Una carrera contra el tiempo
A Race Against Time
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
El sábado por la mañana, Lina se preparó para su primera carrera de diez kilómetros. Llevaba meses entrenando en un parque cerca de su casa. Aunque había dormido poco por los nervios, se sentía lista. Antes de salir, revisó la ruta en su celular y guardó una botella de agua en la mochila.
Lina tomó un bus hacia el estadio, pero el conductor anunció un cambio de ruta. Había una calle cerrada por la carrera. Cuando Lina miró por la ventana, se dio cuenta de que el bus se alejaba del estadio. Faltaban treinta minutos para el inicio y creyó que perdería la salida.
Lina bajó en la siguiente parada y vio a un hombre con zapatos deportivos y un número en la camiseta. Le preguntó: “¿Usted también va a la carrera?”. Él respondió que sí y explicó que la entrada estaba en otro lado del estadio. Lina había entendido mal el mapa del evento.
“Qué pena, pensé que conocía el camino”, dijo Lina. El hombre se llamaba Mateo y conocía un atajo por una calle pequeña. Los dos caminaron rápido para llegar a tiempo a la salida. Cuando llegaron, el grupo ya estaba entrando en la zona de inicio, pero todavía pudieron presentar sus números y participar.
Durante los primeros kilómetros, Lina y Mateo siguieron el ritmo del grupo. Después, Mateo comenzó a respirar con dificultad. Lina podía correr más rápido, pero decidió quedarse con él. Le dijo que reducirían la velocidad hasta que se sintiera mejor. Mateo sonrió y aceptó la ayuda sin dejar de avanzar.
Al final, los dos cruzaron la meta juntos. Lina no consiguió el tiempo que había planeado, pero no estaba decepcionada. Había llegado a la salida gracias a Mateo y luego pudo ayudarlo. Comprendió que su primera carrera no sería especial por el resultado, sino por la persona que encontró en el camino.
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
Llevaba meses entrenando
She had been training for monthsThis structure describes an activity that began before another moment in the past and continued over a period of time.
Carlos llevaba semanas practicando para el torneo.
Carlos had been practicing for weeks for the tournament.
se dio cuenta de que
realized thatThis phrase is used when someone notices or understands something that was not clear before.
Marta se dio cuenta de que había olvidado sus llaves.
Marta realized that she had forgotten her keys.
¿Usted también va a la carrera?
Are you also going to the race?This is a polite way to ask whether another person has the same destination.
Usage: In ¿Usted también va a la carrera? usted can sound friendly and natural in Colombia.
¿Usted también participa en el partido de esta tarde?
Are you also playing in this afternoon’s game?
Qué pena
I’m sorryThis phrase can express an apology or mild embarrassment about a situation.
Usage: Conversational; common in relaxed speech. In Colombia Qué pena often introduces a polite apology.
Qué pena, llegué cinco minutos tarde.
I’m sorry, I arrived five minutes late.
llegar a tiempo a la salida
to get to the start on timeThis phrase means to arrive at the starting point before an event begins.
Tomamos un taxi para llegar a tiempo al comienzo del partido.
We took a taxi to get to the start of the game on time.
cruzaron la meta
crossed the finish lineThis phrase describes runners passing the final point of a race.
Las corredoras cruzaron la meta bajo la lluvia.
The runners crossed the finish line in the rain.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
On Saturday morning, Lina got ready for her first ten-kilometer race. She had been training for months in a park near her home. Although she had slept little because of her nerves, she felt ready. Before leaving, she checked the route on her cell phone and put a bottle of water in her backpack.
Lina took a bus toward the stadium, but the driver announced a route change. A street was closed because of the race. When Lina looked out the window, she realized that the bus was moving away from the stadium. There were thirty minutes left before the start, and she thought she would miss it.
Lina got off at the next stop and saw a man with running shoes and a number on his shirt. She asked him, “Are you also going to the race?” He said yes and explained that the entrance was on the other side of the stadium. Lina had misunderstood the event map.
“I’m sorry, I thought I knew the way,” Lina said. The man’s name was Mateo, and he knew a shortcut along a small street. They both walked quickly to get to the start on time. When they arrived, the group was already entering the starting area, but they were still able to show their numbers and participate.
During the first few kilometers, Lina and Mateo kept pace with the group. Later, Mateo began to breathe with difficulty. Lina could run faster, but she decided to stay with him. She told him that they would slow down until he felt better. Mateo smiled and accepted the help without stopping.
In the end, they both crossed the finish line together. Lina did not achieve the time she had planned, but she was not disappointed. She had reached the start thanks to Mateo and then was able to help him. She understood that her first race would not be special because of the result, but because of the person she met along the way.