The yearly Marathon（马拉松）in my town usually happened during a heat wave. My job was to follow the runners in an ambulance（救护车）, or ________ of them might need medical attention.

“We’re supposed to stay ________ the last runner, so take it slowly,” I said to the driver, Doug, as the race started. The front-runners started to ________ and then my eyes were drawn to the woman in blue silk running shorts and a loose white T-shirt.

We knew we were already watching our “last runner”. There was something wrong with her ________, so it seemed almost impossible for her to be able to walk. A marathon was really a challenge.

Doug and I watched in silence as she slowly moved forward. ________, she was the only runner left in sight. Tears ran down my face ________ I watched her push forward with great efforts through the last miles.

When the finish line came into sight, rubbish lay everywhere and the ________ crowds had long gone home. Yet, straight and ever so proud stood a lone man. He was holding one end of a ribbon（缎带）tied to a post. She slowly crossed through, ________ both ends of the ribbon fluttering（飘扬）behind her.

I do not know this woman’s name, but that day she became part of my life-a part that I often ________. When I think things are too difficult or I get “I-just-can’t-do-it,” I think of the last runner. For her, it wasn’t about beating the other runners or winning a prize, but about finishing what she had set out to do, no matter what. Then I realize how ________ the task before me really is.