2 . It is probably the strangest sport anyone has ever invented. And at first sight, it looks like the easiest. Competitors have to do two things. The first is to stand still. The second is to place their hands anywhere on the body of a car, and keep it there.

This is where things start getting difficult. Lots of people are doing the same thing. And the winner of the “handstand” contest is the person who can carry on doing it for the longest time. That person gets to own the car.

It still seems to be an easy thing to do. At the beginning it is. Anyone can stand still. But when the contest has been going for four or five days, standing still seems like the most difficult job in the world . And keeping the hand in place over this time becomes an act of serious attention. After a few days, the hand seems to belong to someone else----someone who wants to go home and get some sleep.

Competitors are allowed to take a five-minute break every hour to eat, drink or do whatever else is necessary. No one is allowed to lean on the car for support. Winners need to be able to show great powers of attention. They also need to be able to develop special skills.

Maybe the popularity of the “handathon” is due to the fact that it is not necessary to be a trained athlete to enter. Competitors in the Longview handathon certainly don’t seem to do much preparation. Most say they will prepare by “getting lots of sleep”. Others say they will “eat healthy food” or “pray for success”.   The whole event gives ordinary people the chance to do something interesting and win something in the end.

Handathons are competitions, but there is little rivalry (竞争) between competitors. They help each other out and keep each other’s spitits up. People who drop out early return with food, drink and encouragement.

3 . Winter running is the best way to lose winter weight. But before heading out, make sure you have a solid plan. You don’t want to come across accident along the way.     1    

Wear the Right Shoes

The right shoes will depend on the road. You should wear shoes that are made for the kind of surface you run on. For example, if you are running on slippery surfaces, you want shoes with great friction (摩擦力).     2     When trying out a pair of running shoes, check the fit, feel and ride of the shoes. These elements（要素）are important once you take your new shoes out for a run.

Warm Up

Warm-up is an important part to keep fit. Especially if temperatures drop and your muscles are stiff (僵硬的) from the cold!     3     It also prepares the muscles for the intense (激烈的) activity ahead. The cold climate won’t feel as cold when you do warm ups. This is because blood flows much faster after a good warm up!

Deal with Wind

    4     The key is to run into the wind and finish by running against it. This keeps icy wind from blasting (用力撞击) your face. To prevent any injuries or accidents, break your run into small parts.     5    You can use certain creams on the nose and cheeks to prevent frostbite (冻疮).Don’t skip your sun-block if you’re running during the day. UVB (紫外线) passes through the clouds. Running for an extended period on a cloudy day will still damage the skin!

NBA basketball players devote much of their lives to preparing for games. This preparation, which includes studying game films, practicing skills and treating injuries, is essential because of the pressure-packed nature of their profession.

    1     Generally, on the day of a game, players get together in the morning for an-hour shooting and also to review films of the opponent of that night.     2     Players receive treatments for injuries, put on their uniforms, discuss strategies with coaches and warm up during the remaining time before the game gets underway. As thousands of people cheer them on, a team’s best players will play 40 or more minutes during the game. After the game, some players stick around to lift weights before showering and heading home.

    3     They must leave their families at home, spend hours on planes traveling around the country and try to stay rested while sleeping at a different hotel every night.

The NBA’s 82-game regular season is tiring.     4     So many players focus on recuperating (恢复健康) for at least part of the off-season. Other players may work on recovering from surgery to correct injuries.

Weeks before the training camp, NBA basketball players start getting back in shape for the upcoming season.     5     Younger players often take part in developmental leagues during the summer months to increase their chances of getting onto an NBA team.