THE VALLEY

Twice a week for five years, I have been running in a valley. Each time I run five miles for one hour. The valley is in the mountains near my office. Being in between two mountains which are not small, the valley is deep and long. Running in such a valley is a good exercise for me. The valley changes as the seasons go by.

In the spring I see new sprouts come out on the trees and watch all kinds of flowers blossom. Many times I run through the falling petals and smell the scent of flowers.

In the summer, it is tough to run in hot and humid weather, but I love running when it is raining. When it rains I see no people in the valley, and the stream rushing full of water excites me. I even take a bath in the stream and I feel like I am in a paradise.

In the fall the red and yellow leaves pile up on my running track and I run to the sound of fallen leaves crushed under my feet.

In the winter, with cheeks numb and fingers frozen, it is hard to run. But when it snows it is so silent that I hear only my breath. Sometimes I lie down on the deep snow and breathe panting breaths.

As time goes on, the valley changes its clothes, and I run along the valley to grow old.