June
"Keep going! Keep... going!" On the embankment of the Ancient Canal in Bazhou City, with a history of several hundred years, the voices of the volunteers cheerily ebbed and flowed.
Compared to the ever-louder cicada sounds on the willow trees beside, these enthusiastic encouragements from the young volunteers of various universities in Bazhou seemed somewhat subdued.
It was not the volunteers’ fault. For this city marathon, they had been cheering continuously from eight in the morning until two in the afternoon, over six hours, until their throats almost burst into flames.
The full 42.195-kilometer Bazhou City Marathon is the most famous marathon in Hua Country, held once every June, open to participants of any age and gender, as long as they are physically fit. Therefore, since its inception, many marathon enthusiasts have come to participate in this event every year.
"How much longer do we need to wait?" A new volunteer, less patient, couldn’t help but grumble. As volunteers from the organizing side, they were required to wait until the marathon was completely over.
Complete, meaning, waiting until the last participant on the embankment finishes their race.
From 10:50 AM, people started finishing the full distance and progressively, by one in the afternoon, among the more than five hundred participants, those who completed and those who withdrew from the race were non-stop. The volunteers thought that by two in the afternoon at the latest, the race would end.
"This year that person is participating again; the ending time of the race might be uncertain." Experienced volunteers, understanding more about the event and participants, took shelter under the trees.
That person, in their first-year participation, passed out after running one kilometer. The next year, they collapsed after ten kilometers. The third year, they managed twenty-five kilometers before suffering a leg cramp and had to be stretchered off. This year was their fourth attempt.
"Who?" Young volunteers also heard from the seasoned volunteers about such a person who comes to participate every year, and every year has to quit mid-way, branding them one of the most unsuccessful contestants ever. Is there still anyone supporting this person?
"So many of us are out here under the scorching sun just waiting for one participant?" A young volunteer couldn’t help but curse inwardly, finding it absurd. Hundreds of people, serving one who couldn’t possibly complete the full course.
"Get used to it, the pace of a marathon is slow, not much thrill to speak of, but I specifically came to see her complete the whole race." said an old-timer volunteer while breaking off a willow branch, twirling it into a vine ring and fashioning a simple crown.
Human ability is limited, being human, there are moments when one becomes powerless. Many things, due to environmental and situational limits, are unattemptable or unachievable. Thus, while choosing to be a spectator, you can cheer for others’ success or be moved by their failure. After all, not every person has the courage to face repeated failures.
Breathing heavily, transitioning into being short of breath, her entire scalp drenched in sweat, eyelashes stuck together into several black lines by sweat, limbs as heavy as if filled with lead, her vision began to blur. Xia You’s legs and arms coordinated as she swung through the hot air. She sucked in a breath, swallowed back the sensation of vomiting in her stomach, and glanced at the road sign – it was already thirty-five kilometers.
This protecting embankment in Bazhou City spanned fifty kilometers, and she had spent six hours, running most of the distance. Since her family moved to Bazhou City four years ago, she had participated in this marathon every year.
Although she always had to leave midway, she still insisted on participating each year. Her frequent participation and reluctant departures made both organizers and participants remember her face.
Today at the start of the race, participants voluntarily left an independent track for her to make her run smoother. Despite this, her recovered-from-brain tumor, post-surgery, memory-impaired body still embarrassingly lagged behind.
As the race progressed, continuously runners surpassed her, completing their courses. The spectators and cheerers on the embankment had also left.
"College student, why don’t you try again next year," a kind-hearted volunteer ran a few kilometers with her, handing her a bottle of water.
From the initial one kilometer to now thirty-five kilometers, for an amateur who also had to juggle studies, it was already quite remarkable.