Runner-3

September 9, 2012

His coaching style was unique. He didn't instruct when, or how long she should run. He only came to her every day and corrected her form to the original one she had in junior high. He said, "Until now you have been running as much as you like, and I would like to continue to follow your idea. You should run as much as you want. If you feel good, you should run longer, if you don't feel so good you don't need to run so far, or even just stop. You shouldn't run without motivation. "
He rode on his bicycle and followed her and checked every detail of her form and corrected it. She first wondered how he remembered her original form, and also if it would work so well. But as her form

became nearer her original one, she gained speed little by little. She had liked running before his coaching but now she liked running even more. When she was running she felt in harmony with nature as if she were a wild animal running free in the prairies.
And one day her coach said, "I've entered you into a marathon. Your form has completely returned to the way it was in junior high school." He posed and turned his eyes away. "So you don't need me anymore."
She was upset and said angrily. "What are you talking about? You only taught me for a few months. I don't have any idea how to run a marathon. Please teach me other techniques, like how to compete in the marathon or what to think during running. Please don't leave me alone." She almost cried. But the teacher left her, saying, "You are your own coach. If you lose your way during running you should ask yourself, the voice from the depths of your mind." "Wait!" But he didn't wait. She stood there for a while and cried.
Without thinking she walked to the old woman's house.
Not expecting her, the old woman was sitting on the stool in front of her house. She recognized her and said. "You look sad, young lady. Hasn't your dream come true?" She didn't expect the old woman to remember granting her wish but said. "I don't think so. I haven't even joined a marathon yet." The old woman said, "You don't need to join a marathon race. You are still a good runner."
She had no idea why the old woman said such a ridiculous thing. She had recently run for 42.195 kilometers, a full marathon's distance, for the first time, but she didn't know her time. Because her coach who measured the time didn't say anything about the time and had quit today. She sighed.
(To be continued...)