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Lifetime Marathon (1)
Shortly after the closing of the registration for the Nike 10K race, here comes the registration for the Hong Kong S.C. International Marathon next year. As usual, the network connection to the online registration servers was badly congested. Although Hong Kong is a highly competitive society, running is never very popular as a challenge and competitive sport, except for a bunch of enthusiasts and sportsmen. For most people, running (or more appropriately, jogging) is just a convenient way to keep yourself fit and healthy.
The recent raise in popularity of long distance running has made it more like a carnival event of the city than a sport competition gathering. Good or bad, it is really hard to say, as it depends on what is in the mind of the participant.
Most people in Hong Kong jog every day just for keeping fit. There is no difference in nature between an hour's jog in the park after work and the morning walk of their elderly parents. Some like it done with friends and neighbours, some prefer doing it in solitude with the help of the earphone set and loud MP3 music. Nevertheless, as "how long or how fast have the others run" is concerned, it's none of my business. If we take away the negative factor of air pollution (sigh!), any kind of moderate and adequate amount of exercise is surely good for our health.
For many others, running is a favourite socializing activity. It doesn't matter if it is on the outdoor Tartan tracks at the sport ground or the indoor treadmills in a fitness club, the purpose is clear : tapping information from and socializing with friends, and hopefully meeting more new friends. Since you can not just stand there when all others are running (as this will be too obvious, ha ha), you do gain something after all – some exercises. But beware of the unexpected side effect : you might gain even more – weight, as a snack or a drink after the jog is rather common among friends.
However, the recent sharp raise in popularity of the sport is just the result of "Be Trendy". Since sponsoring public event is a well known advertising tactic, it will not be surprising to see the push by the sponsoring parties in order to make the events a city carnival and the talk of the town. Image when everyone around you talks about joining the event, and pop stars' participation has become news headlines, how out-of-date people will think you are if you are unable to say "I have joined too". So what you will see are so many first-timers who have not even jogged once before the event, exhausted or even injured, on the day of the race. There are also many participants who know their limits, never plan to finish the race but to hop on the buses heading for the finishing point right after having a photo taken on the Tsing Ma Bridge.
Of course, there are always the most original and proper reasons for participating a sport event – for the great physical challenge to oneself and the fellow sportsmen, the prize and glory, or simply for the self-confidence and self-worthiness. However, since not everyone is born a sportsman, exceeding one's physical limits might result in permanent damage. Is this really worthed? Views and opinions do vary from individual to individual.
Indeed Life is like a marathon. We all have different goals, and it is quite all right. The important thing is to know clearly what your goals are, and not just following the others around you. At the same time, you got to know your own limits, and understand the price you might have to pay. It doesn't matter if you take it as a dynamic or a means-to-achieve in your life, as long as it does not hurt any other people, and you think the price paid is worthed, the term "Right Thing to Do" does not apply.
人生馬拉松(一)
前一陣子，Nike十公里長跑報名剛完結，渣打香港國際馬拉松的報名又開始了，接上網上報名伺服器的連線又例牌的大擠塞。雖然香港是個充滿競爭的社會，但一般香港人跑步，目的主要是保持身體健康，比賽挑戰時間，只是發燒友運動員的專利。近年香港興起參與長跑比賽活動，長跑的性質，己成為城中盛事，多於運動比賽。是好是壞，其實難下結論，要看參與者的目的。
正如上面所說，很多人跑步，純粹為保持健康，下班後晚飯前到樓下公園跑一小時，就好像老人家每天晨運一樣。有人喜歡與世隔絕地、戴上MP3耳機只顧自己跑，亦有人喜歡呼朋喚友一起跑。但其他人跑多快多長，似乎與自己毫無關係。運動只要是不過量，如果除去香港空氣污染的負影響(嘆氣!)，持之以恆，對身體當然是有益。
對另一些人來說，跑步是社交活動，不論是到體育館跑泰坦跑道，還是在健身俱樂部跑步機(這類應該是佔多數)，目的都是一樣：見見朋友，談談天，收收風，又或者認識更多新朋友。只是在過樣的場合，大家在跑，你總不能只站著(這樣的話你的目的就完全暴露了，呵呵)，於是有意無意間，你也在做運動。不過小心跑步之後的餘慶節目－大吃大喝，隨時可能出不抵入，越跑越胖。
不過近年香港興起參與長跑比賽活動，很多卻是因為「趕潮流」。贊助活動還不是為了賣廣告，贊助商為了宣傳效果，刻意把活動催谷成為城中盛事、任何人都可以參與的嘉年華。當身邊的人都在訑談論已經報了名、而傳媒又大字標題「某某明星歌手都有參加」的時候，你卻搭不上嘴，那肯定會被認為是很落伍。於是很多人一次也未練習過便去跑，體力不繼、虛脫、受傷，層出不窮，健康運動變成傷身運動；另一些人則比較理智，根本就沒有打算完成，早已計劃好到青馬大橋拍完紀念照後，便乘大會專車回鉖點。
當然，不論贊同與否，體育運動最原始最「正統」的目的，就是挑戰自己挑戰別人，奪取榮耀，或純粹令自己有所提昇，肯定自己的價值。但畢竟不是人人都具天生的運動員條件，勉強自己超越身體的極限，換來日後陪伴終生的傷患，值得與否，是仁者見仁。
其實長跑也好，做人也好，目標每個人都會不同，但這不要緊，重要的是知道自己在做什麼，切忌盲從，人云亦云；也要清楚自己的能力，及需要付出的代價。當作是動力也好，手段也好，只要不傷害別人，自己又覺得是值得，就無所謂正確不正確。
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