■作者：唐子傅 12岁 来自教堂山中文学校
我很激动想告诉大家昨天（22日）我参加的活动：儿童马拉松，拔河比赛以及额外的趣味游戏。
我们从儿童马拉松开始。比赛于上午10点开始，想参加的人们在上午9点左右都到达了。
找到午餐大亭子附近的摊位，工作人员会给我一个号码，整个活动都得戴着。之后，前往建筑物后面的场地热身。
工作人员根据年龄将每个人分成不同的小组：粉色、蓝色和橙色。
粉色组是为最小的孩子准备的，他们只需要绕场地跑一圈。接下来是蓝色组（那是我的组）。我们需要跑三圈。橙色组是为年龄较大的孩子准备的，他们需要绕场地跑五圈。我在马拉松中排名第41，但如果只考虑蓝队（我的队伍），我实际上排名第7。
我必须承认，在马拉松比赛中，我犯了一个大错误，希望你能从中吸取教训。我还想分享一些提高你马拉松表现的建议。
比赛中，我犯了一个错误，就是为了找朋友而倒退奔跑，结果发现他不知什么时候冲到我前面去了，他最后在我们年龄组中排名第一。这里的关键教训是：不要往回跑！一直向前冲！虽然走路可能看起来是节约能量的方法，但不建议这样做。在比赛结束前，保持稳定的速度。
如果马拉松特别漫长，开始时以较慢的速度出发是个智慧的策略，以保留能量。如果你过早耗尽所有能量，你将没有剩余的力量用于比赛后期。尽量保持在第2到第5名之间。如果有人超过你，不要太担心，除非是最后冲刺。
现在，让我们谈谈拔河比赛。拔河比赛不仅仅是比力量，还靠有效的策略和团队协作。我的家人在比赛中玩得不亦乐乎。我们的孩子团队在儿童赛中获得了第一名，我的爸妈在成人冠军赛中表现出色，分别获得了第二和第三名。这是一个充满成功的美好一天！
在主要比赛结束后，我们享受了一些令人兴奋的活动。其中一个活动是穿着特大鞋子尽量快速地跑向另一边，非常有趣。
我们还有一个呼啦圈挑战，目标是不让呼啦圈掉下来。这是一个考验平衡和协调能力的挑战，每个人都玩得非常开心。
总结一下：
儿童马拉松注重保持专注、掌握节奏以及保存能量以备最后的冲刺。
拔河比赛不仅仅是关于体力，还涉及选择合适的鞋子、使用手套来增加抓力以及策略性的站位。
【英文稿】
A day of Crazy fun
By Teddy Tang
I want to tell you about the Children’s Marathon, the Tug-of-War Contest, and some additional games.
Let’s start with the Children’s Marathon. It kicks off at 10 AM, but if you want to participate, make sure to arrive around 9 AM.
When you get there, head to the first parking lot you see. If it’s full, just keep going through the gates and park in the next lot.
Look for a booth near the lunch building. They’ll give you a number to wear on your front and back. After that, go to the field behind the building for a warm-up.
They’ll divide everyone into groups based on age: Pink, Blue, and Yellow.
The Pink group is for the youngest kids, and they only need to run one lap around the field. Next up is the Blue group (which was my group). We had to run three laps. The Orange group is for the older kids, and they have to run five laps around the field. I ended up in 41st place for the marathon, but it’s actually 7th place if we only consider the Blue team (my team).
I must admit a big mistake I made during the marathon, and I hope you can learn from it. I also want to share some tips to help improve your marathon performance.
During the race, I made the mistake of running backward to find a friend, only to discover that he was in first place in our age group. The key lesson here is: DON’T run backward! Keep moving forward! Although walking may seem like a way to conserve energy, it’s not advisable. Maintain a steady pace throughout the race until the very end.
If the marathon is particularly long, it’s a good strategy to start at a slower pace to conserve energy. If you use up all your energy too quickly, you won’t have anything left for the latter part of the marathon. Try to stay within the 2nd to 5th place range. If someone overtakes you, don’t worry too much unless it’s the final sprint.
Also, avoid distractions. While it’s okay to chat with friends during the race, it’s best to do so when you’re close to the finish line. It can be tough to hold a conversation when you’re catching your breath, so I don’t encourage it.
After the marathon, you can have fun with your friends until lunch. When it’s time for lunch, try to be at the front of the line. The lines can get pretty long, and it could take up to 20 minutes to get your food if you’re at the back. Once you have your food, find a place to sit quickly, as it can be challenging to find an open spot if you’re late. Once you’ve found a spot and sat down, you can chat and play all you want.
Now, let’s talk about the tug-of-war contest, and here are some tips to keep in mind while watching:
1. Team Coordination
Effective communication and coordination with your teammates are crucial in a team-based tug-of-war. Work together to establish a synchronized pulling rhythm.
2. Grip Technique
When gripping the rope, wrap it around your hand or wrist for a secure hold. Avoid simply gripping with your fingers, as this can lead to slipping.
3. Steady Breathing
Maintain controlled breathing throughout the contest. Holding your breath can cause tension and fatigue more quickly. Breathe steadily to stay relaxed and focused.
4. Anchoring Technique
If you’re the anchor at the back of the team, dig your heels into the ground and lean back to provide stability and prevent your team from being pulled over the line.
5. Watch Your Footing
Be mindful of the surface you’re on. If it’s slippery, make sure your footwear provides adequate traction, and adjust your stance accordingly to avoid slipping.
6. Body Weight
Utilize your body weight effectively. Lean back and pull with your legs, not just your arms, to maximize your strength.
7. Study Your Opponents
Observe your opponents for weaknesses in their stance or grip. Try to exploit any vulnerabilities you notice.
8. Conservation of Energy
Tug-of-war can be physically demanding. Don’t exhaust all your energy too early. Pace yourself, and be prepared for the long haul if it turns into a lengthy match.
9. Anticipate the Start
As soon as the referee signals the start, be ready to pull with a burst of energy. A quick and strong start can give your team an advantage.
Remember, tug-of-war is not just about strength but also about strategy and teamwork. Applying these tips can help you perform better and enjoy the competition.
“My family had a blast playing the game. Our kids’ team won first place in the children’s championship, and my mom and dad did really well, getting second and third prizes in the adult championship. It was a great day of success!”
After the main games, we enjoyed some exciting activities. One of them involved wearing oversized shoes and trying to run as fast as possible to the other side, which was loads of fun.
We also had a hula hoop challenge where the goal was to make it to the end without dropping the hula hoop. It tested our balance and coordination, and everyone had a blast participating in these activities.
To sum it up:
The Children’s Marathon focused on maintaining focus, pacing, and conserving energy for a strong finish.
The Tug-of-War Contest was about more than just physical strength; it involved choosing the right shoes, using gloves for grip, and strategic positioning.
Additional games like oversized shoe races and a hula hoop challenge added to the fun. It was an event filled with useful tips and enjoyable moments for all participants.
