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

i believe it is "he will always remain extremely timid" if its wrong sorry

it's called a epic poem i believe, hope this ☺

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i believe that the correct answer is (d) the struggle between tradition and change.

explanation: