"Sakura's Long Marathon Race" (さくらのながーいマラソン大会, Sakura no Nagai Marason Taikai?) is the 21st episode of the first season of Cardcaptor Sakura (anime). The Cardcaptors title for this episode is "The Long Marathon".
Summary[]
Sakura participates in a school marathon, but things take a magical turn when she encounters the Clow Card known as The Loop. The card causes the marathon course to loop endlessly, trapping Sakura and her classmates in a never-ending race. With the help of her friends and her magical abilities, Sakura must find a way to capture The Loop and return the race to normal.
Plot[]
Rika, Chiharu and Naoko asking Tomoyo if she's alright
Terada is outside along with his class to practice for a marathon run that the class would be participating in. Rika, Chiharu and Naoko are huddled around Tomoyo, asking if her foot is okay. Tomoyo tells them that it’s just a little sprained, and when asked if it hurts, she assures them by saying it doesn’t hurt. She explains to them that Terada suggested it was best if she didn’t participate. While pretending to brood over it, she turns and watches Sakura, thinking that she’s free to videotape her best friend.
Meiling overhears Naoko Rika praising Sakura on her running, saying how Sakura will win the marathon. She interrupts them, telling them that her and Syaoran will win with a one-two finish. Syaoran and Sakura are practicing on the track. When they both finish at the same time, Terada is ecstatic as he exclaims that the top two finishers will be from his class. Meiling pounces on Syaoran, Sakura asks Meiling if she’s good at marathons, earning a glare. Meiling starts bickering with Sakura until Syaoran asks if Meiling has ever ran long-distance before. Meiling merely smiles.
Syaoran patting Meiling's shoulder
Meiling gets ready with her group to practice.When they start running, she tires herself by not keeping a proper pace and running too fast at the beginning; making her come in last, fainting. Sakura, Tomoyo and Meiling freshen up, with Sakura expressing worry as she asks if Meiling is alright. She tells them that she was having a bad day. Syaoran comes up behind her and tells her that long distance running is different from what she had done back in Hong Kong, which was one hundred meters. As Meiling fails to understand the difference, Syaoran merely pats her on the shoulder.
Yamazaki tells a lie when Naoko asks how she can run as fast as Sakura. Meiling, listening, believes it at first but is frustrated when finding out it’s false. At home, Sakura’s dad confirms the marathon race with her. Touya asks what time her race starts, when she answers, Touya tells her that he will be able to watch. Sakura and Touya engage in light banter. At Syaoran’s apartment, Meiling abruptly gets up to train. Syaoran discourages the idea, with Wei backing him up. Meiling runs off, regardless.
Meiling runs off to the park. She stays there until Wei comes with a towel. He then gives her some pointers on how to run a marathon, saying that Syaoran had asked him to help her. Meiling starts practicing and as she gets the hang of it, she starts fantasizing of how she and Syaoran will finish the race with a one-two tie.
The day of the marathon, Meiling comes up to Sakura merely to ask if Sakura can keep up with her. Once she leaves, Yukito, with Touya, tells Sakura to do her best from the fence. Sakura’s grade is called to start the marathon. Just before Touya and Yukito leave, Syaoran spots them, and goes up to them. Yukito says the same thing he told Sakura, and he leaves with Touya.
Tomoyo waving as Sakura, Syaoran and Meiling pass by
Meiling comes up to him and Syaoran reminds her of a few things to do before they agree to finish with a one-two. Tomoyo and Kero are teaming up to film Sakura running, with Kero filming in the sky. When the marathon starts, Sakura, Meiling and Syaoran are in the lead as Kero watches them. Touya and Yukito wait at one of the checkpoints for Sakura. Sakura, at that moment, along with Syaoran and Meiling pass by Tomoyo, waving. Syaoran sees Touya and Yukito at the checkpoint, and decides to run faster, Sakura notices them too and also runs faster. Yukito and Touya come to the conclusion that they should follow Sakura.
Tomoyo sees Sakura, Syaoran and Meiling for a second time, and starts to get confused. Sakura asks Syaoran and Meiling if it was a little strange, how they were running around the turnaround and didn't see anyone. Kero gets a call from Tomoyo, who explains to him that she saw them for a second time. Meiling, exhausted from running, falls to the ground. At that moment, Tomoyo comes up to them.
Meiling is upset when Syaoran tells her she won’t be able to run anymore. Sakura tells her that their teacher will come with a bike, and that Meiling can ride with him. Tomoyo tells them their teacher already passed them. Confused, they start to realize that they’ve been here before. Sakura and Syaoran look at eachother, Syaoran saying that he can feel a Clow Card. Kero, who calls Tomoyo, explains to them that it’s the Clow Card “The Loop”. Kero explains to her that if she can break the circuit, then she will be able to see the card.
Syaoran, uses compass to try and find the card. Sakura, who is amazed at his magic, is lectured by Kero who tells her to find a connecting point somewhere and cut it to reveal the card. Sakura and Tomoyo look for the point, and to their luck, they find it. Kero tells her to cut it, not knowing how, she watches as Syaoran summons his sword. Sakura quickly calls out The Sword to help her cut it, as soon as she cuts it, she seals it.
Sakura, Syaoran and Meiling crossing the finish line last
Meiling protests as Syaoran keeps telling her that she won’t be able to run. Meiling continues to say she wants to cross the finish line with Syaoran. Syaoran ends up giving Meiling a piggy back ride. Syaoran, Meiling and Sakura cross the finish line last. Meiling thanks Syaoran, everyone watching starts clapping and cheering. Meiling gives a glare to Sakura, telling her how if she weren't injured she would've won, and how Syaoran was the one who captured the card. She states that their battle has just begun, leaving a confused Sakura.
Tomoyo, who is still filming Sakura, says that even Sakura's troubled face is 'lovely'.
Characters[]
Featured Cards[]
Featured Clothes and Costumes[]
Quotes[]
- Sakura: Meiling, you're good at running marathons?
- Meiling: (deadpan) Am I good? Who do you think you're asking? (laughs) You will be crying all the way as you run behind me the whole race!
- Sakura: (confused) Why would I be crying?
- Meiling: (deadpan again) You'll be crying from frustration.
Trivia[]
- During the first few minutes of the marathon race, a short version of Catch You Catch Me is heard playing in the background.
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