When Hanna won 2 admission tickets to the 32nd Zurich City Run in tombola, she screamed “I am not gonna run!! No way!!” After this, she turned around to me, who was standing just behind her, looked at me with serious eyes and said “Nemu, we are gonna run together!!” I was thrilled at her offer and my eyes were dancing with excitement. I replied “yes, let’s do it!!” and grabbed her hand. This was a month ago.
Since then, I started running more than once a week. This week, I was quite motivated and run 4 times. 10 minutes after starting to run is always the hardest point, because I have to go up the hill and catch up with my breath. After 30 minutes it gets to a highest point where I feel like I can run forever, and my legs move forward like they always did. This is a remarkable progress in the history of my lazy athletic career.
I gave up sports after elementary school, and jogging was absolutely out of question. I always wondered what kind of idiot wants to suffer so much and yet bear the most boring sports. Then my perception of sports changed when I met my ex-colleague Adam. He was so fit and good-looking, and he was into all kinds of sports. Once I rode my bike along Hudson River and saw him jogging. I waved my hand, but he did not noticed me. Next day at work, he explained that he did not see me, because he was going “strong”. How can somebody run “strong?” Does it mean “steady?” When I went jogging with Peter for 10 km for the first time today, I kind of understood what Adam meant. I was definitely going strong.
The city run is a joke and is only 4.5km long, which is one tenth of a normal marathon. You run around the city center twice. It will probably take only half an hour, but I am glad that I will be able to participate in a sport event for the first time in my life. It would be fun to run along Hanna and Peter and make jokes about each other.
My dream would be Paris Marathon, where you apparently get refreshments every 5 km, like crepe of your choice in the middle point and red wine before the goal. Maybe if I am slow, a bearded monsieur with beret riding a bicycle will push me from the back on his way to a bakery.
Anyways, Hanna, Peter and I will run for 4.5 km on Sunday, December 14th, starting at 14:45!! Please stay tuned for our exciting results.
