busy office workers run for half a year to adjust physical and mental states
Year after year of working overtime for the company, my biggest feeling is utter exhaustion. My young body feels as weak as that of an eighty-year-old. With three meals a day being takeout, late-night work, and midnight snacks, I think this is the common survival status of office workers in the country.
The invisible pressures of life and work destroy our bodies, but we can't give up our jobs. So, like many of my colleagues, I thought of buying health supplements, medicines, and getting massages, thinking these would alleviate the fatigue. However, the reality told us that these are just temporary fixes, and our overdrawn bodies continue to suffer.
I remember once rushing to catch an early bus. As soon as I left home, I sprinted several hundred meters to the bus stop. Although I managed to catch the bus, my legs and knees gave out, and I ended up kneeling at the bus door. I felt utterly defeated and depressed, watching the bustling morning crowd cycling and running past the window. Suddenly, I had the urge to start exercising, and on that cold winter day, I began my running journey.
However, running wasn't as simple as I thought. After a few days of running a few kilometers, I experienced knee pain, leg pain, and foot pain, making me want to give up. This intermittent running led to numerous injuries during the three months of winter in the north. I bought medicine, got X-rays, massages, and rested, but it was all in vain. The root cause was my lack of prior exercise, improper running techniques, and ignorance of warm-ups.
Later, I don't remember who told me about the Codoon app. Opening Codoon felt like discovering a new world, with so many professional training methods and fitness experts. I want to thank Liaoning Brother Wang Xianzhong, who also won an award this time. He was the first to provide me with Sun Yingjie's running training methods, which helped me gain knowledge and avoid common running mistakes. I also want to thank Codoon Yantai's Little Seven, who constantly reminded and encouraged me on my running journey. Little Seven is my guide and witness on the road, and a role model for me. Thank you, Little Seven!
To get back on track, hard work really pays off. After months of persistence, I went from kneeling to catch a bus to starting with five kilometers, then ten kilometers, and eventually running several half-marathons. The change was significant. Friends and family who hadn't seen me for a while said I looked slimmer, more toned, and no longer slouched or lethargic. Comparing photos, I was convinced of the transformative power of running!
The changes went beyond appearance. The ailments that plagued office workers, like back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, eye strain, varicose veins, and knee pain, all disappeared! I became a healthy person, and this joy is priceless. I encouraged those around me to run, urging them to persist daily for progress. I believe miracles will happen for them too.
My initial goal for running was to regain health, which I achieved. But my aspirations didn't stop there; I wanted to participate in an actual marathon. I have already registered and believe I will achieve my dream and complete the race. No matter what challenges lie ahead, running will remain my unwavering belief. I will continue to learn and improve, letting more race tracks witness my running figure.
Although I'm still a novice, I am growing and have some practical insights to share: In the first stage of running, injuries are inevitable due to inexperience. Don't worry too much about injuries; with proper rest and auxiliary treatments, they will heal. Never give up. In the second stage, as long as you persist without injuries, you will improve. However, it's easy to fall into the trap of blindly chasing speed by comparing yourself to others. This can lead to injuries because our physical fitness and core strength are relatively weak. Observe the running posture of long-distance running experts and learn from them. Codoon and online resources offer plenty of information. Diligently apply what you learn to yourself, and you will see results. Also, no matter how busy you are, remember to stretch before and after running. This helps muscles adapt and recover quickly. Running may seem simple, but it involves the entire body. To achieve higher goals, continuously train your core, stamina, glutes, legs, and cardiovascular functions, and refine your running techniques to become stronger.
Maybe your dreams haven't been realized yet, and life may not be satisfactory, but never give up. Remember, the beauty you long for is only delayed, not absent. Thank yourself for never stopping running, thank the Codoon friends across the country for their encouragement, and thank Codoon for providing the running platform that helped me stay healthy and meet like-minded running friends. Lastly, thank you to Yibao for their strong sponsorship and support, and to all the dedicated and passionate colleagues at Yibao. I wish Codoon and Yibao continued success and prosperity!