English

From the warm-up to the finish line

A text in Polish at level B1. The translation sits next to it for checking, not for support: at this level the text is read whole, and an unknown word is usually guessed from the sentence. A year ago I hardly did any sport, and after three minutes of running it was hard for me to breathe. I started going to…

Updated September 1, 2026 · Lingofly

Text

  • Rok temu prawie nie uprawiałem sportu i po trzech minutach biegu trudno mi było oddychać. Zacząłem chodzić na siłownię: najpierw tylko rozgrzewka i lekkie przyrządy. Po trzech miesiącach biegałem dziesięć kilometrów bez przerwy. W listopadzie zapisałem się na maraton, choć po zimie noga jeszcze mnie bolała. Na linii startu stało trzy tysiące biegaczy i tłum głośnych kibiców. Do mety dotarłem po czterech godzinach, bez medalu, ale z własnym rekordem.
    A year ago I hardly did any sport, and after three minutes of running it was hard for me to breathe. I started going to the gym: at first only a warm-up and light machines. After three months I ran ten kilometres without a break. In November I enrolled on a marathon, although after the winter my leg still hurt. At the starting line stood three thousand runners and a crowd of loud fans. I reached the finish in four hours, without a medal, but with a personal record.

Comprehension questions

The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.

  1. What did he start with?
  2. What was wrong with him after the winter?
  3. How many runners were at the start?
  4. How did the marathon end for him?

Frequently asked

What level do you need to read this text in Polish?

B1. That means: everyday topics are behind you, you know about three thousand words, and an unknown word is more often guessed from the sentence than looked up.

How to read a text in an unfamiliar language usefully?

First all the way through without peeking at the translation — just to catch the familiar words. Then with the translation. Then all the way through again: the second pass brings noticeably more, and that feeling matters more than any rule.

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