The dream of 83yearoldBarbara Humbert83岁的芭芭拉·亨伯特的梦想

Lucien Libert

83歲的芭芭拉·亨伯特梦想着参加明年巴黎奥运会的“全民马拉松”比赛。她的梦想能实现吗？

At age 83， Barbara Humbert dreamsof taking part in next year’s“Marathon forAll”race at the Paris Olympic Games. It isthe first event of its kind， permitting amateurathletes to run the same race path asthe Olympic marathon athletes.

Humbert has a history of success， suggestingshe could beat some runners halfher age. Not a usual greatgrandmother，the GermanbornFrenchwoman runs 50 kilometersa week. She has competed inmany marathons and has the medals toshow for it.“ It’s extraordinary to havethe Olympics in Paris，”said Humbert ather home in Eaubonne. The town is onehour’s drive north of Paris.“It would be agift for my 60th marathon，”she added.

However， Humbert is unsure if shewill get to compete in the race because thenumber of runners is limited. In marathons，runners often receive race bibs—a pieceof paper with a number on it to identify therunner. Race bibs for the“Marathon forAll”will be limited to 20，024， to be chosenin a random draw.

Many medals hang at the entrance ofBarbara’s home. They remind Barbara ofall the races she has been part of， fromAthens to Boston and many other cities.More than 40 years after she first startedracing， Humbert beat a world record in hergroup during the French athletics championshipslast year. Humbert wants othersto follow in her footsteps. She said of running，“It gives you balance. You run， youempty your head， and you feel so much betterafterwards.”

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What are the advantages of runningaccording to Humbert？

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