空軍一號上的跑步機

I think President Bush is about 60 years old. Most of you may saw him on TV and knew how he looked like - not atheletic. But you may not believe that he once ran 3 mile (= 4.8K) at about 20 min in a race months ago.

To promote Be Healthier U.S., he hosted the inaugural President's Challenge race (3 mile run and a 1.5 mile fitness walk) for his Cabinet and White House staff. Not only that, he even ran the 3 mile race aggressively. His first and second mile times are 6:30, 6:47, and he finished at his 3 mile PR 20:28.

1 mile = 1.6 K

I think running is one of the factors reflecting the strength of a nation.

I once read a Japanese magazine (called Runners). I found there were so many running race every weekend. My Japanese friend, who is also a runner, told me that Japan, which is much smaller in size, has more running races than US. he said there was a Japanese runner who once run 100 marathons in one year. This is pretty amazing and unbelievale - twice every week, one on Saturday and the other on the next day. On the same magazine, I also read that there was a Japanese runner who completed over 4800km running across America. No wonder why the Japan female runner won the 2000 Olympic marathon.

I think this is the same in Korean, though I don't have much information about it. This gave me some ideas why the Korean runner won the 2001 Boston marathon by beating all other Kenyan and Ethopian runners, eliminating their many year winnning streak.

So in many international races held in US, we can easily find out Japanese and Korean names in the top places.

I am happy to know that there are more endurance races in Taiwan and many are (ultra-)marathons and triathlons. This is what I never heard about 10 years ago. This shows our awareness of working hard to become healthier.

Some of you may be interested in finding that the former Vice President Al Gore once completed a full marathon (Marine Corp Marathon) in 1997. If I remember it correctly, his time is a little faster than 3:40. This is not easy, considering he is 183cm and 89kg. He used to do 150 push-ups, 100 sit-ups everyday, weightlifting every other day, and run 5 or 6 days a week.

Compared with people in US, Japan, etc, my feeling is that most Taiwanese do not have much interest in endurance activities or those requiring physical strength. Perhaps the continuing torrents in political environment and social changes keep people away from being relaxed and seeking personal challenges. I fully understand this. However, looking around my friends here from Taiwan, I don't see they have any interest in those physical activities. I don't know why because they, staying in the very stable environment in US with a pleasant living, should not have any concerns.

Actually, not only Taiwanese, most Asians (people from China, India, etc.) I know about or working in my company are similar in this case.

阿田, I have the same background. The difference is I continue my career in US. So I completely understand what you described above.

旺盛生命力 is a characteristic in Taiwan society and I truly believe this.

"我們雖然起步慢 但腳步沒有停", "相信臺灣會越來越好" There are more and more races and runners than before. So I'm very excited to wait for my first marathon in Taiwan (Taroko Marathon).