During the Race

During a marathon it is very important to drink a lot so that your body does not dehydrate.

You should run at a steady pace. Don’t start too fast or you will become tired very quickly and can’t continue. This is called “ hitting the wall ”. In most cases runners then give up completely. On the other hand, you shouldn’t start too slowly or else you won’t reach the time limit you want to achieve.

After a marathon most runners feel pain in their muscles. This is normal and it may take a few days before your body becomes normal again.

The New York City Marathon

The New York marathon is one of the biggest and most famous races in the world. It has taken place every year since 1970. Almost 80, 000 runners want to run the marathon each year, but only 30, 000 are allowed to compete. They are chosen by lottery.

The course leads through all of New York’s five boroughs —starting on Staten Island and ending in Central Park. Over 2 million people cheer the runners along the course. They are entertained by 40 musical bands spread over the 42 km route.

A total of 600, 000 $ in prize money are given to the best runners. The winner of the race receives 100, 000 $ plus a new car.

Words

· ability = to be able to do something

· achieve =to work hard to do something and to get a good result

· avoid = to keep away from

· barefoot = you don’t wear any shoes

· borough = a large part of a town or city

· carbohydrate = something that is in food like bread, sugar, potatoes. It gives your body energy

· cereal = a breakfast food made from wheat or corn and usually eaten with milk

· cheer = to shout and make somebody happy

· circulate = to move around

· compete = to take part in an event

· continue = go on running

· course = the place where a race is held

· decade = ten years

· defeat = to win over someone

· dehydrate = if your body loses a lot of water

· dominate = to control; here: to be the best

· elsewhere = in other places

· entertain =to make people happy be doing something

· equipment = special things you need to do something

· fight off = fight against

· highlight = the highest point or the best part of

· improve = to get better

· length =how long something is

· long distance = travelling over many kilometres

· lottery = to choose something by chance

· main = important

· on the other hand = to give another opinion

· oxygen = gas that is in the air and that we need to breathe

· pain = the feeling you have when something hurts

· physical condition = same as physical shape

· physical shape = the condition your body is in

· prize money = the money you get when you win something

· reach = get

· receive = get

· recover = to get better

· reduce =to make smaller, lower

· repeat = to do something again

· set = here: achieve

· soldier = a member of an army

· spread =to cover a larger area

· steady pace = not too fast and not too slow

· store =to keep things somewhere until you need them

· take a couple of days off = don’t run for a few days, just rest

· victory = when you have won something

· weight = how heavy you are

· well-cushioned = soft, so that it doesn’t hurt when you run

· well-prepared = here: to have a lot of training