My father was well-built when he was younger. As time went by, however, he put on weight for lack of exercise. Consequently, his body shape went out of order.

To get back in shape, Father has walked to and from work every day instead of driving or commuting on public transport in the past few years. Regrettably, it hasn’t served him well although our home is some distance away from his office.

During the Spring Festival holidays, Father made a resolution to go and work out every day at the community gym, where he readily subscribed to a two-year VIP membership. It means that it costs him three yuan a day to exercise at the facility.

The first day there, Father ran fifteen minutes in one go on the treadmill. It is a beginner’s load. The coach told him that it was of very little use running only a quarter at a training session. On the second day, Father still did fifteen minutes. The third day saw him up his workout to 30 minutes nonstop.

Back home, Father proudly shared his accomplishment with us. When I asked him how he had managed to make it, he said that there is another man running on a treadmill just next to him at the gym. A veteran runner, the guy can do an hour uninterrupted on the exercise device. Father thought he was to emulate this old hand.

After the first success, Father became more ambitious. Now 20 days into the new keep-fit regimen, he can do a one-hour run at a workout. I can tell that if he sticks to it, within months Father will be able to shrink his bulging belly and become a charming middle-aged man again.

My father’s running success convinces me that we should not underestimate our ability to achieve. Furthermore, it illustrates the significance of partnership. As an African saying goes, if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.