【推荐2】In December of 1992. I was a happy husband and father of two young children. A month later. I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (急性白血病).

After two years of chemo (化疗) that helped control the disease, ay body was weak and lifeless. I felt as if I were a puppet who needed help to lift his arms or hold up his head.

I began to run. After six months my strength had come back. On one of my runs, one where I felt I could run forever I decided I was going to try to run a marathon.

After telling my Dad about my plan, he told me of a program that trains people to run marathon. while raising funds for Leukemia research at the same time. So that summer, through the Leukemia Society’s Team in Training program, I started to train for the Marine Corps Marathon. During mile after mile of uncertainty, the day finally came to run the marathon.

On October 27, 1996, at 8 A. M., along with 19. 000 other brave souls I started on a 26.2-mile journey that I will never forget.

I first saw my wife Patty at the six-mile mark She seemed happy that I was still looking as if I knew what I was doing, and having a good time doing it. At Mile 17, my mind was going back to those two horrible years that tried to bring my family and me down. I saw her again. The concern in her face told me she knew I was starting to struggle. I felt as if we were thinking the same, nine more miles and these last few years will be behind us.

That thought alone pulled me forward. Mile 22, 23, slowing but going, 24, 25, then there it was. The Iwo Jima War Memorial (纪念馆). I have seen nothing so grand and inspiring in my life. Three hours and forty-one minutes after I started, I crossed what I think has to be the most fitting finish line in all of road racing!

That night the Leukemia Society gave me a pin at post-race party that simply says, “Leukenia26.2.”

If God wills, my cancer may once again take away my hair and my strength, maybe even my life. But it can never take away my pin, or the fact that I am a marathoner.

【推荐3】What is the secret of happiness? A new study finds that happiness comes from exercise. People who exercise actively bring themselves happiness equal to earning an extra $ 25,000 a year.

Instead of recording extra hours at work in hopes of getting a raise, maybe you should hit the gym instead, as it could make you just as happy as that extra money. An interesting new study, published in the Lancet, found that people who are physically active have a greater sense of well—being than those who are inactive-and that active individuals feel as good as inactive people who earn $ 25,000 more per year.

Researchers from Oxford and Yale Universities used data gathered from more than 1.2milion Americans. They were asked, “How many times have you felt mentally unwell in the past30 days. for example, due to stress, depression, or emotional problems?” Participants were also asked about their exercise habits and were able to choose from 75 diverse physical activities, including doing housework and childcare, running, weightlifting, and cycling. The researchers found that people who exercise regularly feel bad for an average of 35 days per year, while inactive people feel bad for an additional 18 days.

All exercise types were associated with a lower mental health burden. Social physical activities （that is to say, team sports such as football, basketball, etc） had an even more positive effect, which can best help people relax mind.

It is possible for some to get too much exercise. From Business Insider's report on the study. “The mental health of those participants who exercised for longer than three hours a day suffered more than that of those who weren't particularly physically active.” The ideal amount seems to be three to five training sessions per week. lasting 30 to 60 minutes each.

But the conclusion should be that any amount helps, so don't stress about hitting that perfect balance: “All exercise types were associated with a lower mental health burden than not exercising.”