translation: As I ran through the beautiful old part of Murakami City, the cheers of the spectators) ordinary residents, I'm assuming) spurred me on, and I wrung out my last ounce of energy as I raced for the finish line. It was an exultant moment. It had been a tough race, for sure, what with my Vaseline adventure, but once I reached the finish that all vanished. After I caught my breath, I exchanged a smile and a handshake with the man wearing race number 329. " Good job, " we told each other. He and I had battled it out in the bike race, where he passed me many times. Right when we started running, my shoelaces came untied and twice I had to stop to retie them. If only that hadn't happened, I know I would have passed him) or so goes my optimistic hypothesis. When I picked up the pace at the end of the run, I almost passed him, but wound up three yards short. Naturally the responsibility for not checking my shoelaces before the race lies entirely with yours truly.
translation: Khi tôi chạy qua khu phố cổ xinh đẹp của thành phố Murakami, tiếng reo hò của người xem-những cư dân bình thường, chắc thế-thúc tôi nhanh hơn, và tôi gom hết chút sức lực sau rốt của mình chạy về đích. Đó là một khoảnh khắc hân hoan. Đó là một cuộc đua gay cấn, dĩ nhiên, nào là gặp rắc rối vì vụ Vaseline rồi còn những gì gì nữa, nhưng một khi tôi đã đến được đích rồi thì tất cả không còn nữa. Sau khi lấy lại hơi được rồi, tôi mỉm cười lại và bắt tay với người đàn ông mang số 329. " Làm khá lắm ", chúng tôi bảo nhau. Ông ta và tôi đã so kè trong phần đua xe đạp, ông qua mặt tôi nhiều lần. Ngay khi chúng tôi bắt đầu chạy, dây giày tôi sút ra và hai lần tôi phải dừng để thắt lại. Giá mà chuyện đó không xảy ra, tôi biết mình đã có thể vượt qua ông ta-hay giả định lạc quan của tôi nói thế. Khi tăng tốc vào chặng cuối cuộc chạy, tôi suýt vượt được ông ta, nhưng rốt cuộc lại thua ba mét. Dĩ nhiên việc không kiểm tra dây giày trước cuộc đua hoàn toàn là trách nhiệm của tôi rồi.