A rumor quickly started floating around that the race course was actually 44.5 kilometers instead of its claimed 42. Everybody readily accepted this as fact, including myself. I now also recognize that the low-flying clouds of Xiwuqi offered an unheeded omen about our altitude, and hence everyone's inclination to fatigue early. Another warning was the word "Extreme" that came sandwiched between the words "Grassland" and "Marathon." I had previously rolled my eyes at what I then deemed to be gimmicky marketing.

In the story, the tortoise wins the race, but we never hear about the hare's post-race self-reflection, which is where the true moral of the story would have been revealed. I personally came away from the Extreme Grassland Marathon with a complete newfound respect for what 42 kilometers is, and I humbly apologize to the half marathon runners I'd tried chiding into committing to the full 42.

And last but not least, we should recognize that the hare may not have won the race, but he certainly completed the course well-rested. And surely that counts for something.

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