Going the distance

Running is now seen as fashionable and a lifestyle choice. The Beijing marathon last year saw its 30,000 slots snapped up in just one day. Now, some runners are even running with gauze masks on hazy days

Amateur Chinese runners are enjoying marathons in a different city every weekend, not for the prizes but to get away from their routines.

It's not unusual for Wu Jixia, who is in her 40s, to pack her stuff and go to a different city at the weekend to join a long-distance running competition and return home on Monday.

An increasing number of Chinese runners travel away to join various marathons staged at home and abroad, as running has been picked up by many as a fashion of lifestyle and attitude. Photos Provided to China Daily

The office worker from Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region ran an ultra-marathon (mostly 50 or 100 kilometers) in Jiuquan, Gansu province in early November.

The 50-kilometer competition featured Gobi desert landscape, which was more difficult and complex than urban roads and was a challenge for every competitor.

It took Wu about eight hours to complete the race, and she made it just 20 seconds before the event ended.

"It was the hardest race I've ever run, and I'm so proud of myself for sticking it out," says Wu.

She took a train from Jiuquan to Urumqi after the competition, so she wouldn't miss work the following day.

Work pressure

Getting away from work pressure and hanging out with her runner friends are among the main reasons why Wu threw her hat into the ring.

The sport has enabled her to make new friends.

"You can rid yourself of all your troubles when you are running," she says.

Looking back, Wu is surprised at how far she has come.

She started training last August after seeing many of her friends sharing running logs online.

"It was inspiring to see their enthusiasm, so I wanted to be part of it".

Wu has run eight marathons this year, including the 42 kilometer standard full marathons in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, and Gansu's Lanzhou, as well as the cross-country marathon in Zhangye, Gansu.

She says that her goal is to complete 100 marathons before she turns 60.

At the moment, Wu just wants to share her running experiences and feelings through her WeChat and microblog accounts.

Her enthusiasm has also rubbed off on some of her friends who were not very athletic before.

"I found that some of them began to hit the track after seeing my posts, and it made me very proud, more proud than winning a marathon," she says.

Poor response

Back in 2010, most people wouldn't dream of joining a marathon, because they felt it was only for professional athletes.

Wang Dawei, vice-chairman of the China Athletic Association, says that it took five months for the Beijing Marathon to get enough people to sign up that year.

Still, the registration results were not impressive. But the tide has been turning in the past two years.

The Beijing competition saw its 30,000 slots snapped up in just one day last year, as running is now seen by many as fashionable and a lifestyle choice.

Some runners are even seen running with gauze masks on hazy days.

The urban marathon has seen the most growth in numbers among all the marathons, such as cross-country and the three-dimensional ones, in recent years, says Wang.

A total of 39 CAA-approved urban marathons were held last year, involving more than 750,000 participants, and this year will see 55 before the year ends, according to him.

"The number of marathon runners and those who complete events have also greatly increased," he adds.

Events in big cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai are now able to attract roughly 20,000 runners each, while the number ranges from 5,000-10,000 for smaller cities.

In addition to the full marathon and its half version, the 50-or-100 kilometer and 24-hour marathons are also making inroads into China.

Longer races

The International Association of Ultrarunners, an authority organizing the longer races, has been talking to the CAA, hoping it could become one of its members in the near future.

"The runners now have different levels of endurance and therefore want different competitions to show off their abilities," Wang says, adding that some people are not satisfied with the full marathon and yearn to run longer distances.

Speaking of the reasons behind the increasing popularity of marathons, Wang says running is simple as compared with other sports, and it is economical.

"You need only a pair of running shoes to be on the track".

The sport can also toughen up the body, especially the cardio-pulmonary function and muscles, and help people lose weight and curb depression.

At present, marathon runners run the gamut of social status, from high-ranking government officials to white-collar workers and children.

Wang Daqing, an individual marathon organizer, says that while millions of people are running nationwide, a half-year training is necessary for newbies and it's best if they start with a half-marathon to get used to the pace and avoid injuries.

Going through medical checks and keeping track of one's vital parameters is also important, because it helps runners to understand if they're up to competitions, he says.

Marathon competitions usually require runners' track records, which can be accessed online, before they are admitted.

Wang, who started running in 2008, started a business organizing marathons in 2012.

Running helped him lose 22 kilograms in body weight and stay in shape.

He decided to organize his own competitions after participating in various events, which helped him accumulate experience in marathon management.

"I want to host my own competitions to let more people enjoy the sport," he says, adding that a competition gives runners a goal and can stimulate their interest in running.

The specially-enclosed tracks, food and a certificate are among the perks and enticement for runners, although only a minority of them win any financial reward.

Wang, who has held six marathons this year - four in Beijing, one in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, and one in Chengdu, Sichuan province - says: "Runners are getting younger and are wealthier."

Business school students and employees are also joining marathons these days.

"But most runners are local residents, and 95 percent of marathon runners stay the course and finish the race," he says.

Each of Wang's competition usually draws 1,000-3,000 competitors and can be fully booked in a week, quite different from earlier times.

"Then it was hard for us to recruit 1,000 people even if we advertised two months earlier."

Persistence

But despite all the charm of a marathon, one needs persistence to find beauty in the sport.

Wu Jixia used to question herself a lot in the initial phases of her training.

She could hardly run two kilometers at that time.

"I practically ran one kilometer and then walked the other, and my lungs felt like they were going to explode," she says.

It was encouragement from her runner friends that kept her going.

As time went by, she worked her way up to 5,000 meters and then 10,000, and finally became a regular marathon runner, who interprets the marathon spirit as "challenging oneself, overcoming limits and being persistent".

yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/21/2015 page17)