My occupation is an     1     (architecture). I had only swum in open water a few times, and always in gentle lakes, so how rough Lake Windermere appeared on a cold day was not     2     I was prepared for.     3     was acknowledged that the water might feel colder than it had been measured, and that the water was a bit rough. But I, along with 10,000 others, was about to face the challenge. The task might sound     4     (ambition). I said to my family members, “At this time tomorrow I will be swimming in the lake.”

Most of the participants were doing a one-mile race, and 10 races were planned over the weekend. The participants ranged from very old people to very young swimmers. The oldest woman competing was 77, taking part in the two-mile race, alongside a man who last year swam in every one-mile race.

It was the third one-mile race of the day that     5     (chose) by me three days before. There were over 600 participants in my race. After being taken through a preparation area, we felt how cold the water was. “Not too bad” was everyone’s thought! Then we headed out towards the middle of the lake.

I stared at the lake for some time, wondering if I could finish the competition smoothly. Though     6     (warn) that the first 100 meters would be really rough, somewhere near the 750m mark I was still waiting for the calm. It felt more like swimming in the sea than a lake. I tried to focus on my breathing and skill, and just constantly made an effort     7     (swim). Hardly had I approached the 400m-to-go mark when my lower right leg became incredibly painful. I began to feel the entire le g tight and exhausted. No matter how terrible I felt, I didn’t want to stop, so I bent my right knee and just kicked with the left leg. The     8     (consume) of my energy was so high.

My finishing time was 38 minutes 25 seconds but that didn’t matter—the atmosphere was absorbing and everyone felt a sense of achievement, whatever their time was. It was my perseverance that contributed to my finishing the race. The success could boost my     9     (confident). I’m attracted and want to give it another go. If possible, I will sign up for my next open-water swim. Now this is an activity I am willing to engage     10    .

2 . Common Mistakes New Runners Make

Running is a great way to get in shape and just about everyone can do it. However,     1    , which can interfere (妨碍) with training or lead to injury. If you’re just starting out, keep these things in mind to help you increase your chances of running success.

●Doing too much too soon

One of the biggest mistakes new runners make is doing too much too soon. Slowly easing into a training program will help reduce the risk of injury, so you can continue on with your new running routine.     2    .

●    3    

Beginners might think they need to run every day (or nearly every day) to meet their fitness or weight-loss goals, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Running is a high-impact activity which can be really hard on your body. So it’s important to give your body a rest between workouts.

●Not wearing the right equipment

While it may be true that you don’t need expensive equipment to take up running,     4    . The most important piece of equipment for running is a good pair of running shoes, so be sure to do some research before you purchase a pair. Visit a running specialty store and ask an employee to fit you for a shoe.

●Running through pain

    5    . If something hurts when you run, you need to stop and treat the pain. Remember: It doesn’t make you less of a runner if you listen to your body to keep it healthy.

Student Union

As I worked as a sports journalist for my first 10 years with China Daily, I have     1     (close) followed how China has grown from a minor player in the international sports arena into a global sports power.

    2     it had a huge population, China was not much of a global force in sports until the1980s. However, it was very good at table tennis at that time. The first major international breakthrough for China came in 1981     3     its women’s volleyball team won the Women’s Volleyball World Cup. Understandably, sports fans went crazy. Parades celebrating the victory     4     (hold) on many university campuses     5     some students shouting slogans such as “revitalizing (振兴) China”, which has since become the goal of the nation.

    6     (motivate) by the victory, China invested more of the limited resources in training athletes. The investment paid off, as China got     7     (it) first Olympic gold medal in shooting in 1984. In all, Chinese athletes won 15 gold medals in the Los Angeles Olympics,    8     (set) the course to becoming a global sports power. In     9     past decade, Chinese athletes have been winning about 120 gold medals in international sports games every year.

As China invests more resources in the sports sector thanks to the fast-paced economic development and winning world titles becoming normal for Chinese athletes, the government started encouraging ordinary     10     (citizen) to play sports.

7 . Any time of the day you can commit to exercising is a good time for getting active. However, the best time for exercise is different for each person.     1    

Determine when you have the most energy. Do you struggle to get out of the bed in the morning or do you wake up energized and ready to go? Are you a night owl and never get to bed before midnight? Once you establish what your sleep tendencies are, you will have a better idea of when your body is most ready to exercise.     2     You are more likely to hit the snooze button instead of getting a workout in.

Consider your daily schedule. When are you the busiest?     3     Try to fit in exercise before or at least around these events. Some people would prefer to get it out of the way first thing, while others prefer to put it off until the end of the day when they are all caught up.

Determine your exercise goals. If you are trying to develop a routine, you may want to exercise in the morning.     4     If you are trying to improve your performance, evening exercise may be best. You may experience less tiredness, quicker reaction times, and more strength and flexibility in the evening. If you are trying to lose weight, you may want to exercise in the morning before you have eaten when your body is more likely to use fat instead of carbohydrates (碳水化合物) for energy.

    5     This way, you’ll see how you feel and find the time that works best with your schedule. Keep an exercise log to help you evaluate each time.

9 . Competing in the Mongol Derby

Standing at the finishing line, 70-year-old Bob Long spent a while reflecting on the achievement he’d just made. Behind him was the wild, endless Mongolian grassland extending into the distance. This American had just become the oldest person to ever complete and win the Mongol Derby, the world’s longest horse race.

Long, a rider all his life, entered the race after being inspired by All the Wild Horses, a movie based on the exhausting event.

Fearing that he wouldn’t be able to complete it, he set about preparing his mind and body for this “hardest, toughest, most demanding thing you can do on a horse”, an annual 1,000-kilometer race that was recognized as the world’s longest horse race by The Guinness Book of Records in 2011. He confirmed his belief that preparation can surpass (超过；胜过) youth, as some of the other riders were less prepared.

Although Long had been riding horses for many years, the hardship and uncertainty of the task pushed him to his limit and forced him to depend entirely on his own will. The race organizers had provided an extensive support network to keep an eye on the participants from afar. Despite that, the physical pressure of riding such a long distance made simple things like squatting (蹲) down at the end of the day almost impossible.

Along the vast race course there were unpredictable circumstances beyond Long’s control, however well prepared he’d been. Weather was one of them, which could switch from heavy rain to burning sun unexpectedly.

Above all else, the biggest obstacle was the state of mind. Without a living soul in sight, Long was desperate for interaction, guidance, and comfort. This feeling of loneliness accounted for his hope that one of his fellow competitors would catch up.

Regardless of the hardship, Long felt a sort of spiritual adventure while traveling through the wilderness. He was provided with some memorable moments while connecting with nature. He also grew to love the country and the communities along the route.

Still holding the passion for riding, Long never dismisses the idea of competing in another Mongol Derby.