Meaning of 夕陽の中を


Maruko's sister has a new teacher. She is complaining that he is far too
enthusiastic:

> Sister quoting teacher:「『体をきたえたい者は、オレについてこいっ』なんて言っちゃって、グラウンドを走っちゃってるのよ」  
>  "Follow me if you want to improve your bodies" he said and ran off through
> the school grounds.  
>  Maruko:「わっはっは。夕陽の中を？」  
>  Towards the setting sun????  
>  Sister:「そう、夕陽の中を」  
>  That's right. Towards the setting sun.  
>  ...  
>  ...  
>  Maruko:「ひとりで夕陽の中を走るバカってのもねぇ～」  
>  There's no idiot that would run towards the setting sun on their own.  
>  ... (Dad says something about this being the definition of youth)  
>  Maruko/sister:「だからって夕陽に向かって走ることないと思うけど」  
>  All the same, I don't think people face the setting sun and run.

I fear that much of my translation is dodgy, but I'm really struggling with
夕陽の中を. How should I translate this? Why would Maruko infer that this was
how/where he ran, and why is it surprising? Am I missing a cultural reference
here?

If you see any errors in the rest of my translation I'd be greatful if you
could point them out.




夕日に向かって走る is translated as "run towards the setting sun" and it implies
熱い青春(hot blossom of youth). I think 夕日の中を走る means "run in the light of the
setting sun" and it can also imply 熱い青春.

I think TV dramas of blossom of youth were popular in Maruko's childhood. In
these TV dramas, a dashing teacher often runs towards the setting sun while
saying "夕日に向かって走ろう (Let's run towards the setting sun)" to his students. So it
came to imply 熱い青春(hot blossom of youth).

I think the sisters might be looking at their new teacher with a cold eye who
was affected by TV dramas like that.




夕日に向かって走る is translated as "run towards the setting sun" and it implies
熱い青春(hot blossom of youth). I think 夕日の中を走る means "run in the light of the
setting sun" and it can also imply 熱い青春.

I think TV dramas of blossom of youth were popular in Maruko's childhood. In
these TV dramas, a dashing teacher often runs towards the setting sun while
saying "夕日に向かって走ろう (Let's run towards the setting sun)" to his students. So it
came to imply 熱い青春(hot blossom of youth).

I think the sisters might be looking at their new teacher with a cold eye who
was affected by TV dramas like that.

