After several months of training, Hana and I signed up for a 10km running race in Sunny Bay - it's near the airport but it's a place that I have never been to..
These days, running races are very popular in Hong Kong. As long as you want to run, you can easily find small and large running races held in different places every weekend. If it's during the peak running season in autumn and winter, there may even be multiple running races held in the same area.
Since we both live in Sha Tin, our long training routes are usually along the Shing Mun River, Tai Wai, Science Park, Ma On Shan Promenade, or Wu Kai Sha. So Hana hoped we could go somewhere further away for our first running race.
That's why when we found this race online, she immediately signed us up without hesitation.
"Yay! Sunny Bay! I am sooo excited!" Hana exclaimed excitedly after successfully registering.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxM66AEpoc
"What time do we need to wake up for the race?" I asked.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNPXpKy92O
"Let me think.." Hana said pensively, stroking her chin. "Waking up, eating breakfast, going to the bathroom, taking transportation, warming up... probably around 5:30 AM."79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5wkriqvKj
"5:30 AM?!" I exclaimed with wide eyes. "You can't be serious!"79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SGnovgqIn
"Of course I'm serious!" Hana replied. "Participating in a running race is very arduous, especially having to wake up before dawn. For a major race, we may even have to wake up even earlier!"79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsabenBkk0V
"Ugh, I've really boarded the wrong ship and brought this hardship upon myself," I muttered under my breath.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxktSqjYO2E
"What did you say?" Hana snapped. "If you don't want to go, I'll just cancel your registration and run by myself!"79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk3IRuDFCG
"No, I'll go, I'll definitely go!" I hurriedly assured her. "But do you have super-sensitive hearing or something?"
Hana didn't reply, she just smiled contentedly and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
On the day of the race, my alarm clock rang promptly at 5:30 AM. I groggily sat up and looked out the window - it was still dark out. Even though it was the beginning of warming March weather, a cold front had arrived the day before, causing the temperature to suddenly drop to around 14 degrees Celsius.
I shivered as I got up and started getting ready, secretly hoping the race would be cancelled due to the cold weather. But Hana's text message dashed those hopes.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHcqj7Wwea
"Good morning, brother Janny! Although the weather is cold, don't think today's race will be cancelled! I'll see you later! ^^"
I forced a smile - is this what "deep understanding" means?
I had made arrangements to meet Hana at the bus stop. Then we took the bus to the Sha Tin MTR station, and transferred to the MTR line to reach the starting point - Sunny Bay MTR station. Hana was full of energy, in stark contrast to my listless self.
"Cheer up, brother Janny!" Hana said to me on the MTR ride. 79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNWwW6dnaZ
"If there was a bed right now, I'd dive right in and sleep like the dead," I yawned.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdtPrGHISz
"Hehe," Hana said playfully, "After we finish the race, I'll 'reward' you by going cycling at the Inspiration Lake (the artificial lake nearby Sunny Bay), okay?"79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4ZLFMF6Ja
"I'm afraid I won't even have the strength to walk after finishing the race," I laughed wryly.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDcHbz8YN5
"No way, don't worry!" Hana smiled, "With my 'devil coach' training these past few months, your fitness has improved a lot - 10km is actually just a piece of cake for you!"79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqSHOjle2q
"I hope so," I sighed.
To be honest, what Hana said wasn't without merit. I could now complete runs of nearly 12km. For this 10km race, Hana and I had target completion times of 50 minutes and 55 minutes respectively.
Arriving at Sunny Bay, we first changed into our gear, checked our bags into the luggage area, and started a light jog to warm up. Although the temperature was only around 13 degrees, Hana didn't seem to feel the cold at all, just wearing a pink short-sleeved top and black shorts. I had on a running cap, thermal top and pants, but was still shivering.
"I really admire you," I asked, "Aren't you cold?"79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6Axemi5xy
"True runners aren't afraid of cold or heat!" Hana lightly adjusted her signature white running cap and smiled, "And if you don't dress a bit sexy, you won't get 'shot' during the race!"79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsSHtFCifC
"'Shot'?" I wondered.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlTICo3ZTo
"Getting your photo taken while racing, of course!" Hana said, "Time to head to the starting line!"
With that, we made our way to the starting point. It had been raining all morning, and the rain was getting heavier just before the start, making me feel even more disheveled as a first-time racer. The battle-hardened Hana, however, was simply waiting calmly and focused for the starting signal.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGP06qKihM
Finally, the starting gun fired! Hana ran forward like a rocket, and I followed closely behind her. But since our target times were not the same, Hana soon left me behind shortly after the start.
Although the weather was cold, fortunately the rain stopped after the race began, so the race wasn't as difficult as I had expected. Because it was an out-and-back course, I had two chances to cross paths with the faster Hana.
Whenever we crossed paths, she would excitedly shout:79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzHKhAmXih
"Brother Janny, keep going!"
Then she would jump up and give me a high five, cheering me on.
After much effort, the finish line was finally in sight. 79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i405SDS1P
"Hurry up! Brother Janny, that bald old man wants to overtake you!" Hana, waiting near the finish line, shouted without restraint when she saw me.
I looked to the side, and an old man who didn't seem to have that little hair glared at me fiercely. 79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2yJOvvXp0
I nodded at him, apologizing for Hana's rudeness, and then surged forward with all my strength.
In the end, I successfully beat that old man by just a step. After crossing the finish line, Hana pounced on me and gave me an excited bear hug.
"Congratulations! You successfully completed your first 10km race!" she exclaimed excitedly.
Although I was extremely tired, I also felt deeply satisfied, and gently kissed her forehead.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrv6Tdlthd
This was my first, and also our first, running race.
