第204期：跑步颂

想成为我们的主播，欢迎加微信 xdfbook 投稿。 一段美文，一首英文歌，或是一点生活感想，全由你做主。 《跑步颂》 A Love Song to Running Each step echoes with astounding ) clarity ). The world opens as I stride ) forward. I have no wings, but I fly nonetheless, soaring over the weathered ) roads. My smile is nothing compared to the brightness that washes over me. The world turns to light. Happiness is everywhere, radiating in massive waves from my soul, set on fire. The struggle leaves my pounding chest, my burning calves ), and my heaving lungs as I barrel forward. I am joy, energy, and life. I am a runner. I love to run, and this is what defines me as one of the most misunderstood athletes there is. The body’s natural instinct is to run to find food. A study of fossils by National Geographic in 2004 “identified a range of physical traits that suggest human ancestors evolved as distance runners. The adaptations helped them chase down prey and compete more effectively with the speedier carnivores ) on the open plains of Africa.” Chasing prey is no longer necessary in the developed world, but running now provides us with a different kind of nourishment: food for the soul. The peace and solace in nature, the rhythmic pounding of our feet, and the awareness of ourselves in the moment fills us up and recharges our tanks to meet the demands of the world. I’ve heard too many times that yes, running has benefits, but they come at the expense of your knees. I have been warned (and feared myself) that the knees are weakened and essentially ruined by the sport. However, recent studies prove the opposite. Boston University researcher David Felson found that people with knee arthritis didn’t have much of a running history, and people who ran didn’t have an increased risk of osteoarthritis ). With benefits like a well-fed soul and a healthy body, running seems unsurpassable by any other activity. Why is it, then, that so many people “hate to run” or “just can’t do it” or think that runners are crazy people? The answer, I think, is that running isn’t easy. In a society where convenience and simplicity are held in high regard, it’s no wonder that so many shy away from an activity that takes time and effort to perfect and enjoy. When I started to run the one-mile loop in my neighborhood, I barely knew what I was doing. It was so tough, I don’t even know why I continued. One day, though, I realized that I loved to run. The act has a sort of song to it, a rhythm made by my feet, my breath, and my very existence. It gave me the courage to explore new places and try new things. It made me the person I am today. Whether the sun is scorching my skin or hidden by rainclouds, I hear the music. Whether the leaves are soft green, vibrant red, or crumpled on the ground, I hear the music. Through wind, snow, and ice, the music still plays. Anyone can be a runner, and anyone can strive to hear the song. As for those stubborn few who will forever scorn running? Let the runners hear their song in peace. And whatever you do, don’t tell us that our knees will pay the price. 每一步都伴随着回响，声音惊人地清晰。随着我向前大步迈进，世界开阔起来。虽然我没有翅膀，但我在飞翔，飞过饱经风霜的道路。我面带笑容，但却根本无法表达充盈我全身的愉悦之情。整个世界都变得明亮起来。欢乐充满了我的每一个细胞，从我的灵魂里大波大波地散发出来，好像快要燃烧了一般。随着我快速前进，痛苦离开了我怦怦跳动的胸膛、燃烧的小腿和起伏的肺部。我感到无比快乐，浑身充满能量和生机。我是个跑步者，我爱跑步。这一点让我成为世界上被误解最深的运动员之一。 身体的自然本能是为找到食物而奔跑。2004年《国家地理》在其一项关于化石的研究中“确定了一系列显示人类祖先曾进化为长距离跑步者的物理特性。这一适应结果帮助他们追捕猎物，在广阔的非洲平原上与速度更快的食肉动物有效地竞争。”追捕猎物在这个物质发达的世界已经不再是必须，但奔跑如今给我们提供了另一种不同的食物：精神食粮。本性的宁静和慰藉、有节奏的拍打着的脚步声，还有此刻对自我的意识都充斥着全身，我们的油箱又加满了油，足以面对世界的各种要求。 我听过太多次人们说，是啊，跑步有益，不过都是以损伤膝关节为代价。我也曾被警告过(我自己也一度害怕)，这项运动会损伤并最终毁掉我的膝盖。然而，最近的一些研究证明事实恰恰相反。波士顿大学研究员大卫·费尔森发现患有膝关节炎的人并不是以前经常跑步的人，而跑步的人也并不比其他人更容易得骨关节炎。 既能喂饱你的精神，又能给你一个健康的身体，这样的益处似乎使跑步成了不可超越的运动。既然如此，为什么还有那么多人“讨厌跑步”或是“就是没法去跑”或者认为跑步的人都是疯子呢？我觉得答案是，跑步并不容易。在一个高度注重便利和简单的社会里，一项需要时间和努力才能完善并享受的运动让许多人避之不及，这毫不奇怪。我刚开始在我们社区跑一英里的圈时，几乎不知道自己在干什么。那个过程非常艰难，我甚至不知道自己当时为什么会继续下去。 尽管如此，某一天，我意识到我爱上了跑步。这项活动带着某种音乐性，我的双脚、呼吸还有我的存在构成了某种韵律。它使我敢于探索新的地方，尝试新的事物。它使我成为今天的我。不管太阳是炙烤着我的皮肤还是躲在乌云背后，我都能听到这首乐曲。不论叶子嫩绿、火红或蜷缩在地，我都能听到这首乐曲。穿过风雪、透过冰层，乐曲依旧响彻耳畔。任何人都可以成为一个跑步者，任何人都能够努力听到那乐曲。至于那些永远不屑于跑步的冥顽不灵的少数派？就请你们让跑步的人安安静静地聆听他们的乐曲吧。 不过，不管你要做什么，就是别跟我们说跑步会损伤膝盖。 文章摘自：《新东方英语·中学生》杂志2017年3月号