Hi, I'm Mao. I'm 15 years old.
I'm on the track team at my junior high.
Today, a mysterious spirit named Oly
appeared to me and took me to ancient Greece.
He turned my life upside down.
It's so much fun to travel in time.
Heroes of the Ancient Olympic Games.
Ageas of Argos: Delivering the Victory and Hope.
This is really hard!
How do people find joy in running a marathon?
I don't understand why I'm even doing this.
Someone tell me please!
No! Forget what I just said!
If you're going to strike something, strike this!
Ouch!
Hello, I'm Oly.
I am bestower of the wisdom of Greece
-upon the troubled youth. -I am not troubled at all!
Someone tell me please!
Well, you see, um...
Again, I wish to show you another great lesson.
But alas, there are no marathons in ancient Greece,
although the word marathon came from this era.
No way! Isn't a marathon just like the main Olympic thing?
Correct. But marathon began from the modern Olympic Games.
Athens 1896, to be exact.
In ancient times, the longest race
was the Dolichos, which was about one-tenth
the distance of a marathon.
Then don't call me if you don't have anything
-to show! -Well hold on there.
There is a story of an Olympian who ran a great distance.
It's a story about a country
who lost the favor of the gods and just about perished.
Yeah!
The champion of the Dolichos race!
Ageas of Argos!
Ageas! Well done!
Argos will be saved thanks to you.
Yeah. I will run and inform them about this news.
Run where? Back to Argos?
I am the fastest man in Greece,
so I'm the fastest one to send the message, don't you think?
It is about 100 kilometers from here to Argos.
He prepares to run that now.
Immediately after the race? That's insane.
He must have a reason to do so.
A reason?
The city-state of Argos has been plagued by an epidemic
for several years and is on the brink of destruction.
The reason for this epidemic was decided to be
a lack of offerings to Zeus,
a victory at the Game being the greatest offering to the God.
And they believe a win for Argos will revive the state.
The one they chose was Ageas,
the one who knows not of fatigue.
They trained him and sent him to Olympia.
The news will arrive sooner or later of your victory.
Is there a reason for you to run so hard?
I don't know.
You don't know?
But there are people waiting for me.
If my victory means Argos is saved,
it should be saved today.
I see, you really do have a clear reason to.
I jest, I jest. If only I were so honorable.
What?
You ask why do I run?
Because I still can.
I'm able to keep running, and it's truly the best.
Oh.
All right!
But if you run full force,
you'll have a hard time running back again once you stop.
You should slow down sometimes
so that you don't overwork yourself.
You are a smart one.
One truth encompasses all others.
See you!
Oh, wow!
-The country is saved! -Ageas has won!
-Let's celebrate! -Yeah!
-Absolutely! -Well, I'm off.
Where to?
Back to the Stadium of Olympia.
Seriously?
They can't have the awards ceremony tomorrow
without me, can they?
Onward to Olympia! Await my return!
Try not to run so hard yourself!
If you search for a reason, you'll only tire yourself out.
A runner is happy just to run.
Taking me as far as I can.
That's the fun part.
Come to think of it, that's how it was in the beginning.
Truly the best!