69novels Chapter 371 - 195: Marathon and Mission
Chapter 371 - 195: Marathon and Mission
Lin Shen jumped in place a couple of times and felt his exhausted body return to peak condition.
’Nice!’
’But is this considered cheating?’
Lin Shen thought about it for a moment. ’I’m just getting back to my normal state to compete,’ he reasoned. ’That shouldn’t count.’
So, with a clear conscience, he used two other items.
The Heart and Lung Vitality Potion, to improve his respiratory efficiency while running.
The Concentration Pill, to let him immerse himself in the run, unaffected by outside distractions.
SPLASH—!
Lin Shen splashed cold water on his face, washing away his mental fatigue.
He looked at his depleted items and couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.
’Looks like I’ll have to grind out some more tasks to restock.’
After pulling himself together, Lin Shen started putting on his gear.
First, he pinned the race bib he’d picked up earlier to the front of his shirt. Then, he securely fastened the timing chip to his shoelaces.
Finally, he put on sunscreen.
With all his preparations complete, Lin Shen left the hotel and headed for the marathon’s starting point.
The Daishi International Convention and Exhibition Center.
The hotel car had to take a detour, as the authorities had already planned the road closures.
「Eight in the morning.」
The International Convention and Exhibition Center.
The wide main road in front of the center was already packed with runners. Various service vehicles and a crowd of spectators were scattered about.
The overall atmosphere of the marathon was fantastic.
After arriving, Lin Shen put his extra belongings into a gear-check bag and handed it to the staff at the bag-drop truck.
Next, he used the restroom, warmed up, and quietly waited for the race to begin.
To be honest, since this was his first time participating in such a large-scale marathon, Lin Shen couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.
He was afraid he wouldn’t even be able to finish the half-marathon, which would be incredibly embarrassing.
’I just hope I can complete the mission.’
Lin Shen assembled in Corral D and got ready. He took a deep breath, clearing his mind and steadying his heart.
Eight in the morning.
BANG—!
With the crack of the starting pistol, the once-still crowd began to surge forward like a massive wave.
The cheers from the crowd filled his ears, and the energy was exhilarating.
Thanks to the Concentration Pill, however, Lin Shen wasn’t affected by these external factors and stuck to his own pace.
Four minutes and forty seconds.
This was the pace Lin Shen had planned.
At this pace, he could finish the half-marathon in under one hundred minutes.
Lin Shen wasn’t aiming for a fast time. It was his first marathon, after all. Just finishing would be a success.
"Haaa—!"
Lin Shen regulated his breathing as he left the starting line, heading down Taishan Avenue and Tianping Lake Road.
The scenery along the route was beautiful. The sparkling lake reflected the towering skyscrapers, a seamless blend of nature and modernity.
The real reason a city hosts a marathon is to promote itself.
Thus, when planning the course, the most important factor after safety is the scenery along the route.
Showcasing the city’s beauty to the runners is the very essence of a marathon.
Lin Shen, however, had no time to appreciate any of it.
He wasn’t sure if it was because the items were incredibly effective or if his physical condition had just improved dramatically recently.
For the first five kilometers, Lin Shen felt no fatigue at all. In fact, the run felt easier and easier, almost like a leisurely stroll.
The outdoor temperature was pleasant, his breathing was steady, and his forehead was only slightly dewy with sweat.
This was the ideal state for a healthy run.
So Lin Shen shaved ten seconds off his pace. After another five kilometers, he found he was still in excellent condition.
’When did I get this strong?’
Lin Shen was a little stunned by his own performance.
He had to admit, he used to feel like death after running just five kilometers.
Now, ten kilometers in, he’d had some water at a station but wasn’t even breathing hard.
’Maybe I can actually finish the full marathon!’
A spark of excitement began to burn within him.
He maintained a 4:30 pace through the half-marathon point and, realizing his condition hadn’t really declined, decided to go for the full distance!
’I’ve come all this way, I might as well give it a shot!’
"Haaa—!"
After thirty kilometers, Lin Shen’s breathing had started to grow ragged.
His calves were aching, his thighs were going numb, and waves of throbbing pain radiated from his lower back.
Clearly, his body was about to hit its first wall.
If he could just push through it, he’d get his second wind and his running would stabilize.
’Push through!’
Lin Shen gritted his teeth and kept going.
By the forty-kilometer mark, he was drenched in sweat, his face flushed from the prolonged exertion.
But Lin Shen endured the burning in his chest and the ache in his legs, pushing through to finish the entire marathon!
Finish time: 3 hours, 12 minutes, 48 seconds.
"Haaa—!"
The moment he crossed the finish line, Lin Shen could finally let out the breath he’d been holding in his chest.
The cheers of the crowd seemed to fade away. Beyond the exhaustion, a cathartic sense of satisfaction washed over his body.
Lin Shen kept walking for a little while to cool down, unable to suppress the thrill and joy of having completed the challenge.
He never would have imagined he could run a full marathon—all forty-plus kilometers of it.
Now, he had conquered another one of life’s goals!
In the future, more challenges were waiting to be conquered!
’Awesome!’
Lin Shen clenched his fists, desperate to share his excitement with someone.
He scanned the crowd and spotted an unexpected figure.
"Lin Shen!"
Qin Yuenan, standing in the front row of spectators, was waving and calling his name, leaving Lin Shen slightly stunned.
He walked over and asked, curious.
"Weren’t you supposed to be sleeping at the hotel? What are you doing here at the finish line?"
"Because I wanted to see you."