a love letter to you
Dear Marathon,
I am a senior student, and like many who adore you, I am deeply infatuated with you. It has been almost three years since I first encountered you, and I am grateful for your constant companionship. Over these three years, do you know how much I love you? I clearly remember: before I met you, back in my second year of high school, I participated in the school's spring athletics meet and signed up for the 3000-meter event. Out of 16 participants in my grade, I finished 11th. I ran in a very embarrassing manner and felt awful... On the basketball court, I was a force to be reckoned with, but on the red rubber track, I was nothing until I entered university.
[Falling in love with 'her,' looking forward to the first encounter with 'her']
In 2012, when I first entered university, I was selected for the college basketball team. Before the official competition, we had a month of intensive training. Besides basketball skills, daily physical training was a must. It was during this time that I met your sister, 'long-distance running.' Initially, I didn't like her at all, but the coach insisted on arranging daily meetings with her—5 kilometers, 10 kilometers—leaving me exhausted and nearly desperate, but I had to grit my teeth and persist. My legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with cement, and sweat poured onto the track lap after lap. To make myself stronger, I persevered day after day. Finally, after the first week, I could keep up with the coach's electric scooter around the campus. After completing the daily running quota, I could even run an extra two or three kilometers. Every night after running, I slept soundly, and my mental state was excellent for the next morning's training. I realized the benefits of running. From fearing running to running a little bit, and then to genuinely loving it. Unknowingly, I was able to maintain a pace of 4 minutes per kilometer for over 10 kilometers.
[Meeting you at the best age]
In March 2013, a teacher at school planned to take a few students to participate in the Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon in April. I signed up without hesitation and began systematic training, preparing for my first encounter with you. A month before the race, my running volume exceeded 200 kilometers, and I adjusted to my best state. On the day of the Yangzhou Marathon, I stood with you. You called upon tens of thousands of fellow runners to run with me, and countless spectators along the course cheered for me. With ample food and water prepared throughout the course, in such an exciting atmosphere, I completed my first half marathon in 1 hour and 42 minutes. You also gave me my first marathon medal, representing the honor and relentless perseverance of a runner. It was so dazzling that I even wanted to sleep with it.
In the same year, 2013, due to academic commitments, I didn't participate in any other external races after the Yangzhou Marathon, but I never stopped running. The Yunlong Lake Scenic Area near the school has a 13-kilometer loop, which I ran two or three times a week. In October, I stood on the full marathon course of the Beijing Marathon for the first time. Having only run one half marathon before, I doubted myself a bit.
But there was always a phrase in my mind: 'Do things you've never done before, keep trying, keep challenging.' Yes, before running the Yangzhou Marathon, I didn't know I could complete it. Now that I was on the course, with the foundation of my usual training, I just needed to start running. What was there to worry about? This time, you gave me my first beautiful memory of a full marathon, letting me know that my only opponent is myself and that going out for a run is such a meaningful thing.
After the 2013 Beijing Marathon, I truly began my marathon journey, having more and more dates with you. In Zhengkai, you took me through two cities, teaching me that no matter how long the road is, as long as I keep running forward, I will eventually reach the finish line. In Dongying, you showed me that even 30-degree heat wouldn't stop my steps. In Wuxi, you let me enjoy picturesque scenery and the sight of girls in qipao holding oil-paper umbrellas along the course. Suzhou, Taishan, Chongqing, Huangshan... Every time I was with you, it was an unforgettable memory for a lifetime.
With unstoppable steps, you took me across the great rivers and mountains, visiting famous mountains and rivers. Every marathon course has my running figure, and every marathon track has my sweat. It is you who gave me the pursuit, you who gave 23-year-old me the opportunity to venture out, giving me a strong physique and more experiences than my peers. How can I not love you for being like this!
You are a friend everyone should make, a lover everyone deserves to have. To make more people like you and love you, I established a marathon association in my college, encouraging hundreds of teachers and students to start running and step onto the marathon course. I also formed my own running group, participating in various offline and online races.
In just three years of running marathons, I have already participated in over forty marathons. How many more can I run in this lifetime? I have never thought about it. Running until I can't run anymore—that's enough.
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Submission email: tougao123@codoon.com