It's the fourth time that I participate a formal trail run event til now, so I was prepared. Getting up at 5:40 and going for the start point by 6:00, I saw the rising sun in gentle red. The coldness made me tremble slightly, but the sun was so beautiful to cheer me up. At that time, I would be dreaming in bed usually. Uncommon experience.

I reached the Huanglong Sports Center at about 6:45, 45 minutes before the starting. Already most of the competitors had been there taking pictures, talking about the runners' concerns, having breakfast,  hosting package or some other things. The cheerleaders in beautiful costumes even wear less then the athletes.

After hanging around, I sat on the grass to finish breakfast. Then I switched to running shorts, stored my stuff. OK, while I was walking to the outset, the game started ahead of time! I hadn't even paste the number bib and timing chip! Several minutes later, i set off too. How stupid i was to forget to do the things in advance!

I saw a peer at the end of the troops and talked to him. He said, "People are looking so pro! " "Your first time to join in this kind of marathon? " "Yeah, I ran road marathon before. What about you? " "It's my fourth or fifth. Ha, I'm not like them. I wear few things." "But you're with your backpack. " "Well, water is so important! And what else in it is some chocolate. " "Oh. " "How long time do you run road marathon? " "About two hours. " "Half? I guess you can finish this in 4 hours. "...

We went on. However there were too much people walking in front of us, we can only slowly move on. The first 8 km was uneasy, downhill being so steep that I should pay great attention to keep safe. At the very beginning, thought maybe I could run a full event next time as a challenge. But then i changed my mind--I cannot be so crazy! So tough game!

Sea level up, and down, up and down. Walk and keep pace when going up, run and keep HR above 150 as possible as i can while road is good. My principle is adjustable. Then the word "New Balance" came to my mind, what a good name that contains various meanings! Along the way, I overtook most of my peers. Halfway through, Food supply was so abundant that made me wanna stop for eating. At the same time, my knees began to ache, not serious though.  I have to pay more attention to running techniques.  When I noticed the nature beauty, it's about Ten Lang Dang. We could get an aerial view of the ground world! It felt cool and enjoyable somewhere, like heaven, somewhere are contrarily like hell.

After Longjing, hard mountain roads became less. We ran on the city roads during the last 3 km. Want drink? just do it at the end to save time cause I have to catch up some guys who was ever behind me but jumped several red lights! Tired but not too tired, I should hold on and accelerate my pace. It's a kind of struggle. The last 20 minutes of this running seems so long. I sped up and finally reached the end. Fruits and warm porridge are waiting for me! Here come towel and medal for finishers! I got the performance certificate, marked 3:12:42, not bad(for me:P). The true time timed by my Garmin Forerunner 410 is about 3:10:xx(unfortunately the workout data somehow get lost during the synchronization). Then I sat in the food court, enjoy the rest with the sun shining over me.

Before I leave, I was lucky to get a report of my foot test and gained some advice on selection of trail running footwear from the staff present. Hope to come next year!

The asics slogan "Better your best" is right -- people's ability differs, we may not be good as others, better our best is something possible, though uneasy.