My First Marathon（马拉松）
我的第一个马拉松

A month before my first marathon, one of my ankles was injured and this meant not running for two weeks, leaving me only two weeks to train. Yet, I was determined to go ahead.
在我第一个马拉松的一个月前，我的一只脚踝受伤了，这意味着我不能跑步两周，只剩下两周的时间训练。然而，我决心继续前进。

I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P.E. class, the teacher required us to run laps and then hit a softball. I didn’t do either well. He later informed me that I was ＂not athletic＂.
我记得回到我七年级的时候。在我的第一堂体育课上，老师要求我们跑步并击打垒球。我两者都做不好。他后来告诉我，我“不擅长运动”。

The idea that I was ＂not athletic＂ stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized running was a battle against myself, not about competition or whether or not I was athletic. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. A test of wills!
我被认为“不擅长运动”的想法多年来一直困扰着我。当我在30多岁开始跑步时，我意识到跑步是与自己的战斗，而不是关于竞争或者我是否擅长运动。这完全是一场对抗自己的身体和心灵的战斗。一场意志的考验！

The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn’t even find the finish line. I woke up sweating and nervous, but ready to prove something to myself.
在马拉松前夜，我梦见我甚至找不到终点线。我醒来时满身是汗，感到紧张，但准备向自己证明一些事情。

Shortly after crossing the start line, my shoe laces(鞋带) became untied. So I stopped to readjust. Not the start I wanted!
刚过起跑线不久，我的鞋带松了。所以我停下来重新调整。这不是我想要的开始！

At mile 3, I passed a sign: ＂GO FOR IT, RUNNERS!＂
在三英里处，我经过了一个标志：“加油，跑步者们！”

By mile 17, I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt badly. Despite the pain, I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.
到了17英里，我喘不过气来，曾经受伤的脚踝疼得厉害。尽管疼痛，我坚持比赛，时而走路，时而跑步。

By mile 21, I was starving!
到了21英里，我饿极了！

As I approached mile 23, I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan. She never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a.m. or questioned my expenses on running.
当我接近23英里时，我可以看到我的妻子在挥舞着一个牌子。她是我的最大粉丝。她从不抱怨早上4点的闹钟，也不质疑我在跑步上的开销。

I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal. In fact, I got the same medal as the one that the guy who came in first place had.
我是最后一批完成比赛的跑步者之一。但我完成了！我得到了一枚奖牌。事实上，我得到的奖牌和第一名的那位选手得到的奖牌是一样的。

Determined to be myself, move forward, free of shame and worldly labels(世俗标签), I can now call myself a ＂marathon winner＂.
决心做自己，向前迈进，不受羞耻和世俗标签的束缚，我现在可以称自己为“马拉松赢家”。

1. A month before the marathon, the author __.
   A. was well trained B. felt scared
   C. made up his mind to run D. lost hope
   答案：C

2. Why did the author mention the P.E. class in his 7th year?
   A. To acknowledge the support of his teacher.
   B. To amuse the readers with a funny story.
   C. To show he was not talented in sports.
   D. To share a precious memory.
   答案：C

3. How was the author’s first marathon?
   A. He made it. B. He quit halfway.
   C. He got the first prize. D. He walked to the end.
   答案：A

4. What does the story mainly tell us?
   A. A man owes his success to his family support.
   B. A winner is one with a great effort of will.
   C. Failure is the mother of success.
   D. One is never too old to learn.
   答案：B