How is the -ing form used in the following sentence?

To get in shape for that marathon, Shelby started running around the block a few times each morning.

-participial phrase as an adjective
-participial phrase as a noun
-participle as an adjective
-participle as a noun
-gerund phrase as a subject
-gerund phrase as a predicate noun
-gerund phrase as direct object
-none of these

should you be the one doing this journal entry? it says "your special talent or skill". are you gonna lie 'bout your talent and make us fake a talent for you?

also this is a really easy journal entry, you can just think of a skill your good at and write did you work hard to become good at this skill (ex: drawing, writing, math, playing music, etc.) or does it come naturally (like a cool trick that you can do with your body). you can do all of that in 150 words. just try and think of a talent and even if your bad at this talent just say your working hard to become good at it.

this is what i put and it was correct

it's a way for authors to communicate with reader in this time period. books from the past can teach us about life.

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jaxsonmennessey27