Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Endurance Sports & Country Walking 8

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four runners describing the completely different strategies and mindset required for sprinting versus long-distance endurance running.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   points out that trying too hard can actually negatively impact performance?

2   relies on a mental strategy of separating the event into shorter segments?

3   confesses to previously making a false assumption about the difficulty of a discipline?

4   highlights the absolute necessity of taking in nourishment while moving?

5   mentions that achieving a specific physical shape is a consequence of the training?

6   explains the importance of intentionally restricting one’s pace early on?

7   describes a sensation of profound loneliness during a competition?

8   stresses the need for an instinctive, unthinking response at a specific moment?

9   implies that dealing with negative thoughts is a primary component of the sport?

10   appreciates how a single mistake in a short event leaves no room for recovery?

The Long and Short of It: Mindsets in Running

A Mark

I spent my teens as a 100-metre sprinter, relying purely on explosive power. When I transitioned to marathons in my twenties, I took it for granted that I simply needed to run the exact same way, just for a prolonged period. I quickly realised how profoundly flawed that logic was! It must have been quite amusing for the seasoned veterans to watch me exhaust myself in the first mile. The biggest hurdle wasn’t physical; it was psychological. In endurance running, if you blast out of the blocks too quickly, you will inevitably hit the wall by mile ten. You have to actively rein yourself in during the first hour, consciously conserving energy for the later stages. It demands immense patience. While a sprinter obsesses over the starting pistol, distance runners know the start is practically irrelevant. Adapting to this slow-burn mentality has been a completely transformative, humbling experience.

B Sarah

People often assume that sprinting is merely about moving your legs as rapidly as humanly possible, but the biomechanics are incredibly complex. Every single race is won or lost in a fraction of a second. Consequently, if you stumble slightly out of the starting blocks, your race is effectively over; there is zero opportunity to make up for lost time. Moreover, your reaction to the starting gun must be completely automatic—if you have to consciously think about pushing off, you are already trailing behind. Interestingly, one of the hardest lessons to learn was how to avoid tensing up. It sounds counterintuitive, but clenching your muscles actually slows you down. If I hadn’t learned to relax my shoulders, I would never have shaved off those crucial milliseconds. I break my running form down into tiny phases during training, but on race day, it’s all about maintaining a clear, quiet mind and letting muscle memory take over.

C David

Taking on a fifty-mile trail race requires a mindset that is poles apart from a quick dash around a track. Out there in the wilderness, the physical exertion is grueling, but the true battle is waged in your own head. Even with hundreds of competitors, the vastness of the landscape means you often go hours without seeing another soul, leading to a profound sense of isolation. To prevent this immense distance from becoming completely overwhelming, I rely on a specific trick: I mentally chop the route up into five-mile blocks, focusing solely on reaching the next checkpoint rather than the ultimate finish line. Furthermore, unlike short-distance athletes who can easily run on empty, endurance runners must act like moving engines. Digesting solid food while navigating treacherous terrain is non-negotiable; if you fail to consume sufficient calories continuously, your body will simply shut down. It’s a delicate balancing act of fueling and relentless forward momentum.

D Elena

Having coached athletes at both ends of the spectrum, I am endlessly fascinated by how differently they operate. Sprinting is an explosive expression of power, relying heavily on fast-twitch muscle fibres. If you train exclusively for speed, your body will naturally develop a much bulkier, muscular physique as a direct result. Conversely, long-distance runners are extremely lean, relying on an entirely different energy system. However, the starkest contrast lies in their emotional regulation. A sprinter pumps themselves up with adrenaline for a ten-second burst of perfection. An endurance runner, on the other hand, must constantly combat their own inner critic. When you are three hours into a marathon, your brain is screaming at you to stop. Overcoming that wave of negativity and pushing through the pain barrier is what truly defines an endurance athlete. They aren’t just fighting the clock; they are actively silencing their own doubts mile after grueling mile.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four young adults talking about the logistical nightmare of planning a multi-day camping and hiking expedition with friends.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.

Which person

1   acknowledges packing a considerable amount of unnecessary equipment?

2   was irritated by friends who repeatedly changed their minds about participating?

3   had to modify the planned route due to the group’s sluggish pace?

4   felt socially uncomfortable reminding friends about their outstanding debts?

5   found it challenging to cater to the group’s diverse dietary requirements?

6   regrets not distributing the organisational workload more evenly?

7   realised that some group members had exaggerated their fitness levels?

8   personally absorbed the cost of an unanticipated travel fee?

9   mentions the frustrating process of obtaining the necessary legal permits?

10   was emotionally exhausted by the preparation before the trip even began?

The Great Outdoors: A Planning Nightmare

A Leo

I’ve always loved the outdoors, but organising the supplies for six people over four days was a steep learning curve. I took it upon myself to plan the menu, which quickly turned into an absolute nightmare. Trying to balance the nutritional needs of a vegan, someone with a severe nut allergy, and a friend who refuses to eat anything green was incredibly stressful. I spent hours scanning supermarket labels! On top of that, I was terrified of being caught out by the elements, so I packed for every conceivable disaster. I stuffed my rucksack with extra camping stoves, spare waterproofs, and a massive first-aid kit. Consequently, my bag weighed an absolute ton. I really should have been more ruthless when packing, as I ended up carrying around items that never even saw the light of day. While the trip was a success, the sheer weight of my backpack made the steep ascents sheer agony, and I was trailing behind the others for the first two days.

B Maya

If you ever want to test the strength of a friendship, try organising a group camping holiday. The logistical headaches started months in advance. Simply finding a four-day window when all seven of us were available took weeks of endless group chats. What really got on my nerves, though, were the people who kept dropping out and then opting back in at the eleventh hour. It made it almost impossible to finalise anything. Then there was the nightmare of the national park administration. Booking the campsites was straightforward enough, but getting hold of the environmental passes needed to access certain protected trails was incredibly tedious and involved endless paperwork. Looking back, I definitely took on way too much responsibility. Next time, I’ll insist that we split the organisational tasks right from the start, rather than trying to single-handedly manage the entire affair. It’s a miracle we actually made it to the mountains at all!

C Sam

As the most experienced hiker in our friend group, I was put in charge of mapping out our route. I spent ages poring over topographical maps, calculating distances, and checking elevation profiles. I had asked everyone beforehand if they were comfortable with hiking fifteen kilometres a day, and everyone enthusiastically insisted they were in top shape. The reality, however, was quite a different story. Within the first few hours, it became glaringly obvious that a couple of the guys hadn’t done any cardiovascular exercise in months. They were completely out of breath on the mildest inclines. Because of this, our pace dropped to a crawl, and I had to rapidly rethink our entire strategy on the fly. We were forced to cut out a spectacular ridge walk and take a much shorter, flatter valley path instead just to ensure we reached our campsite before nightfall. It was a bit disappointing, but keeping group morale high had to be the priority.

D Chloe

I volunteered to act as the treasurer for our expedition, a decision I bitterly regret. To secure the group transport and reserve the camping pitches, I had to pay a substantial deposit upfront using my own credit card. I assumed everyone would transfer their share to me immediately, but people are surprisingly forgetful when it comes to money. I absolutely hated having to constantly chase my friends for their contributions; it made me feel like a demanding debt collector. In the end, a last-minute change to our train tickets meant a hefty surcharge, which I absorbed myself just to avoid another awkward conversation about finances. By the time we finally arrived at the trailhead, I was already feeling completely burnt out and stressed. Instead of looking forward to the stunning scenery, all I wanted to do was curl up in my sleeping bag and sleep for a week. The planning phase genuinely drained all the excitement out of me.

Exercises:   123456