Setting the Wheels in Motion

车轮开始行动

I've never thought of myself as a runner. I'm more of a chaser—after Frisbees, baseballs, and my unleashed dog. The idea of running for the sake of running never really appealed to me. Yet, I have an appreciation for movement, exercise, and quality time with my son. And then there's the allure of embarking on an exciting journey – or at least something interesting I could mention at dinner parties. So, when I set my sights on the October 29th marathon, it felt like the perfect challenge. I may not be a master of mental toughness, but I would like to be, and figured I could cultivate some grit along the way.

我从来没有把自己看作是一名跑步者。我更像是一个追逐者 ——追逐飞盘、棒球和我家挣开绳索的狗。单纯为了跑步而跑步的想法从未吸引过我。然而，我享受着运动、锻炼和与儿子度过的时光。哦，还有一个吸引力 ——或者至少我可以在晚宴上提到的一些有趣的东西。因此，当我将目光投向10月29日的马拉松时，感觉这是一场是完美的挑战。我可能不是精神坚韧的大师，但我想成为一个，至少在这个过程中培养一些坚韧。

The Initial Struggles 最初的挣扎

The first two weeks of training weren’t exactly fun. I had four main problems. The first was mindset. I tended to focus on the pain/numbness in the legs and the burning sensation in my lungs. Hills became my nemesis and an unfortunate mantra – “I don’t think I can do this” – ran on repeat in my head. Second, my equipment left a lot to be desired. The stroller I was pushing my son in was a relic from decades past, with a stubborn habit of veering off course. I was also trying to run in basketball shorts and regular sneakers. After all, I was trying to raise money instead of spending it. The third problem was that I developed a case of shingles that was as unsightly as it was uncomfortable. In the beginning, I thought the outbreak rash had been caused by running and that my aspirations would be dashed before I even started. And then there was the fourth issue: my woeful lack of direction. If told to head north, I'd probably look for a ladder. Whenever I ventured a few miles from home during my runs, I couldn't shake the fear of getting hopelessly lost.

前两周的训练并不有趣。我有四个主要问题。第一个是心态。我往往会专注于腿部的疼痛/麻木和肺部的灼烧感。山坡成了我的死敌，一句不幸的口头禅——“我想我做不到”在我脑中反复出现。其次，我的装备还有很多不足之处。我推儿子的婴儿车是几十年前的老物件，有着偏离轨道的顽固习惯。我还试图穿篮球短裤和普通运动鞋跑步。毕竟，我试图筹集资金，而不是花钱。第三个问题是我患上了一种丑陋且令人不适的带状疱疹。起初，我以为爆发的皮疹是由跑步引起的，我甚至在开始之前就打算放弃。然后还有第四个问题：我极度缺乏方向感。如果被告知朝北走，我可能会寻找一个梯子。每当我在跑步时远离家几英里，我就无法摆脱完全迷路的恐惧。

Turning the Corner 扭转局势

After several weeks of training, I began to tune into some running podcasts for inspiration. The best piece of advice I encountered was about maintaining a positive mindset. Over the next couple of weeks, I shifted my focus. I began highlighting the parts of my body that felt fine during the run and disregarded the discomfort. I started paying more attention to my surroundings—the birds above, street names that matched the last names of former classmates, and the way Minnesotans warmly greet each other. This change in perspective even helped with the stroller issue. It struck me that the stroller, despite its quirks, was incredibly light and versatile. It carried water, energy gels, and snacks for the long runs. As for the shingles, once I had a diagnosis, the fear subsided. Yes, I knew there'd be another week of discomfort, but I was confident that things would improve. I reassured myself that once the itching ceased, running would become even more enjoyable. As for my cartographic ineptitude, it kept me on my toes, encouraging me to be more observant of my surroundings. It has taught me to ask for help when needed, a skill that extends beyond just navigating streets. It also helps to extend the lengths of my runs.

训练几周后，我开始收听一些跑步播客以寻求灵感。我遇到的最好的建议之一是保持积极的心态。在接下来的几周里，我转移了注意力。我开始强调在跑步期间感觉良好的身体部位，并忽视各种不适。我开始更多地关注周围的环境 ——头顶的鸟、与前同学的姓氏相匹配的街道名称，以及明尼苏达人互相热情地打招呼的方式。这种视角的改变甚至有助于解决推婴儿车的问题。我意识到，尽管它有些怪癖，但这辆婴儿车非常轻便多功能，它能装下大量的水、能量凝胶和长途跑所需的零食。至于带状疱疹，一旦我确诊了，恐惧就消失了。是的，我知道还会有一周的不适，但我相信事情会好转的。我安慰自己，一旦止痒，跑步将变得更加愉快。至于我那不靠谱的方向感，它让我保持警惕，鼓励我更多地观察周围的环境。它教会了我在需要时寻求帮助的技能，这种技能不仅仅局限于导航街道。它还有助于延长我的跑步距离。

Thanks to a generous donation by Tom Murray, I have fixed my running apparel issue and no longer run in 100% cotton. I now have proper shirts, shorts, socks, and shoes. The whole 9 miles.

多亏了汤姆·默里的慷慨捐赠，我解决了跑步服装的问题，不再穿100%棉料的衣服跑步。我现在有合适的衬衫、短裤、袜子和鞋子。

I had to log a run-in, even though Lionel had other plans with Grammy.

Gaining Momentum 获得动力

Fast forward a month, and I've logged a hundred miles in my training journey. Just this past week, I caught a euphoric rush of the elusive "runner's high," and I'm slowly convincing myself that running might be alright. Lionel certainly thinks so. He gets to listen to his Safety Sheriff Labrador podcasts, where he soaks in valuable life safety tips. He's taken on the role of a traffic law enforcer during our runs, making sure we obey all the road rules.

快进一个月，我在我的训练旅程中记录了一百英里。就在上周，我经历了难以捉摸的“跑步者高潮”，我正在慢慢地说服自己，跑步真的不错。Lionel当然是这样认为的。他可以听他的安全警长拉布拉多故事，从中汲取宝贵的生命安全知识。在我们的跑步中，他担任了交通执法者的角色，确保我们遵守所有的道路规则。

The 25K (15.5 miles) was the first run that I got a hit of the runner’s high. (I also experienced the runner's low around the 12-mile mark, but I’m trying to stay in a positive mindset).

25公里（15.5英里）是我第一次体验到跑步者的高潮（在12英里左右我也经历了跑步者的低谷，但我试图保持积极的心态）。

The Journey Continues 旅程继续

As this journey unfolds, I'm learning that running isn't just about pounding the pavement. It's about conquering mental barriers, appreciating the world around me, and sharing the experience with those I love. With Lionel by my side, and perhaps a few more hits of that "runner's high," I'm ready to keep exploring, one stride at a time.

随着这个旅程的展开，我正在学习，跑步不仅仅是在硬地上行走。它涉及到克服心理障碍，欣赏周围的世界，并与我所爱的人分享这一经历。有了Lionel在身边，也许还有更多的“跑步者的高潮”，我已经准备好继续探索，一步一个脚印。