Knee surgeries fail to drag marathon runner's pace in exploring world

He Yuwen, 41, a marathon runner, talks with Zhang Yi.

Despite having undergone knee surgeries, I am determined to keep running.

In 2015, luck smiled upon me, granting me entry into the exclusive Beijing Marathon. Despite being inexperienced, I pushed through cramping legs to cross the finish line at the iconic Bird's Nest, the National Stadium.

Running since then has become my way of exploring the world. One of my most cherished experiences was in Tokyo in 2019, during cherry blossom season, with delicate petals falling around me as I ran along a riverbank.

Gradually, I learned about major global marathon events, including the esteemed Boston Marathon. I set a goal to run around the world.

Last year, to improve my speed and recapture the feeling of my youth, I joined a specialized training for college students in their 20s, which resulted in an injury. My right meniscus was damaged, causing a hitch when I ran.

My doctor, who is also a marathon runner with a wall full of medals in his office, diagnosed me with cartilage spurs that necessitated corrective measures to prevent fluid buildup hindering my runs.

During my university days, I injured my left knee while playing soccer, and I had a piece of the meniscus removed through surgery. I still keep moving as sports bring me joy and vitality.

Last winter, I underwent surgery, rested for two months, and started running again in the spring. The knee injury is irreversible, and my running form has changed. I used to have a long stride, but now I have to shorten it.

I am now prone to injuries, so I have limited options for sports, but I don't quit. If I didn't have sports in my life, what else could I do as a middle-aged man who stays at home? Artificial joints offer hope for the future if things get worse.

In a marathon in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, in 2019, I dragged my cramping legs to walk the last few kilometers and passed an elderly man. He was limping along, holding a small flag that read "Running to Beat Cancer".

The following year, I came across the news of his passing online. Despite the doctor's grim prognosis of only three months to live, he had set a goal of completing 100 marathons. In just four years, he managed to run 61 races, adorning his home with a wall full of medals. His son vowed to fulfill his father's dream by completing the remaining 39 races on his behalf.

He reminded me of a quote from Haruki Murakami's What I Talk about When I Talk about Running: At least he never walked.