, and Xiaowei is always striving!