Going the extra mile
From the peaks of the Alps to the mountains of Yunnan, female ultra runners are redefining endurance, resilience and empowerment, one step at a time, Xing Wen reports.
Lyu Ruihan, 40, who is based in Beijing, has been an active trail runner for 10 years and was formerly a test engineer in the cybersecurity sector, leading a sedentary lifestyle.
After she was diagnosed with mild fatty liver disease, she was determined to improve her health and connect with nature through hiking in the mountains.
During one descent, she started running to reach the bottom before darkness fell and discovered that trail running was more efficient.
This realization sparked her passion for the sport, leading to her first competitive race in late 2015.
To better prepare for these events, Lyu incorporated road running and strength training during the week and ran in the mountains with friends on weekends.
Her dedication paid off in May 2018 when she reached the podium at a 100km ultramarathon in the Meili Snow Mountain National Park in Yunnan province — a highlight of her amateur career.
Throughout that year and the next, Lyu consistently placed among the top 10 female runners in every race she entered.
