Lesson 51: A Good Habit

Conversation

Anna: D.C. is a popular city for marathons! A marathon is a long race. Many marathons raise money for charity, you know - good works. A marathon is a good fitness goal too. I want to challenge myself in a marathon and maybe win a medal! Hey, there’s Ashley. Ashley! Wait for me! It’s Anna!

Anna: Ash … ley. Ash … ley.

Ashley: Are you okay, Anna?

Anna: I just ran … from over there.

Ashley: Do you want to sit down, Anna? Do you want some water? (Anna takes the bottle and tries to return it.) No thanks. You keep it.

Anna: Thanks. I didn’t know you like to run.

Ashley: I love running. In fact, this weekend, I will run in my first marathon.

Anna: Me … too.

Ashley: Really? You are running in a marathon?

Anna: Yeah. In a couple of days. Why do you ask … like that?

Ashley: What do you know about running in a marathon?

Anna: I know that there’s a lot of running and sometimes you can win a medal.

Ashley: How long have you been training?

Anna: I started today. I’ve been training for an hour … no, an hour and seven minutes!

Ashley: Anna, training a little every day is a good habit to get into. Not all at once!

Anna: Thanks for the advice, Ashley. But I’m running in a special race.

Ashley: What marathon is it?

Anna: I don’t remember the name. But the website said everyone gets a medal.

Ashley: Okay, well, good luck, Anna!

Anna: Thanks, Ashley. Good luck to you, too.

Ashley: Thank you.

Anna: Bye!

Ashley: Bye, Anna!

Anna: See you!

(At the race: an announcer calls out race information)

Anna: Hello. I am here to enter the race!

Woman: But ma’am you can’t enter the race.

Anna: What? How am I going to meet my goal?

Woman: Ma’am, this race is for children. You can’t run with the children.

Anna: Children? Children. That’s perfect. I just might win!

Woman: No, ma’am. You really can’t run with the children.

Anna: I’m sorry. Of course. I was only thinking of my goal.

Woman: Well, you can help us with our goal, which is to raise money for sick children. Would you like to help us?

Anna: I’ve just found my new goal. And I get to wear a medal. (to child who finished race) Good job!

New Words

challenge - v. to test the ability, skill, or strength of (someone or something)

charity - n. a organization that helps people in need

fitness - n. the condition of being physically fit and healthy
goal - n. something that you are trying to do or achieve
habit - n. something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way

marathon - n. a running race that is about 26 miles (42 kilometers) long

medal - n. a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement

race - n. a competition between people, animals or vehicles to see which one is fastest

special - adj. different from what is normal or usual

train - v. to try to make yourself stronger, faster, or better at doing something before competing in an event or competition