What makes 15,000 men and women run for hours, and what makes them run through the streets on a cold day without coats?
What
makes
15,000
men
and
women
run
for
hours
,
and
what
makes
them
run
through
the
streets
on
a
cold
day
without
coats
?
I was one of those runners.
I
was
one
of
those
runners
.
The race is called marathon.
The
race
is
called
marathon
.
I had never run more than eight miles before, and here I was training.
I
had
never
run
more
than
eight
miles
before
,
and
here
I
was
training
.
Since the race is in April, I had to run throughout the winter, and in Boston, winters are cold.
Since
the
race
is
in
April
,
I
had
to
run
throughout
the
winter
,
and
in
Boston
,
winters
are
cold
.
For most people, just putting on their shirts, sweaters, jackets, and hats is exercise enough.
For
most
people
,
just
putting
on
their
shirts
,
sweaters
,
jackets
,
and
hats
is
exercise
enough
.
I found myself out on the dark streets, running along ice sidewalks.
I
found
myself
out
on
the
dark
streets
,
running
along
ice
sidewalks
.
Even in gloves, my fingers got so cold that they looked like red carrots.
Even
in
gloves
,
my
fingers
got
so
cold
that
they
looked
like
red
carrots
.
My nose didn't get warm until lunchtime!
My
nose
did
n't
get
warm
until
lunchtime
!
Finally, the big day arrived.
Finally
,
the
big
day
arrived
.
The weather was cold, with ice and rain.
The
weather
was
cold
,
with
ice
and
rain
.
Bang!
Bang
!
The gun sounded, and we started.
The
gun
sounded
,
and
we
started
.
I didn't go anywhere at first because I was standing behind so many people.
I
did
n't
go
anywhere
at
first
because
I
was
standing
behind
so
many
people
.
I had to wait for them to move.
I
had
to
wait
for
them
to
move
.
At first, the running was easy.
At
first
,
the
running
was
easy
.
The other runners just seemed to pull me along.
The
other
runners
just
seemed
to
pull
me
along
.
Somewhere around the 20-mile mark I even said to myself, "This is nothing, why did I train so hard?"
Somewhere
around
the
20-mile
mark
I
even
said
to
myself
,
``
This
is
nothing
,
why
did
I
train
so
hard
?
''
Then I hit "the wall".
Then
I
hit
``
the
wall
''
.
"The wall" is what marathon runners call the special point.
``
The
wall
''
is
what
marathon
runners
call
the
special
point
.
I knew my body reached the point and I thought I couldn't go any more.
I
knew
my
body
reached
the
point
and
I
thought
I
could
n't
go
any
more
.
I was out of breath and my legs turned into pieces of wood.
I
was
out
of
breath
and
my
legs
turned
into
pieces
of
wood
.
I was almost falling down.
I
was
almost
falling
down
.
I can't remember anything about the last five miles of the race.
I
ca
n't
remember
anything
about
the
last
five
miles
of
the
race
.
I kept running though.
I
kept
running
though
.
At last, I heard a voice at the finishing line.
At
last
,
I
heard
a
voice
at
the
finishing
line
.
"You look good," my friend Ted said.
``
You
look
good
,
''
my
friend
Ted
said
.
"How did it feel?"
``
How
did
it
feel
?
''
"Wonderful!"
``
Wonderful
!
''
I replied.
I
replied
.
For everything, if you devote yourself into it, there will be a way.
For
everything
,
if
you
devote
yourself
into
it
,
there
will
be
a
way
.
I finished the race, at least, in my heart, I was the winner.
I
finished
the
race
,
at
least
,
in
my
heart
,
I
was
the
winner
.
What makes 15,000 men and women run for hours, and what makes them run through the streets on a cold day without coats? I was one of those runners. The race is called marathon.  I had never run more than eight miles before, and here I was training. Since the race is in April, I had to run throughout the winter, and in Boston, winters are cold. For most people, just putting on their shirts, sweaters, jackets, and hats is exercise enough. I found myself out on the dark streets, running along ice sidewalks. Even in gloves, my fingers got so cold that they looked like red carrots. My nose didn't get warm until lunchtime!  Finally, the big day arrived. The weather was cold, with ice and rain. Bang! The gun sounded, and we started. I didn't go anywhere at first because I was standing behind so many people. I had to wait for them to move.  At first, the running was easy. The other runners just seemed to pull me along. Somewhere around the 20-mile mark I even said to myself, "This is nothing, why did I train so hard?"  Then I hit "the wall". "The wall" is what marathon runners call the special point. I knew my body reached the point and I thought I couldn't go any more. I was out of breath and my legs turned into pieces of wood. I was almost falling down. I can't remember anything about the last five miles of the race.  I kept running though. At last, I heard a voice at the finishing line.  "You look good," my friend Ted said. "How did it feel?"  "Wonderful!" I replied.  For everything, if you devote yourself into it, there will be a way. I finished the race, at least, in my heart, I was the winner.