A
Running a marathon is not easy. It takes hard work, practice, and patience. After all, to run a marathon, you have to run 26.2 miles by foot! Think about it this way: 26.2 miles is the same as running the length of a football field more than 460 times. It takes most people four or five hours to finish.
By the age of 30, Lea Tambellini had run more than five marathons and had no plans to stop. She had always been an athlete. When she was in high school, she swam on her school’s swim team and ran to stay healthy and active. Her mom and dad ran marathons, and when she was 22, they helped her train for her first marathon. Lea’s first marathon took place in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was called “The Flying Pig.”. “I was very nervous,” she said, “but I had my mom there, so that helped.” Running the race was hard, but the hardest part was when she ran past a cookie factory and smelled cookies at mile 18. “I just wanted to be done,” she said. “I was spent, my mom kept me going. It was already her 15th Marathon.”
Today, thousands of people run marathons every year. Runners train for months to get ready. To prepare for one of the marathons, Lea ran four to five times every week. On weekdays she completed shorter runs, five or six miles at most. But on the weekends she ran long distances—13 miles, 15 miles, and 20 miles!
“I don’t mind training because I get excited about working toward something. And I love running with a group of friends and working toward the goal together. But it does take a lot of time.” Running a marathon is a great achievement. “It’s a great feeling of accomplishment and nothing feels as wonderful as reaching my goal when I cross the finish line,” Lea explained. “I can’t wait for the next one!”
21. What contributed to Lea becoming a marathon runner?
A. Her great patience and life ambition to be a successful athlete.
B. Her athletic experience and her parents’ guidance.
C. Her strong interest in swimming and long-distance running.
D. Her love for running with friends and achieving a goal together.
22. What does Lea mean by saying “I was spent” in paragraph 3?
A. I was overcome by hunger. B. I was extremely exhausted.
C. I felt like quitting my sporting career. D. I was feeling increasingly nervous.
23. How did Lea’s feeling of running a marathon change over the years?
A. From curiosity to enthusiasm. B. From thrill to boredom.
C. From delight to disappointment. D. From nervousness to excitement.
