I've always dreamed of a sports anime, I could relate to. I finally got one with Run with the wind, which is a very fitting name for the show. The MC started off aloof and distant because he thought results were the only thing that mattered. Over time, his talent shined so brightly, it blinded him to the most important thing ever. The journey, which is the reoccurring theme in run with the wind. If you only worry and care about results, what kind of life are you living?
A strength of this anime is every character had their defining moment and you learned how running directly or indirectly helped them. I like some of the characters hated running, it was nothing more than some chore you were forced to do at certain points in your life. Over time, you realize you hate running as a whole because you focus on the physical aspect of being tired. But running, in general, is a handy skill and good for your health. It was a nice touch how each character had a certain outlook on running in addition to experience with it. Some use to do track, some just never liked it all. Watching these characters battle their inner demons and learn to get over their insecurities reminded me how everyone, no matter how energetic or powerful they look are human. Even the annoying "antagonists" seemed relatable, all it takes is one bad experience to make a decent person become a jerk or douchebag. Slowly but surely, you'll fall in love with this loveable and diverse cast.
Now onto the portrayal of the marathon running, It reminded of how I felt when I did cross country. You are focused on getting the best time possible during the run while you hear your teammates, families, and friends cheer you on to push as hard as you can. You really get the sense of the environment and the thoughts of the athletes as you watch. It was truly eye catching., the sweat and breathing patterns came off authentic. Every event felt important like it was the last, you'll be screaming and cheering along with the main cast as you watch each competition. There was a good amount of twists in this series, sometimes, you thought one thing but you got something totally different.
The show did a nice balance of sports and slice of life. We are always reminded outside of running, these college students have lives. They have to worry about assignments, their future careers, friends, relationships, etc. Nothing felt out of place or thrown in there to fill a quota. I literally looked forward to every episode because of the episode preview made you wish it was next week already.
The best takeaway, I got from this show is it's never just about the end or beginning, it's about the experiences and everything leading up to it. Once you can spend that precious time with loved ones and find something meaningful in your life, everything will change dramatically. So instead of fighting and losing to the wind, why not run with it?