World's loneliest marathon

重庆 陈晓蓉

在贝加尔湖畔举行的马拉松是世界上最孤独的马拉松。2005年以来，每年3月，来自世界各地的人纷纷报名参加贝加尔湖冰上马拉松。他们来这里探索湖泊的美，并在不可预知的条件下挑战自己，测试自己的极限。

Many of us know about Russia's Lake Baikal from our textbooks,or by listening to Chinese singer Li Jian's hit song,Lake Baikal.But over the past decade,the world's deepest freshwater lake has been in the spotlight for an extreme sport.

Each March since 2005,about 150 people from around the world sign up for the Baikal Ice Marathon.They come to explore the lake's breathtaking beauty and challenge themselves in unpredictable conditions.

The26-mile(41.84-kilometer)journey startson the lake'seastern shore.In March,the ice isa meter thick and iron-hard.Runners cross this frozen surface,finishing on the western side of the lake.

Known as the “Blue Eye of Siberia”,Lake Baikal has exceptionally clear waters.This means its ice is almost perfectly transparent.“Seen from the above,a runner on the ice looks as if he or she were jogging through space,”The New York Times noted.

The landscape might be beautiful,but it's also harsh.Strong winds blast（向……猛吹）across the lake and frostbite can occur within half an hour.Runners say the cold climate is what draws them.They want to test their limits.

“When you are in such an environment,you don't have cars around you,you don't have the noise around.I think these extreme races allow you to be alone with nature,”Alicja Barahona,a 64-year-old runner from the US,told ABCNews.

The location offers some strange and unique characteristics for this marathon.The finish line is visible from the start,but the endless white offers no progress markers.The race also ends with little fanfare(号角花彩).Tourists crowding the ice are mostly addicted to snapping selfies(自拍)and just ignore the runners.

For some runners,the absence of spectators(观众)makes the race more challenging,because it's lonely.They must fight with themselves.“You are alone on Baikal.It is your race.You are alone with yourself.All you need to do is defeat yourself,”Veronique Messina,a French runner,told The Telegraph.

1.What can we know about the Baikal Ice Marathon from the text?

A.It requires runners to run from the northern end to the southern end of the lake.

B.It involves extreme weather and beautiful scenery.

C.It attracts more and more participants each year.

D.It is about 26 kilometers in length.

2.What does the underlined word“harsh”in Para.5 probably mean?

A.Interesting. B.Mysterious. C.Severe. D.Safe.

3.How does the Baikal Ice Marathon differ from other marathons?

A.Only men are allowed to run in this race.

B.The runners can see the finish line from the start.

C.The runners are often distracted by tourists.

D.There are many progress markers on the ice.

4.What is the most challenging part of the race for Messina?

A.Loneliness.

B.The long distance.

C.The cold climate.

D.Noisy surroundings.