After getting married, I moved to an absolutely new town. 1 as I was to be in a new city, with various new things to explore, I was still lonely. I was desperate to make friends and establish2.
This could explain my enthusiastic "Count me in!" when3 to participate in a half marathon. Reflecting on my usual 3 miles, I must have been4 — a half marathon, 13 miles seemed a(n) 5 task.
After the initial shock wore off, I found comfort in burying myself in6. I took it slow, one mile, and then two, three, four and five miles. Seven straight miles felt like to climb Everest in my eyes, and soon I became used to that7.
Mile after mile, I managed to step beside my running partners. We talked about our favorite music and8 funny stories about our children. At about mile 10, the conversations9. We shared our past and hopes for our future, our fears and disappointments. By the time we were running 12-mile legs, I know that I'd made10 friends.
11, the day of the race arrived. At the start line, armed with my friends, I already felt like a champion. My time training had12. I managed to hold a steady pace and kept up with my13. Legs shaking and knees buckling, we crossed the finish line together.
I have participated in multiple races since. Although running started as a14 of building social ties, it not only provided me with friendships, but with a skill that would benefit me the rest of my life. Though the first pair of shoes is long forgotten, running will never be15.
