deep forest unknown place long road no fear run

Deep in the forest, no end in sight; the road is long, but fear not the run.

―Spring Horse Chronicles

After nearly six months of meticulous preparation, on April 14th, over thirty members of the Shenhua Yulin Long-distance Running Association embarked on a journey to Nanjing to participate in the 2017 Nanjing Spring Bull Head International Marathon.

Since the beginning of the year, team members have been formulating daily training plans based on their own conditions. While accumulating mileage, the Yasso 800s also brought speed improvements, all in preparation for the Jiangning Marathon.

On the 15th, after getting off the bus and having breakfast, the team split into two groups. One group, out of reverence for the great man, went to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. I, along with Huazi, Haas, and Laomao, went to pick up the race packets. From the roadside signs, we could feel the city's enthusiasm for hosting the marathon. The packet pickup site wasn't large, but the volunteers were very enthusiastic. The race packet included a race T-shirt, two bib numbers of different sizes, a race manual, a route map, an introduction to Bull Head Mountain, and a disposable raincoat...

At the packet pickup site, we consulted with the staff from Sports Health about the shuttle bus situation and routes, then returned to the hotel. That night, we briefly reviewed the race manual, studied the route and the committee's supplies, felt okay about it, and went to bed early.

On the morning of the 16th, I was awakened by the alarm clock at 5:30. Feeling that I had slept well the night before, I emptied my bowels, washed up, and went to the sixth floor for breakfast. Around 6:30, after the team had gathered, we ran towards the Zhengfang Avenue subway station, 1.5 kilometers away. Soon, we saw the shuttle buses arranged by the committee, with long queues. The buses had 'Nanjing Jiangning International Marathon' written on them. The distance from the subway station to the race start was about five kilometers. For the convenience of the runners, the committee had arranged shuttle buses to transport us from the subway station to the start.

In less than ten minutes, we arrived at Binhu East Road. From there, it was less than a kilometer to the starting arch. We arrived early, so there weren't many people at the start. We could see the neatly arranged baggage trucks and separate changing rooms for men and women. It's worth mentioning that this was the first time I encountered separate changing rooms at the start, showing the committee's consideration for the participants.

After taking group photos with teammates at the start, the half-marathon and full-marathon participants went through separate security checks. Warm-up exercises before the start were essential. I stretched my legs and ran a few laps around the field, feeling a bit tired but achieving the purpose of warming up.

Standing about five or six meters from the arch, the invited athletes were at the front, not many of them, and there was a distance between us. On the stage at the start, the committee had arranged various performances, which felt novel, but the stage was so far away that we couldn't see clearly. What was the point? Then, coaches from a fitness club led everyone in warm-up exercises...

At 8 o'clock, with the sound of a gunshot, the 2017 Nanjing Jiangning Spring Bull Head International Marathon started on time in the beautiful countryside of western Jiangning. Over 12,000 runners ran through the 'most beautiful course,' amidst green mountains and clear waters, having an intimate 'encounter' with beautiful Jiangning.

The highlight of this event was the thorough preparation and strong support provided by Jiangning District for the Spring Bull Head Marathon. There were separate changing rooms for men and women at the start, medical points every kilometer, and supply points every 2.5 kilometers after the first five kilometers. Security forces were stationed at every intersection. The supplies were abundant, including not only common items like water, sports drinks, Snickers, and salt pills but also local specialties like Hengxi watermelons.

After passing the start, I ran with the 3:10 pacer bunny, feeling okay and seeing how far I could keep up with him. Shortly after the start, there was a long gentle uphill. My steps felt light, maintaining a 4:05 pace. After the first left turn, leaving the wide Zhengfang Middle Road, we entered the rural roads of Jiangning. It was only later that I realized the nightmare began here: undulating slopes and constant turns, all obstacles affecting speed.

The full marathon course of 42.195 kilometers connected the core areas of Jiangning's beautiful countryside, passing through scenic spots like Datangjin Lavender Valley, Huanglongxi, Hongmiao, and Ginkgo Lake, offering a picturesque view at every step.

During the run, I passed through rural-themed stations, circled the misty Yan Lake, ran through tea-scented thousand-acre tea gardens, and enjoyed the beautiful countryside scenery. The 'Spring Horse' course continued the fun of 'running in a painting' from the previous event. I was fortunate to enjoy various local performances along the way, such as Chunhua Fangshan Drums and Longdu Doll Drums, showcasing the rich 'Jiangning flavor.'

Amidst the beautiful scenery and enthusiastic cheering performances, the first 26 kilometers were relatively easy for me. However, after 30 kilometers, due to the numerous slopes and rising temperatures, my physical strength declined. My pace dropped to 5:50, and my legs felt heavier and more sore. I immediately ate the energy bar and salt pills I carried with me, drank some sports drinks at the supply point, and continued running.

During the subsequent run, my thigh muscles tightened, and my feet began to feel numb. I tried hard to maintain my running posture, no matter how slow, without stopping or walking. If I stopped, lactic acid would accumulate rapidly, making it very difficult to start running again.

Ultimately, I hit the 'wall' at 31.5 kilometers, but I didn't give up. On the road ahead, I kept fighting with myself, recalling all the motivational articles I had read to forget the physical fatigue and defeat the part of me that wanted to give up.

After a series of physical and mental struggles, at some point, I suddenly realized that what I needed to do was very simple: just keep running towards the front, towards the finish line. No matter how slow I was, I would eventually reach the finish line, wouldn't I?

Passing 40 kilometers, 41 kilometers, getting closer to the finish line, my legs felt more and more difficult to move, relying entirely on willpower. I kept telling myself, 'Getting closer, almost there, almost there...' My pace dropped to around 5:56. Volunteers on the roadside kept cheering me on. The last 400 meters, 300 meters, 200 meters, I saw the finish arch. The time board above showed the time ticking away, 3:46, 3:47... I gritted my teeth, sprinted the last few meters, and finished with a time of 3:47:26! Then I struck various poses, enjoying the sound of the photographers' cameras clicking away.

When the enthusiastic volunteers hung the finisher's medal around my neck and draped the big towel over me, I felt immense joy. It was the joy of overcoming myself, a joy of spiritual rebirth and elevation. I savored that moment of glory that belonged to me.

That night, as I calmed down and reflected, I realized that life is like a marathon. On the road of life, we experience setbacks and frustrations, as well as joy. We have companions, competition, pursuits, and sharing. Love is also like a marathon. The road is long, and there are many participants, but only one champion. Love is not about speed or material adornments; it's about patience and faith. We don't expect to reach the hall of marriage in one step, nor do we get discouraged by temporary rejections. In the noisy and realistic world, we just need to run at our own pace. Only by running persistently can we have a chance to win. Work is also a marathon. If we lose our passion halfway, the finish line will be hard to reach. We need to adjust our mindset, find reasonable ways to relieve stress, and not be overwhelmed by work. Living with quality and happiness is the greatest success.

Perhaps, there are many dissatisfactions in our lives. We must bravely accept them and not easily stop. Stopping means complete collapse, all efforts wasted, and everything ruined! If you ask me what I gained from running, I would tell you: persistence brings rewards. Only by overcoming yourself can you meet a better version of yourself.

Believe in yourself. The roads you have run and the sweat you have shed will not betray you.

Author: Dong Ligang

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