When I was little, I was really little. But my dream was1. I dreamed of being a basketball player. I tried out for the teams at school, 2I was never given a chance.
As I got older, I did grow a little bigger, but not a lot bigger-On my 12th birthday, I decided to try a new sport-running. I told Grandpa, "I'm going to be an3. "
"Dave, " Grandpa began gently, "4you can't be big, you can do something big. "
I ran 12 miles on my 12th birthday. On my 13th birthday, I did it again, but I added an extra mile. On my 14th birthday, I ran 14 miles. 15 on my 15th, 16 on my 16th, and you guessed it- 17 miles on my 17th birthday.
All this running inspired (激发) another big dream. Someday , I'd run the Boston Marathon(波士顿马拉松赛). I told Grandpa about my5.
"But, Dave, you haven't trained for the marathon. Are you sure you're ready?" Grandpa asked. But he still promised to walk over and6me on.
I ran fast that day, but I fell at Mile 18 and was driven to the hospital. Later that might, I called Grandpa and told him I7.
"No, " he said calmly, "you didn't fail. You discovered something. "
"I did?" I asked
"Yes, you discovered that big dreams don't just come true. They take work. If you train and work hard,
I8to wait for you next year and cheer you on.
I trained every day, running miles and miles. 9, just two months into my training, Grandpa died. He wouldn't be waiting for my second Boston Marathon. I decided I'd run for him.
That day, I ran fast. "Keep going! You can do it!" His words filled my head as I forced my legs to make each10step. As I crossed the finish line, I threw my arms in the air and cried, "Grandpa, we did it!'
