Lifetime Marathon 人生馬拉松 (2)

Lifetime Marathon (2)

I was never a strong person since I was a child, not even dare dreaming of myself becoming a runner. The P.E. class in school was meant to be a break for us students from the busy lesson schedule, but one of the subjucts - long distance running - was certainly a nightmare to me. I had to stop running each time I reached the 200m line, completely out of breath, accompanied by a painful stomach and strengthless legs. My P.E. teacher still let me pass the test, out of sympathy I guessed.

I started hiking regularly years later, and as a result becoming physcially fitter. Althought finishing the yearly 100km-long Oxfam Trailwalker walk-for-charity events was no longer a problem to me, I still could not run for any distance longer than 200m.

As part of the Trailwalker training, I finially start jogging 4 years ago. Still mixing running with walking at the beginning, but gradually manage to run non-stop for 1km, then 2km, 4km…eventually I was able to complete my first Nike 10km race by the end of the year. Still, completing a full marathon was omething beyond my imagination. I was not someone who would rash into things, therefore I took completing the half-marathon as my goal in the S.C. Hong Kong International Marathon in the following February. I had completed my very first full marathon 1 year later, and the full marathon in the coming Februaty will be my third.

Life is like a marathon race. It is not the momentary enjoyment of the feeling of speed that I am looking for, but to keep running to make it to the finish line.

It you ask me why I keep on joining the marathon race, it is because I am still able to do it, and feel good about it

人生馬拉松 (二)

自小身體孱弱，肺活量屬於標準以下，一早已認定自己不是跑步的材料。中學的體育課中，也有長跑訓練這一項，對我來說，也是最要命的項目。學校的體育課，其實也只是讓同學有機會離開課室鬆一鬆，體育老師只是略為講解一下，便讓我們自己繞著球場跑。每每跑到200米左右，便開始上氣不接下氣，下腹絞痛，雙腳發軟。因為長跑是體育課計分項目之一，所以不行也得捱下去，但就由跑步變慢行，直至老師吹哨子叫停。體育老師給我合格的分數，恐怕都是「勤力」分，再加一點「同情」分。

後來愛上了登山遠足，連動多了，體力有改善，也慢慢培養了出韌力，雖然日行四五十公里也可以應付，亦多次完成了樂施會一年一度的一百公里慈善遠足活動，但始終還是跑不起來，都是那一句，跑到200米左右便要慢下來。

四年多前，為了在毅行者活動的完成時間上有所改進，應隊友的要求，嘗試開始以慢跑練氣。起初仍是半跑半步行，慢慢地可以連續跑上一公里了，接著是兩公里、四公里…到年底時，已經可以完成我的第一個長跑賽事－Nike十公里。

雖然有了信心，但自已不是一個一步登天的人。完成全程馬拉松，對我來說仍然是遙不可及。接著的渣打香港國際馬拉松，我只參加了半馬拉松，以此為練習目標。接著是一年後的美津龍半馬，終於在去年完成了我一生中的第一個全程馬拉松。明年二月，將會是我第三次參加全程馬拉松了。

由於自己身體條件所限，同時又較遲才起步，所以不會勉強自己有大的突破。對我來說，生活也像一場馬拉松，不求一時的快速衝刺的感覺，而是要準確知道自己的能耐，保持均速，到達終點。

如果問我為什麼每年都繼續參加馬拉松？因為覺得自己仍然有能力做得到，因為感覺良好。