芝馬開門 Chicago Marathon 2024 - A moment in Time

最後兩天在芝加哥漫步後，芝加哥十天的旅程，即將結束。這是一段充滿希望與回憶的旅程，如同西班牙的朝聖之路，每一步都充滿了意義。

2024年10月10日，我與一群志同道合的跑友從台北乘坐長途飛機，踏上這座充滿活力的城市。這次旅行不僅是為了馬拉松，更是一次共同探索芝加哥的機會。雖然時間短暫，但我們用心感受著這座城市的藝術之美。剛到的時候，我們在一幅慶祝芝加哥的鮮豔壁畫前合影，那色彩斑斕的畫面正好映照著我們心中的激動與期待，似乎在向我們訴說著這段旅程的故事。

抵達的第二天，我們迫不及待地前往馬拉松博覽會，帶著興奮的心情，領取了賽事號碼布。那一刻，是我們為賽事做最後準備的時刻，興奮的心情如同晨曦中的第一縷陽光，溫暖而明亮。接著，我們來到千禧公園的Cloud Gate（我更喜歡叫它「Bean」），在這個地標前，我看到每個人臉上的喜悅，心中洋溢著幸福的感覺。城市的天際線和我們的倒影交織在一起，如同一幅神奇的畫卷，彷彿時間在此刻靜止。

10月13日，終於迎來了比賽日，清晨的黑暗中，我們共同聚集，心中充滿團結的感覺。早晨的微光為芝加哥披上了一層寧靜的面紗，但我們的內心卻如同即將出發的朝聖者，對未來充滿期待。走向起跑區的時候，我感受到周圍人群的熱情，彷彿世界都在為我們加油。

當我越過起跑線，周圍傳來熱情洋溢的音樂和人群的歡呼，這一切讓我感到無比振奮。馬拉松的過程中，情感與努力交織，當我在城市街道上奔跑時，每一步都彷彿在向過去的自己致敬。芝加哥的高樓大廈和加油的人群，讓這一切變得格外特殊，宛如朝聖者在追尋心靈的解放。

在最後一段路程中，時間彷彿放慢了腳步。經過42.192公里的艱辛，我看到終點線，既是終極的解脫，情感洪流隨之潰堤。接近終點時，腿部的沉重，感讓到我每一步的刺痛與疲勞的極限。我能感受到芝加哥清新的空氣，但接近中午的烈日，叫我低頭，但這種疼痛，在腎上腺素的驅動下，是一種前進的嗎啡。

終點的橫幅逐漸進入視野，周圍觀眾的歡呼聲隨著我的每一步愈加響亮，彷彿整座城市都在慶祝這五萬來自全世界各地的跑者，共同的成就。陌生人的熱情，讓我感到振奮，儘管我的臉龐疲憊，身體酸痛，我依然感受到，每位加油者微笑的力量。每一聲歡呼、每一次掌聲，都像是推動我前行的力量，促使我在最後的時刻全力以赴。

當我跨過終點線時，一股情感如潮水般襲來。解脫、驕傲、喜悅與疲憊交織在一起，形成一個屏息的瞬間。雖然身體疲憊不堪，卻感覺無比輕盈，漂浮空中。我做到了，過去一個月，朝聖之旅120萬步的行腳、幾個月的訓練，無視舊傷反覆，早晨的堅持和長時間的奔跑，最終都凝聚在這一個勝利的瞬間。

我深吸一口氣，試著平靜自己，環顧四周。其他跑者也陸續越過終點，許多人倒在擁抱中，舉起雙手慶祝，或是拭去淚水。獎牌懸掛在我的脖子上，對我來說不僅僅是賽事的象徵，它是旅程的見證——訓練、受傷、掙扎、勝利。我用手指觸碰著獎牌，感受著冰冷的金屬，微笑著，知道這一刻將永遠留在我的心中。

當我從終點線走開，慶祝的聲音仍在耳邊迴響，這不僅僅是一次比賽，這是對堅持的考驗。中午艷陽，照耀著芝加哥，這座城市和這場馬拉松將永遠銘刻在我的記憶中——不僅因為比賽，更因為為了到達這裡所經歷的旅程。

2024 芝加哥馬拉松剪影（2024 Chicago Marathon Video)

Friday is approaching, and it brings both the excitement of the weekend and the bittersweet ending of my 10-day stay in Chicago.

On October 10th, 2024, a group of running mates and I took a long-haul flight from Taipei to Chicago. This journey wasn’t just about the marathon—it was also a chance to explore the vibrant city of Chicago together. Though our time was brief, we managed to immerse ourselves in the spirit of the marathon and soak in the artistic beauty of the city. 

One of the first moments that set the tone for our trip was when we posed in front of a vibrant mural celebrating Chicago. The bright colours of the mural and the smiles on our faces reflected the excitement we all felt about being here together. The mural, with its depictions of Chicago’s iconic landmarks, seemed to capture the energy we were all feeling—ready to take on the marathon and explore the city. 

Before the marathon race, we had two days to explore Chicago. For th first day,we cannot wait and went to the marathon expo, we proudly picked up our race bibs and took a group photo—it was a moment of final preparation, and the excitement was building.

On the following day, the moment we visited Cloud Gate -The Bean(I like the nickname better:)) in Millennium Park, I could see the joy in our faces. We spent time laughing and taking photos in front of this iconic landmark, with the city skyline and our reflections creating a magical, almost surreal backdrop. It was one of those perfect moments where everything felt right.

Race day arrived, and as we gathered in the early morning darkness, ready to start, I felt a sense of unity with my running mates. We were all in this together. The early morning light cast a calm over the city, but inside, we were buzzing with anticipation. When walking out to the corroals, we found ourselves on an busy Chicago street for race day. We knew that very soon, these streets would be filled with thousands of runners, and we were ready to be part of that.

Passing the Stating line with soaring cheerful music and high energy of the people around us was incredible. The marathon itself was a whirlwind of emotions and effort. As I ran through the city streets, with the crowd’s energy pushing me forward, I felt the collective determination of all the runners around me. The action shots captured the intensity of the race—every step, every breath, every mile felt like an accomplishment. The backdrop of Chicago’s towering buildings and cheering crowds made it all the more special.

The final stretch of the Chicago Marathon felt surreal, as if time itself slowed down. After 26.2 miles of pounding the pavement, pushing through fatigue, and drawing energy from the roaring crowds, the sight of the finish line was both a beacon of relief and an overwhelming flood of emotion. 

As I approached the finish, my legs were heavy, each step a battle between exhaustion and sheer determination. My lungs burned from the crisp Chicago air, yet the pain felt distant, overshadowed by the adrenaline coursing through my body. The iconic Chicago skyline framed the horizon, a reminder of how far I’d come both in distance and in preparation for this moment. 

The finish line banner came into view, bright and bold, with the sounds of cheering spectators growing louder with each step. It was as if the entire city had gathered to celebrate this collective achievement. The energy from the crowd was electric—strangers clapping, shouting words of encouragement, their enthusiasm lifting me in those final moments. I could feel myself smiling, even though my face was tired, my body aching. Every cheer, every clap felt like a personal push forward, urging me to give that final burst of effort.

As my foot crossed the line, a wave of emotion hit me with the force of a tidal wave. Relief, pride, joy, and exhaustion all collided in one single, breathtaking moment. My body, though worn and sore, felt weightless, as if for those few seconds, I was floating. I’d done it. Months of training, early mornings, and long runs had all led to this one triumphant moment. 

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and looked around. Other runners were crossing the line, many of them collapsing into hugs, raising their arms in victory, or wiping away tears. Some were complete strangers, yet in that moment, we were all connected by the shared experience of pushing our limits and achieving something monumental. I could feel the camaraderie in the air, a quiet understanding between us all—we had conquered the race, and, in some way, had conquered ourselves.

The medal they placed around my neck felt like more than just a symbol of the race. It was a testament to the journey—the training, the struggles, the triumphs. I ran my fingers over the medal, feeling the cool metal against my skin, and I smiled, knowing that this moment would stay with me forever.

As I walked away from the finish line, the sounds of celebration still ringing in my ears, I took a moment to reflect. This wasn’t just about running a race; it was about perseverance, about proving to myself that I could do something hard, something that required dedication and heart. And now, as the sun set over Chicago, I knew that this city and this marathon would forever be etched in my memory—not just for the race, but for the journey it took to get here.