53-year-old Chongqing woman finishes grueling desert race

Tan Dehui, 53 and from Southwest China's Chongqing, is one tough woman. Last month, she finished a women's group race at the 2019 Ultra Gobi, China's most difficult and longest professional cross-country event, ranking third.

The annual event has been held in the Gobi Desert in Qinghai province since 2015. The whole competition route is 400 kilometers, and a total of 47 people competed this year.

Each participant needs to carry their own supplies and finish the race within 147 hours without any assistance.

"All I had is a map, a GPS and a backpack," Tan said. "I got lost and injured, and encountered wild animals. This race was a huge challenge for my body and mind."

She finished the event in 133 hours.

Tan started regular physical training in 2003 at the age of 37 and after she retired, she became a private physical trainer. In 2012, she participated in her first triathlon.

"I think I will keep training until I am 70," she said.