Then came the long and dimly lit tunnels, where the sound of our breathing and footfalls echoed off the walls, others bellowing, "Woohoo, yeah". Emerging from the darkness back into the open city felt like breaking through a barrier — not just physical, but mental.

At the 15th kilometer mark, fatigue crept in. Still, I found strength in those around me — runners of different ages and sizes pushing through their struggles, their expressions mirroring my own resolve. We were strangers, yet connected by the same purpose.

As I rounded the final stretch, the last sign marking 200 meters came into view, and with it, a surge of adrenaline. My legs ached, my lungs burned, but I pushed harder. The clock loomed overhead — I was on track for my best time yet.