6Y1M 4Y4M クロスカントリー Cross country running

ペナンスポーツクラブのグラウンドで、アラタの学校のクロスカントリー（長距離走）レース。

学年毎男女毎のグループで走るので、アラタの時は30人ほど。やけに広いトラックで、日本の学校で見慣れた２００Mよりは広く、多分４００Mトラック。障害物も数箇所置いてある。

そこを、なんと、２周！

えーーー、最後まで走れるの～？とかなり不安になった私。アラタの姿は見えない。ビリじゃなきゃいいけど・・・。２周目は何人か抜かし、真ん中よりちょっと後ろでゴール。

ナニア幼稚園で運動会はあったが、順番をつけることはしなかったから、アラタにとっては初めての、『順位』という経験。上位３位まではメダルをもらったそうだ。彼はどう感じたのだろうか。

上位はほぼヨーロピアンの子供で占めていた。見るからにアジア人の子供より体格がよく、暑いマレーシアでも普段からアウトドアで遊ぶから、子供なりにスタミナも十分。太刀打ちはできない。アラタも華奢なアジア体型。

一枚目の写真は、２周目の初めの頃。アラタ（黄色いシャツ）より半周先に先頭の子供が走っている。

I went to see Arata's cross country race at Penang Sport Club ground. He ran with other boys in Year 1, about 30 of them. The truck looked much bigger than the 200M truck at Japanese schools. It must be 400M. There were a couple of obstacles on the way.

To my surprise, they had to made 2 rounds! I was quite shocked and felt so uneasy to watch Arata. I really hoped he would finish the run, or he won't be the last one. In any case, I couldn't easily spot him. In the 2nd round, he took over a couple of others and finished at a bit behind the middle.

It was Arata's first experience to take part in a race, which gives rankings. Apparently the first 3 kids got medals. I wonder how Arata felt about this. At Taska Nania, they also have a running race, but they never give children the rankings.

Most of the first 15 were European kids. I felt helpless because they are much taller and more well-built, compared to Asian kids. And most of them like doing outdoor activities in such a hot country. So they have a good level of stamina, too. Well, unfortunately, Arata's figure is a typical Asian.

When Arata had finished his first round, the top child was already running half the truck ahead. (The first photo.)