It has been four days since the Guangzhou Marathon ended, yet I am still immersed in the joy of that moment. The steady and powerful footsteps of the runners around me and the enthusiastic cheers of the citizens have become deeply etched in my mind, never to be erased. As my final race of 2018, the Guangzhou Marathon is destined to be a significant chapter in my life.

Thinking back to the moment I got the notification that I was selected for the Guangzhou Marathon, I still feel a surge of excitement. I had originally booked an economical Friday evening flight well in advance. Later, I received a call from the airline informing me that all flights for that time slot had been canceled and that I could reschedule for any other flight within three days at no extra cost. So, I rescheduled to a 7:50 AM flight on Saturday, expecting to arrive in Guangzhou by 11:30 AM. Little did I know, this rescheduled flight would lead to a 'butterfly effect' of a bumpy journey.

On Friday, the night before the Guangzhou Marathon, I woke up at 3 AM, packed my bags, and headed out, only to find it was snowing heavily outside. I had a vague sense of foreboding—would my flight be delayed? However, I thought that since my flight was early, even if it was delayed, it shouldn't affect my marathon trip.

As expected, the flight was repeatedly delayed and didn't take off until 5:20 PM, resulting in a full day of waiting at the airport. Fortunately, I met a few fellow marathon runners also heading to Guangzhou, which provided some comfort amidst the anxiety. Since we didn't know when we would arrive in Guangzhou and were worried about missing the equipment pickup time, we communicated with the organizing committee several times. They assured us they would wait for us, which slightly eased our concerns.

By the time we arrived in Guangzhou, it was already 9:30 PM, well past the equipment pickup time. When we called the organizing committee, no one answered. We quickly took a taxi straight to the Pazhou Sports Center. Luckily, when we arrived, there were indeed volunteers waiting for latecomers like us. I was so excited that words couldn't describe my feelings. However, we only received our equipment and didn't get our wristbands.

After arriving at the hotel, checking in, and organizing all my belongings, it was already midnight. I collapsed onto the bed but couldn't sleep, finally dozing off around 1 AM and waking up early at 4 AM. After two consecutive nights of poor sleep and a tiring day at the airport, I felt utterly exhausted. To make matters worse, it was that time of the month, adding to my sense of foreboding. But a marathon runner can't give up! So, I geared up as planned and headed out. It was still dark, raining heavily, and very cold, but many marathon participants were already on their way to the starting point.

After a night of rain, there were many puddles on the road, and my shoes were already soaked. After storing my clothes, I went through security, only to face another problem. Without a wristband, security wouldn't let me in, no matter how much I explained. In desperation, I switched to another security checkpoint and 'blended' in with the crowd. Although this behavior is not commendable, I had no other choice!

Standing at the starting line of the Guangzhou Marathon, I finally felt at ease—now I could really run the marathon. There was an amusing moment when I stood among the runners and couldn't see any female runners around me. I asked the person next to me, 'Is the start divided by gender? Why don't I see any women?' Thinking back, I must have been out of my mind to ask such a question.

After the start, my shoes and socks were already wet, and the socks clung tightly to my toes, causing discomfort. After just 2 kilometers, my toes began to ache. But I couldn't afford to worry about such minor issues; I just needed to keep running! Fortunately, the rain gradually stopped shortly after the start, and the overcast sky without rain was perfect for running.

One thing worth praising is the enthusiasm of the people in Guangzhou. There were many cheering crowds along the track, and plenty of private aid stations. Since I didn't bring energy gels or salt pills, I grabbed a Snickers bar from the roadside to replenish my energy. I took a big bite while running, but it stuck to my teeth and wouldn't come off. It took a lot of effort to get it off and swallow it, but then it got stuck in my throat and wouldn't go down. I ran for two kilometers with that piece of Snickers stuck in my throat until I reached a water station and drank a cup of water to wash it down. So, I advise all runners: Snickers are really not suitable for eating while running!

Due to my lazy training, where I only ran 10 kilometers each time without long-distance training, problems started to appear after 25 kilometers. My calves began to cramp frequently, and any attempt to speed up resulted in unbearable pain, causing my pace to drop sharply. Moreover, the Guangzhou Marathon course has many turnaround points, each of which was a huge torment for me. But I managed to keep running.

After reaching the finish line and collecting my race pack, I walked out, thinking I should take a photo with my medal. But after searching through my race pack for a long time, I couldn't find the medal. After asking others, I learned that the medals were handed out separately. I quickly went back to ask the volunteers for my medal, but they insisted that my bib number had already been marked, indicating I had received the medal. I was really frustrated because every runner knows the significance of the medal. I told the volunteers they could search my belongings to see if I had the medal, but they suggested I might have given it to a friend. I was speechless and quite angry, so I argued with them. Eventually, another runner came over saying they hadn't received their medal either. After some negotiation with a supervisor, I finally got my medal. I believe this was a major oversight by the organizers. In other marathons I've participated in, the medals were always in the race pack, or there were clear instructions to collect them separately. But at the Guangzhou Marathon, there was no such instruction when I collected my race pack, leading to this unpleasant incident. I hope this won't happen again in the future.

My Guangzhou Marathon journey ended amidst various 'unfortunate' events, and many factors contributed to my less-than-ideal performance. However, if you ask me whether I enjoyed this Guangzhou Marathon trip, I would say without hesitation, yes! As I posted on my social media after the run: 'Others laugh at me for being crazy, but I laugh at them for not understanding.'

Life is too bland; you must find something unforgettable. Many friends ask me why I run marathons. It's so tiring and costs money—what's the point? Well, I can't really say what the point is. I'll never be the one standing on the podium, but I still want to keep running. After experiencing the monotony and fatigue of running, I gain a great sense of accomplishment.

Running makes me happy and resilient. Marathons are addictive; once you run one, you can never stop. So, all I can do is keep running, just keep running!

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