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Wang Sheng: From a sick man to a healthy athlete
Four years ago, I would not have been able to run the few hundred meters as a torchbearer.
My name is Wang Sheng.
One day in September 2004, I received an unexpected e-mail from a sports goods shop, which invited me to participate in the 2004 5km International Marathon held in Beijing. At that time, however, I was obsessed with my 88kg weight and unhealthy body, confirmed by lab test results showing high indexes in blood sugar and blood fat. My doctor told me that I would likely suffer from diabetes if my blood sugar index had been a little higher.
There was only a month to go before the marathon. I didn't have any sports experience and was quite lazy. I wouldn't be able to participate in it that year; nevertheless, I was determined to overcome my poor health and start practice in long-distance running to get ready for possible future participation.
On the first day of practice, I only ran 1,000 meters, but gradually, I could cover longer and longer distances. One day, I decided to take part in a mini-marathon starting out from Tian'anmen Square. All the participants ran and laughed all the way as if it was a carnival. As I finally dashed over the finish line, I felt as if I could keep on running.
Long distance running relieved me of poor health.
Later, I joined the Beijing Long Distance Running Club, becoming a member of the Dongcheng branch. The team leader and my teammates showed much concern for me and gave me unselfish guidance and help. Thanks to constant training, I participated in the full distance 2006 Beijing Marathon. When I was only a few hundred yards from the finish line, I found myself filled with excitement rather than fatigue. I was going to be an official member of the great sport! I completed my first marathon and was granted the certificate stating that I was an athlete of the third-class. In addition, my lab tests this time around showed normal indexes!
In September of 2007, just before the opening of No. 5 subway line, I ran along the 30km route. My journey was covered by reporters, through which I called on other marathon runners to join me in running the distance to celebrate the official opening of the new subway line. I was given full support.
Afterwards, I became a volunteer for the "I love Beijing 2008 Olympics Environment Appraisal Activity," participated in the "Marching in the Hutongs" activity, and made a speech on behalf of the volunteers at a public ceremony at the Temple of Heaven, calling on every resident to carry tissues with them to wrap their spit and chewing gum in before throwing their rubbish into trash cans. This started a "Pack of Tissue" activity. Later, I participated in the "Selection of 10 Best Hutongs" activity as one of the 10 city judges, and afterwards spoke on the special live program on Radio Beijing regarding the selection activity.
I was luckily selected as one of the 2008 Beijing Olympic torchbearers and, on June 24, ran in the torch relay in Xining, Qinghai Province! So long as one dares to challenge himself, people of poor health like me can become marathon runners!