a quarter of five years

Five years ago today, I unlocked my first marathon in Tainan.

At that time, after I developed the habit of running every three weeks, I couldn't wait to sign up for the summer event, but I had no experience and was afraid of getting heatstroke, so I signed up for the Star Horse. The Star Horse in Tainan runs from 4:30 pm, with a time limit of 7 hours, so that I can run all the way to 11:30 pm without having to get up early, and I can save the worry of running to the venue without a car the next morning.

Although it took about four months of self-training, except for participating in two half-marathon events in the middle, I never tried to run more than half-marathon in self-practice. So between 22km and 42km, whether my feet can continue to run is completely unknown.

Gunshots sounded in the distance, and the crowd began to move. Someone gave out massage oil on the road, and I followed suit and smeared a little on my calf to protect myself from cramps.

My cousin, who occasionally races with me, chats with me as he runs easily. Those who know him will feel very relieved, but after all, it is the first time for me to race a horse, and I can’t help but worry about whether I will be out of breath after chatting.

Although the sun was obscured by dark clouds, the weather was still hot. Less exposure to the sun can save you a lot of tossing. I ran easily on the road, thinking that at this moment, I was really running, and I had simulated the road several times in my mind.

By the time we got to the first supply station, it was overcrowded. I forced my way to the front and saw that there were volunteers roasting meat, and people serving beer. It was like a jazz festival. I managed to get a piece of meat, still chewing in my mouth, and hurriedly left the crowd and continued on.

After the second supply station, over a bridge, the sky begins to twilight, and the cool sea breeze makes people linger. There were shirtless runners with flags in front of them, male runners in fancy bathrobes, barefoot runners, all of them running in the same direction, as if they were running for something in front of them. Incredible.

A runner picked up the phone and stopped, and started talking about business in a business tone. Another Asan answered the phone and inexplicably abused his family. An uncle carried a jukebox on his back and provided people with a jukebox. The dependence of modern people on 3C products has become such an interesting landscape when it is put on the marathon field.

I can't help but think of a Japanese ad that parodies a marathon. In the advertisement, people run in different directions, some people run back to bed, some people run to the auditorium to get married, some people run for interviews, and some people go to travel around the world. The people in the advertisement screen seemed to be smiling happily. There is no set route and destination in life, and life is unique in its own way. At the moment I lost my character and just ran straight.

When passing an ordinary house, the whole family came out with their children, beating the salad oil barrels as drums, and struggling to cheer for the runners. Although it was a simple cheer, I felt a warm feeling flowing from my heart through my body. I feel everyone who runs past me and myself, imagine what they are thinking as they run? I tried to zoom out a little bit. Although I couldn't see the sunset in the distance, I could see the warm twilight.

When passing through those kinds of scenery, I feel as if I am running to the end of the world. Finally, after a lot of hard work, I crossed 21 milestones, and I saw the sign and time of the turning point before my eyes. But the journey has only just begun, and I feel so tired.

Not long after the turn-around point, it was getting dark. I chased after the night and ran all the way to the Luermen Tianhou Temple, which is 25 kilometers away, to collect the token. The marathon route runs through the entire palace, making people stop and take a look at the style of the Tianhou Palace. When I entered the palace, there was a whole long table of supplies, but I only had time to grab a piece of salted chicken and a banana. After pouring down two big mouths and running, going to the toilet next to the temple and stopping to take a break, only then did I realize the fatigue that had already piled up, causing my will to fall one by one quickly like dominoes.

After 28km, my feet are no longer my own. Lactic acid was like some kind of chemical bomb, and my legs were so sore that it was hard to maintain my running posture, so I had to stop and try to take as long a stride as possible. Fortunately, my legs can still walk, I told myself: You can still do it. At this time, my cousin, who was originally behind me with the old god, has easily caught up with me.

Running with my cousin, I tried my best to maintain the pace of walking 1km and then running 2km. The night was getting deep, but there was almost no wind, and I felt the back of my head burning hot. For this marathon, my cousin, who has experienced many battles, was determined to participate, so he accompanied me and encouraged me to continue running, telling me that I would definitely finish the race.

After hitting the wall all the way, I finally hit 35 kilometers. After I knew in my heart that I would not be closed, the feeling of fatigue surged even more violently. The devil in my heart wanted me to stop continuing this endless effort. For the last 3 or 4 kilometers, I could only run for half a kilometer and walk for half a kilometer. Even my heart felt a little throbbing. Although my breathing was not disordered, I was exhausted. I want to stop, I want to give up.

After dragging my broken body, I finally reached the 40-kilometer line. At this moment, I only thought that it should not exceed 6 hours, so that the results of the first horse should not be too ugly, and then I insisted on finishing the last kilometer.

Crossing the finish line with my cousin for a photo shoot, I was too tired to get up.

After a quarter of an hour, the pain after the run finally began to ease, and then came a full sense of peace of mind. I do feel that I can finally stop running.

I could only sit on the ground. I asked my cousin to collect the medals and belongings on his behalf. After drying my sweat with a towel and changing my shirt, I said goodbye to my cousin. My friend also came to meet me. I got on the back seat of my friend's motorcycle. Wind away. Looking at the night where there are still runners struggling in the distance, I am glad that my struggle is over. At this moment, breathing itself is full of happiness, and I deeply experience that there is nothing more important in this world than good breathing.

So, despite the influence of traveling around the world and the epidemic, I have still competed in eight marathons in the past five years. I hope that even as I get older, I will still have the stupid energy to keep going. on the runway. on music. in writing.