<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>刚刚完成第一百二十四届波士顿马拉松虚拟比赛。这个比赛本应该在今年四月在波士顿实地举行，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>在长距离跑步中，波马是历史的象征。它始于1897年，是最早的年度比赛。它也是择优选择参赛选手的赛事典范。在最近参加过有认证过的马拉松比赛中取得好成绩的人会按比赛成绩由高到低选取。这似乎不符合当前的平等多元与包容政策。但细细一想，波马还是考虑到了性别与年龄的差异的。女性跑者有她们的独立选择标准。不同年龄段的选择标准也不同。越年轻，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>过去一百二十三年来，波马从未间断过，即使是在一战和二战期间！如今因为新冠而取消，前所未有！作为补救，组织方提供机会让选手在自己所在地跑。跑者可以选择跑道、跑步机，铺好的路等。唯一要求是六小时之内完成。完成后可得一枚纪念牌。那是很多跑者梦寐以求的。</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>我们选择了一所中学的塑胶跑道： 平坦又有弹性。觉得有助提高成绩。</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>天气很好！略有点冷！但跑起来后就不觉得。天气阴睛转换，正好有助于防止体温升高过快！略微有点不好的是风。逆着它时，风阻明显。再就是后来出现的阵雨和细小的冰雹。</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>今年以来，长跑似乎不再是我的最爱。它要求花太多时间，训练计划太严格。俺对长跑的热情就如在风中摇曳的弱小的火光，随时可灭。</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，跑的结果快个几十分钟半小时的并不会让我感到特别高兴。同样的，如果慢半小时几十分钟也不会让我很怚丧。</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>过去八个月，总以为快乐和健康而跑为借口，逃避训练计划和耗时很长的长跑。这次马拉松不能说是最健康的一次，但是绝对是最有趣的一次。没有压力，只是跑出自己。</p><p><br></p><p>这次结果比预期好许多的虚拟比赛能否重燃我对马拉松的热情？时间将会告诉我。</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>