On March 29, I once again stood at the starting line of the Hangzhou Dream Town Half Marathon. This was my second time running a China Athletics Association Class A event, and the second year of my pact with this course.
1. Before the Race: Cherry Blossoms and Expectations
The cherry blossoms along Wenyi West Road and Liangmu Road were already in full bloom, pink-white petals swaying in the spring breeze, colliding with the surging crowd to create the liveliest scene of spring. Same as last year, I chose the half marathon; my goal was originally to chase a PB, though I also knew in my heart that this year’s weather might be the biggest variable.
2. During the Race: Pacing Yanked Around in the Heat
This year the gun didn’t go off until 8:10 (there were 2 waves). The sun was already high in the sky, the temperature kept climbing, and there were even quite a few runners who collapsed from heatstroke on the course. Out of safety concerns, I adjusted my strategy from 15 km on, and wasn’t as aggressive as last year.
- First 5 km: 27:30, 1:26 faster than last year, form was good, even overtook the 2:00 pacer for a while.
- 10 km: 58:49, 2:31 faster than last year, the pace was fairly steady, but as my body temperature rose and it got hotter and hotter, my heart rate climbed too.
- The turning point: drinking too much water forced a bathroom stop, and I dropped straight from the 2:00 group to the 2:15 group. Afterward, to replenish energy, I ate tomatoes, bananas, cucumber, and dried tofu, and my stomach protested again — I made 3 bathroom stops in total, and my rhythm was completely wrecked. So I just stood at the aid station eating, drinking, resting, and walking.
- Late stage: my splits at 15 km and 20 km were both slower than last year. Heat plus the multiple bathroom stops made me totally give up on the PB and make finishing safely my top goal.
3. Finishing: Accepting Imperfection Is Also a Kind of Growth
In the end, I crossed the finish line with a net time of 02:23:39 and a gun time of 02:24:40. Compared with last year’s 02:15:05, I was over 8 minutes slower and didn’t PB.
But I don’t feel regret. Under the double test of high heat and my physical condition, choosing to slow down and stay safe was the most responsible decision for myself. Every hydration, every refuel, every pace adjustment on the course was a conversation with myself — compared with chasing speed, learning to listen to your body’s voice is the more precious reward of long-distance running.
4. Afterword: See You Next Year, Dream Town
Holding the finisher’s medal and looking back at the cherry blossoms still in full bloom, I thought that the charm of a marathon was never just about the PB. It’s a pact with yourself, it’s seeing the meaning of persistence in the sweat, and it’s learning to make peace with yourself amid imperfection.
Next year, I’ll come back here again, to this cherry-blossom-lined course, and keep running toward a better version of myself.
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