「U R THE BEST」BIS Runners Raced in 2021 Wuxi Marathon

 

At 7:30am, April 11th, the 2021 Wuxi Marathon kicked off with more than 20,000 runners from across the world. With a passionate “3, 2, 1!” count down, the runners started off towards their goal.

This year, our BIS running team participated in the race, led by Executive President Ms. Sue Su and witnessing the great moments of this beautiful spring season. Please join us in enjoying the highlights of our runners!

From the start of the running season, the positive training atmosphere has filled the campus. Taking part in the race or not, the topic of running has always been popular. To all the participating staff, it was not only out of personal interest to run, but also represents their love for a team that supports and cares for each other. We trained together and shared the same goal of getting the medal!

We interviewed two of our team members, who are going to share their experiences and thoughts on this marathon race.

Q: Hello Ms. Sue Su, it is your first time to participate in such a race. What motivated you to take part?

Although it was my first time, I have known a lot of marathon fans, who always say “I’m a marathon runner so I’m invincible!”. Inspired by them, I have always been keen on experiencing it by myself. I like to challenge myself and surpass myself. I had a pre-existing injury and had had surgery, so I wanted to see if I could finish this mission for myself. I devoted a lot of my energy and stamina into the race and I finally made it. I’m really excited to get the race done and I think I become stronger and more confident as I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and achieve the new goal.

I think it’s important to say that I didn’t come here alone. I have a team with both Chinese and foreign staff from Boston International School. The team showed our cohesion and unity. I was really moved by the team spirit, striving for success.

Q: What do you think is the most important thing you have learned from running?

I started to realize that a positive lifestyle can truly motivate others, demonstrate their potentials and even change their lifestyle. Take this marathon race for example, at first, only a few people posted their running records in Moments. Gradually, more and more people were motivated to run and share their data. Now, a lot of our staff have fallen in love with running, with the marathon and we support and encourage each other in a running group every day. This snowball effect has actually infiltrated into our daily life. A lot of our staff chase the same goal with the marathon spirit.

It reminds me of a sentence mentioned in the IB philosophy: Everyone in a community can show initiative. We should view ourselves as the contributors to grow and develop the community. I believe that the running spirit of our staff will definitely have a positive impact on our students and the whole BIS community. I hope that everyone in our community will show the IB learner profile by being open-minded, caring, courageous and balanced. We will contribute to make a better and peaceful world through the understanding and respect towards all kinds of culture.

Q: As we always say: Life is like a marathon. How has the marathon inspired you in your work and life?

Life is like a marathon. The key to success is not the breakout speed over a short time, but instead it is in persistence the whole way. You may have thousands of reasons to give up, but you will find one reason to insist on. Sometimes you just need to hold on for one more minute until success. A lot of people are scared to run a long distance, but as long as you are persistently trying, you will find it easier than you have thought. Life is the same. There are a lot of uncertainties and you never know what you will face. The only thing you can do is to step out and hold on to your faith. Then one day you will achieve your goal.

The marathon spirit has shown me that we are not aiming to surpass anyone else but surpass ourselves. When you are insisted on doing something, it will become less difficult. In a marathon, the spirit of persistence is more important, just like in work and life. At the beginning, I could only run 1 km. But I added on several hundred meters every day and now I can run 5 km. This is the marathon spirit of continually challenging ourselves. A lot of my BIS colleagues have shared the spirit so we work for the same goal, which makes the team stronger.

I always stressed that we should stick to our original intention of education: develop our children into excellent talents for the world. It reminded me of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, when global education was challenged. At BIS, all staff worked together to adjust our courses and pedagogy. BIS has become the first international school in Jiangsu Province to reopen the school.

Currently, thanks to the government and our parents, as well as the endeavors of all our staff, there are over 400 students from all over the world studying in our school. I believe that with the inspiration of the marathon spirit, I will continue to lead the team towards a better global education in Wuxi.

 

Q: When did you start to run? What made you a runner?

I’ve been an amateur to serious amateur runner since college, but it was in middle school that I discovered that running was a great mind and physical sport about discipline and perseverance; balance and steadfastness. I used it as a way to overcome lots of stressors. It was while living in China, however, that my running turned to marathon ability.

Q: How is running affect you specially as a kind of sports? Is there any highlight you would like to mention about running, compared to other sports?

Primarily it is as a rhythmic state of mind and body harmony. It is independent from others in a way a team sport is, and the competition is about the individual knowing the self and achieving personal betterment. I find a lot of Daoism in running, which is native to China and which I highly appreciate. Improvement is endless, the importance is placed on the path, and the competitor is one’s self.

Q: How is your feeling about running a marathon in Wuxi?

This was very special. All the diverse individuals, unique and running in their own way but united in one large event. It was beautiful. The Boston group was alive with energy and wellbeing. The event itself was incredibly well organized and thorough. I’m grateful for this opportunity and experiencing it with my Boston colleagues.

 

U R THE BEST. is the slogan of this year’s Wuxi Marathon, BIS is proud to have its faculty from 19 different countries of the world. Under the guidance of IB philosophy, they keep challenging themselves as lifelong learners, aiming to provide high-quality international education for Wuxi and nearby communities.

BIS running team is looking forward to meeting you at the starting line next year!