At 78, inspirational runner makes his mark

However, in 2021, Gu broke several bones in a traffic accident, and he rested for half a year. Although his physical condition had eroded, he completed triathlons in several cities.

"Before the accident, I took part in eight or 10 competitions a year on average. I trained for some time before the Xiamen Marathon, and I wanted to continue challenging myself," he said.

Gu's story inspired many people to start running. He became legendary as an example of what an ordinary person can do. He was recommended as the No 1 front-runner in a nonprofit run in Ningxia in 2021.