Remember the of running, moving forward towards becoming a ‘slow runner’ with a grand vision.
A few years ago, when I decided to resume running for fitness, I never imagined I'd try a marathon. My original intention was to lose weight, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, which wasn't difficult to achieve, so I started training, and in six months, I saw very obvious results, which boosted my confidence and made me persevere.
My running started from the five-kilometer mark, possibly due to the subconscious influence of military life. During my service in the army, I ran five kilometers every week and participated in physical training, including ten kilometers of hand-to-hand combat in the morning and five kilometers of armed combat in the afternoon. What impressed me most was the constant running, running, running. Practice proves that being able to run is a combat advantage. A highly mechanized army cannot directly send people to the enemy's front. To win the battle, you must be able to run, and run quickly!
After retiring, life was more comfortable than in the army, and my body quickly became like a balloon, getting fatter. I always felt that I had a foundation of training for more than ten years, but I didn't realize that many of my peers were 'stuck' or 'blocked,' and 'crippled' and 'limped' appeared, which was really shocking.
I decided to start exercising. Running doesn't intimidate me, after all, I know how to run after rigorous training. Although my weight is over, my flexibility is still there, and I quickly adapted.
During long-term fat reduction and stress reduction running exercises, I also brought many 'byproducts', such as forming a good lifestyle, making many running friends, and what my family and friends didn't expect was that I actually quit smoking. The idea of quitting smoking was just a fleeting thought that arose during running. Who can smoke while running? After quitting smoking, my running became smoother and more refreshing.
Falling in love with marathons was also sparked by exchanging with running friends. After participating in a fundraising event for a ten-kilometer loop race around the lake, I didn't expect to achieve a 40-minute result. My running friends joked that I was still a 'youngster'. Why don't I try a half marathon? Wouldn't it just add another ten kilometers? It was still no problem! Running friends seized the opportunity to immediately sign me up for a half marathon along the Yellow River, effectively pushing me onto the Liangshan heroes' list!
My first half marathon race wasn't scary, ignorant and fearless, I ran sixteen kilometers at a pace of more than four minutes, it really felt like a 'spring breeze and swift hooves.' Watching those experienced runners run steadily and without urgency, I thought to myself, 'How long did you train for? You must be so happy!' Then I realized that experienced runners and beginners were different. I finally understood what 'veteran' and 'novice' meant. I finished the last few kilometers by walking and running, and I owed a lot of running friends 'rabbit' support.
Seeing running friends finish a half marathon like they finished a ten-kilometer race, still full of energy, I realized that there was a lot to learn in this field. After running an inexperienced half marathon, my waist and legs hurt for a week, and I gained a fighting spirit.
Everything has its own inherent scientific laws, which need to be studied and practiced seriously. With the help of running friends, I formulated a training plan, starting with running posture, pace, interval training, and long-distance slow running, without pursuing speed, but focusing on the quality of exercise.
Not pursuing speed is my long-term experience of running. Competition running is for young people, it's the business of running gods. I'm not against myself, no matter how hard I practice now, I won't 'become famous in the world.' Even if my running friends praise my potential, I won't go all out. I run happily, not desperately. Life goes on, and running continues. I want to be a 'running slob' with a grand vision.
