My favourite player was LeBron James. Paul’s favourite player was Tyrone Bogues, a guy who played for the Charlotte Hornets, although we actually agree that they are both champions. Bogues was only 1.6 metres tall, which made him the shortest player ever in the NBA. Guess what? Paul was only 1.6 metres tall, too! Paul knew that being shorter than other players meant that he had to practise more. During all those hours of doing jump shots on his own, he used Bogues as his inspiration. Paul once said, “If Bogues could make it, why not me?”

Our coach was not so sure. Paul had to try out many times just for making the team. He was still usually on the bench, being just a replacement, which was really tough on him. Everyone knew Paul had real skills, and was someone who worked really hard and had a strong desire to play for the team. However, Paul didn’t get a chance.

Etenesh Diro had almost completed two thirds of the 3000m steeplechase, when disaster struck.     1     She got tangled up with some other competitors. It made her fall. Her right shoe started to come off.     2     She tried to pull the shoe back on, but it cost her precious time. One after the other, the runners overtook her.     3     She threw the shoe away. This meant she could get up quickly and fight for her position in the race.     4     She ran the rest of the race with just one shoe on and her right foot bare. It raised a big cheer for her. Luckily, she was later given a chance to compete in the final.     5     She lost a shoe. But it didn’t keep her from taking part. This is the true spirit of sport.

3 . Training for a marathon requires careful preparation and steady, gradual increases in the length of the runs.     1    , buy the best-fitting, best-built running shoes you can find. No one can say which brand will work best for you or feel best on your feet, so you have to rely on your experience and on the feel of each pair as you shop. When you have found shoes that seem right, walk in them for a few days to double-check the fit.    2    . As always, you should stretch (伸展) at least ten minutes before each run to prevent injuries.

During the first week, do not think about distance, but run five minutes longer each day. After six days, it is wise to take a day off to rest. But during the next week, set a goal of at least a mile and a half per run. With each day, increase the distance by a half mile. After two weeks, start timing yourself.    3    . Depending on the kind of race you plan to enter, you can set up a timetable for the remaining weeks before the race.