An in-depth experience - 50km cross-country running

In early September, the hot weather in Chongqing has gradually subsided, but my enthusiasm for running continues to be high. On September 3rd, I ran my first marathon alone in my hometown. It took 4 hours and 29 minutes. My feelings about my first marathon echoed Haruki Murakami’s feelings about my first marathon. The first 30 kilometers are just a mechanical run. The most uncomfortable moments are after 33 kilometers. However, the day before this run, I received a notice to participate in the Shanying 50km cross-country race. It will be held on September 9th.

What I felt when I finished running 42km was that every muscle in my legs felt a dull pain when I touched it, and my whole body had been sprinkled with countless grains of salt. It’s hard for me to imagine the feeling after running 50km, and this 50km is not a flat road, half of it is uphill and half is downhill. The most important thing is that I have no idea of ​​retreating at all. Instead, I look forward to this day coming soon.

I arrived at the starting point of the cross-country run one day early. The sun was shining brightly on the afternoon we arrived, and the air at the foot of the mountain was fresh and pleasant. At dinner time, the race director gave a brief explanation of the route and supply points, and then told everyone to go to bed early after dinner. It turns out that the start time of the 50km run is 6:00 the next morning. It is not difficult for me to get up early. However, in order to maintain better energy tomorrow, I still go to bed early.

In the early morning of the next day, the runners had breakfast. Before dawn, they all gathered at the starting point. They were all lean and lean. The runners who took the bus together the day before, according to him, He has already run more than a dozen full marathons. He participated in last year's Mountain Eagle 50 and spent 12 hours and 45 minutes. What's even more gratifying is that he is an extremely addicted smoker, which is really rare among long-distance running enthusiasts. Looking at their exquisite and professional off-road bags, my bag was still a simple bag I bought at Decathlon for 19.9 the day before. Wearing a pair of ordinary running shoes on the road, the runner next to me sighed: I hope it doesn't rain today, otherwise your shoes will be miserable when running. It was six o'clock in the morning in early September, and it was still dark. Oh, and the host committee also required me to bring a headlamp. I thought it would be dawn soon, so just grab a flashlight and it would be fine.

I set off with curiosity and a piece of equipment that didn’t look very pleasing to the eye. After starting a few hundred meters, I started going all the way uphill. Based on the fact that I have run about 200km every month in the past few months, it was quite easy to run. A section of gravel road covered with grass and a section of relatively rare mountain trails. At first, I wore wireless headphones and listened to "Get" while running. I thought I would finish today's trip leisurely. , Unexpectedly, the weather was not kind, and 30 minutes after starting, it started to rain heavily. I had to take off the headphones and put the phone and headphones separately into plastic bags. Running in the rain. Sometimes it rains lightly, then it rains moderately. My whole body is soaked through. I have experienced running in the rain. Sometimes I quite enjoy the feeling of running in the rain. I also specifically asked my fellow runners who were running at the same speed as me if they would catch a cold. He said: "When running, the pores open and the sweat is discharged from the body. The cold air cannot enter and you will not catch a cold."

In the next 10 hours or so, I will spend time with this person. Runners basically spend time together. Along the way, I learned that he is 51 years old and his main job is as a university teacher. He started running in 2011. In the past six years, I have participated in at least 50 full marathons, at least 50 cross-country races, and once ran an ultra-long endurance cross-country of 400 kilometers, which took 93 hours. Sometimes, the most enjoyable thing is being up close and personal with people who are different. Of course, runners with his experience are specially invited by the host committee to come and experience it. Last year, he came in fifth place. This year, the main purpose is to experience and appreciate the scenery. He and I chatted along the way, sometimes stopping to take pictures. One or two beautiful photos.

Between the first aid station and the second aid station, I ran wrong twice. The second time I ran more than 1 kilometer longer. When I talked with my fellow runner, he was When he participated in a cross-country race in Hong Kong, he ran an extra 20 kilometers but still insisted on finishing the race. In his opinion, it was an extra reward for himself. I saw a person who really loves running, but is also indifferent to rankings and has a beginning and an end. He told me along the way that when participating in a cross-country race for the first time, I must control my speed and focus on experience. Successfully completing the race is a victory.

There were 7 supply stations along the way. When we arrived at the third supply station, we had completed 21 kilometers and took 3.5 hours. Next comes the most arduous climb of 3.6 kilometers. The slope approaches 80 degrees in some places. The only way to climb up is to hold on to the chain or use hands and feet together. In the second half of the steep slope, I was physically and mentally exhausted. The runners along the way showed solid basic skills and continued to move forward at a constant speed. I could only slow down by one level, climb a few times, stay for a few seconds, and then climb a few more times. , stay for a few more seconds, and then crawl slowly to the fourth supply station. This climb took 1.5 hours.

I ate one or two bowls of millet porridge at the fourth supply station and continued on to the fifth supply station. The slope was not too steep and I completed the journey relatively comfortably. While standing, the volunteer repeatedly emphasized that the next 10 kilometers will be downhill all the way, so enjoy it. Little did I know that the continuous rain for several hours in the morning had turned this "enjoyment" into a "test", and I was only wearing a pair of ordinary road running shoes.

After the rain, the already slippery ravine kissed the soles of the 20 runners in front. The road surface became extremely slippery. Just at the beginning, my soles slipped many times. As I got to the back, I became even more afraid to step down, so I had to pull on the shoes on both sides. The bamboo slides down, and where there is no bamboo, climb down backwards. The slow speed along the way, coupled with the physical exertion of the previous six or seven hours, made this 10km an extremely long afternoon. After 3.5 hours, I completed the most difficult 10km of muddy trails. When we arrived at the sixth supply point, we were still 11km away from the finish line. Friends at the supply station specially reminded us that we have completed the most difficult section of the road. Teacher Zhao, who was traveling with me, suggested that I run first. He was waiting for me all the way. An old bird is an old bird.

I took heavy steps and ran forward slowly. The last 11km were mostly routes to scenic spots. However, I had no intention of enjoying the beautiful scenery around me. I just wanted to finish the last distance as soon as possible. When we finally reached the finish line, Teacher Zhao caught up with him easily. There was also a professional runner who had just come down from the plateau and gave up his pursuit of ranking because he was drunk on oxygen. We reached the finish line together. It took 11 hours and 28 minutes.

After the race, I had to take the bus back to Chongqing in the evening, so I had to endure the exhaustion and went back to the hotel to change. When taking a shower, in order to reduce the weight on my feet, I slumped down under the shower and enjoyed it. Childhood bathing style.

When I ran 10km for the first time, the last one or two kilometers was a kind of torture. When I ran 21km for the first time, I felt all kinds of physical discomfort in the last few kilometers. At 30km, I had no energy to go home. When I ran 42km for the first time, I started to become calm. When I first completed 50km, I was used to the discomfort of the last few kilometers.

Breaking through the comfort zone requires experiencing this discomfort. However, my goal in life is never to become a professional runner. I hope that my training in this experience will help improve my teaching methods. I hope that in a few years I will be an excellent teacher and secondly a running enthusiast.