<p><br></p><p>Just finished a virtual race of the 124th Boston Marathon(BM), which is supposed to happen in April 2020, but was unfortunately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. </p><p><br></p><p>剛剛完成第一百二十四屆波士頓馬拉松虛擬比賽。這個(gè)比賽本應(yīng)該在今年四月在波士頓實(shí)地舉行，但由于新冠流行，它不幸被取消了。</p><p><br></p><p>In the realm of long distance running, BM is the personification of history, begun in 1897 and the oldest annual road race; it is an embodiment of meritocracy by which the participants are chosen according to their most recent and qualified Marathon racing records. On the surface, this is in open defiance of the current political tide of equality, diversity and inclusion(EDI). On a second thought, BM does take gender and age differences into consideration. Females’ qualification standards are different from those of males. Qualification standards for runners vary from age group to age group too, more lenient to older age groups. </p><p><br></p><p>在長(zhǎng)距離跑步中，波馬是歷史的象征。它始于1897年，是最早的年度比賽。它也是擇優(yōu)選擇參賽選手的賽事典范。在最近參加過有認(rèn)證過的馬拉松比賽中取得好成績(jī)的人會(huì)按比賽成績(jī)由高到低選取。這似乎不符合當(dāng)前的平等多元與包容政策。但細(xì)細(xì)一想，波馬還是考慮到了性別與年齡的差異的。女性跑者有她們的獨(dú)立選擇標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。不同年齡段的選擇標(biāo)準(zhǔn)也不同。越年輕，要求越高。</p><p><br></p><p>Over the last 123 years, BM has never been cancelled even during World War I and World War II. As a remedy, the organization of BM offers qualified runners with a virtual race. Each runner can run locally on a track, a threadmill or a paved road etc of his/her own preference. On completion, the runner uploads his/her running data to a provided web application in exchange for a highly coveted medal, provided the runner can finish a run within six hours. </p><p><br></p><p>過去一百二十三年來，波馬從未間斷過，即使是在一戰(zhàn)和二戰(zhàn)期間！如今因?yàn)樾鹿诙∠八从?！作為補(bǔ)救，組織方提供機(jī)會(huì)讓選手在自己所在地跑。跑者可以選擇跑道、跑步機(jī)，鋪好的路等。唯一要求是六小時(shí)之內(nèi)完成。完成后可得一枚紀(jì)念牌。那是很多跑者夢(mèng)寐以求的。</p><p><br></p><p>We chose a running track located at a local high school, thinking it may offer a flat track with good traction which in turn may help us perform better. </p><p><br></p><p>我們選擇了一所中學(xué)的塑膠跑道： 平坦又有彈性。覺得有助提高成績(jī)。</p><p><br></p><p>The weather condition was favourable when we started the run, my watch showed a +6. We kind of felt a bit cold before we started the run. The vicissitude from sunny to cloudy repeatedly helped keep body temperature ideal. One downside was the constant wind that I could feel its windage on one straight side of the track accounting for about one fourth of a lap; A second unfavourable condition is that multiple rounds of rains and sleets which rendered us running in wet clothes and shoes. </p><p><br></p><p>天氣很好！略有點(diǎn)冷！但跑起來后就不覺得。天氣陰睛轉(zhuǎn)換，正好有助于防止體溫升高過快！略微有點(diǎn)不好的是風(fēng)。逆著它時(shí)，風(fēng)阻明顯。再就是后來出現(xiàn)的陣雨和細(xì)小的冰雹。</p><p><br></p><p>Long distance running is not my favourite sports anymore, which entails too much time commitment and is too rigid for training plans. My passion of Marathon running is like a feeble flame flickering in the wind. It could be quenched at any moment. </p><p><br></p><p>今年以來，長(zhǎng)跑似乎不再是我的最愛。它要求花太多時(shí)間，訓(xùn)練計(jì)劃太嚴(yán)格。俺對(duì)長(zhǎng)跑的熱情就如在風(fēng)中搖曳的弱小的火光，隨時(shí)可滅。</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Thus the end result tens of minutes faster than expected will not make me elated. By the same token, I won’t feel dejected if the end result is scores of minutes slower. </p><p><br></p><p>因此，跑的結(jié)果快個(gè)幾十分鐘半小時(shí)的并不會(huì)讓我感到特別高興。同樣的，如果慢半小時(shí)幾十分鐘也不會(huì)讓我很怚喪。</p><p><br></p><p>Over the past eight months, I have been using “running for fun and health” as excuses for not strictly following training plans. I can’t say this run is the healthiest one, but I am certain that it is by far the funniest. Pressure free, just be myself, period. </p><p><br></p><p>Will this run rekindle my passion for long distance running? Time will tell.</p><p><br></p><p>過去八個(gè)月，總以為快樂和健康而跑為借口，逃避訓(xùn)練計(jì)劃和耗時(shí)很長(zhǎng)的長(zhǎng)跑。這次馬拉松不能說是最健康的一次，但是絕對(duì)是最有趣的一次。沒有壓力，只是跑出自己。</p><p><br></p><p>這次結(jié)果比預(yù)期好許多的虛擬比賽能否重燃我對(duì)馬拉松的熱情？時(shí)間將會(huì)告訴我。</p><p><br></p><p><br></p> <p>A lot better than I expected! If the weather conditions are auguries, the track is simply a talisman which helped boost running performance</p> <p>Weather and running track</p> <p>A comfortable running form! Love to run on the track, feeling a lot more comfortable than on pavement roads!</p> <p>I got her phone and took a picture, but from behind. Eventually, the iPhone was out of battery way before we finished the running, because it was used to blast out rock music. Chances to take pictures of finishing stage were lost!</p>