Marathon efforts bolster US-Chinese friendship

For 80-year-old ultramarathon runner Bob Becker from the United States, tackling the rugged terrain of the Gaoligong Mountains last month carried a deep personal meaning.

It was the second time Becker had competed in the Mt Gaoligong Ultra in Southwest China's Yunnan province, after he joined the inaugural event in 2016, which had just over 50 participants.

This year's race, held from March 20 to 22, was a bridge from the present to the past for Becker that linked his family's wartime legacy to the area.

His father, Marston "Mickey" Becker, a bombardier and gunner, was stationed in India and flew through the Himalaya Mountains to support Chinese and US war efforts during World War II. Becker's uncle, Sidney Plotkin, stationed in India and China, was involved in several air combat operations in Yunnan.

"I thought if I looked into the sky 84 years earlier, my father would be up there. We were in the same space — very close — despite being far apart in years," said Becker.

The 2026 Tengchong Mt Gaoligong Ultra attracted nearly 3,800 trail runners, with international competitors from as far afield as Slovakia and the United States. Nine US runners competed in the full 168-kilometer race.

Becker competed in the 120-km race category, but was forced to withdraw after running 40 km. "I knew I wouldn't be able to finish on my way to the fifth checkpoint, I wasn't feeling great. My heart said keep going, but my mind said that you're done," he said.

However, the natural beauty of the course with its streams, and hill climbs and descents, along with its technical difficulty, filled Becker with both awe and humility, he said.

"The trail course was absolutely spectacular — beautiful but difficult — and I forgot how difficult it is," Becker said with a laugh."I was huffing and puffing on some of those uphills, but it was a beautiful experience and I'm so glad that I came back."

Extending connections

During the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), US airmen flew over the peaks on the perilous "Hump" route from India to Kunming, Yunnan, delivering supplies in support of Chinese and US troops on the ground fighting Japanese invaders.

They were writing a legendary chapter of solidarity between China and the US through sheer courage, Becker said, adding that for him, the race feels like a reunion across time.

"What makes the race so unique is that while we measure the land with our footsteps, we also feel its heartbeat, just like the friendship between my ancestors and the Chinese people back in the day," he said.

That sense of continuity was reinforced by the warmth he encountered along the course.

"Local people, young and old, waited along the road to cheer, take pictures and support us; it felt just like it did 10 years ago," he added.

He recalled a moment in his first Mt Gaoligong Ultra, when a young man approached him and said: "Seventy-five years ago, your father came here to fight alongside our people. Now you are here to help save our mountain."

The remark referred to the race's environmental mission, which is to raise awareness about the protection of the Gaoligong Mountains National Nature Reserve.

Becker said that moment left a lasting impression on him. "That really struck home. It made me realize that this connection isn't just historical, it's continuing in a different way," he said.

Becker's age and athletic achievements have earned him fame and recognition in the running world. He has competed in over 50 ultramarathons — any race longer than 42.195 km — and his story has been featured in The Washington Post, Trail Runner Magazine and Runner's World. All this from a former mortgage broker who decided to take up ultramarathons at the age of 60.

He received special care and attention during the Yunnan race, with three course marshals running alongside him to ensure his safety. When he slipped and fell at one point, they rushed to help him back to his feet.

"They were so afraid that I had hurt myself and they came and picked me up and brushed me off … they were very attentive, and concerned, and I really appreciated that," he said.

Liu Shaowei was both a marshal and a competitive runner in the race, acting as a guardian for Becker.

He admitted that from a sports management perspective, 80 is not an age typically suited to high-intensity events. However, Becker's perseverance earned Liu's respect and made his escort mission more meaningful.

Throughout the race, the support team offered assistance such as monitoring Becker's physical condition, reminding him to eat, and helping him with his gear.

Liu described Becker as open, easygoing, and talkative, far from the reserved stereotype one might associate with a man his age. "It felt like the four of us were on a journey together, like Xuanzang and his disciples in Journey to the West," Liu said.

Running in step

Becker was not the only runner to return to the Gaoligong Mountains. Andrea Kooiman, another participant from the US, said it felt like coming home.

The kindness, generosity and support she received during her first race transcended language barriers and reduced her reservations. A decade later, that memory drew her back. "It feels like I left a piece of my heart here," she said. "And I came back for it."

Greg Pressler, another returning runner from the US, observed significant improvements in organization and scale for this year's ultramarathon. From logistics and communication to management of aid stations, he said the event had become more refined and professional.

At the same time, adjustments to the course made it even more challenging, he added.

Pressler said he views running as a way of traveling and he is particularly drawn to smaller towns, which he sees as a more authentic reflection of a country. "I'm more interested in villages and smaller cities. I want to meet laobaixing (ordinary people) and communicate with them," he said.

During the race, he noticed the enthusiasm of locals. "When we started, thousands of people were out there cheering. It was incredible," Pressler said.

Another US endurance athlete David Green said the Mt Gaoligong Ultra is an entry point into a deeper understanding of China.

During his race, he ran nearly 60 km alongside a runner from Shanghai trying to complete a 160-km run for the first time."We didn't know each other before, but we ended up sharing a long stretch of the course as well as our own stories. It was a great experience," he said.

After a fall left Green with a bent trekking pole, several Chinese runners stopped to help him up. At the next checkpoint, a volunteer suggested finding a bamboo stick as a replacement. "Everyone was trying to help," he said. "That kindness stays with you."

Green, who has run across the US and Europe, hopes to continue this connection to the country. He has an ambitious plan to run across China next year, following the route of the ancient Silk Road and visiting places that witnessed momentous events in the history of China-US relations.

"This isn't about speed," he said. "It's about experience, meeting people, hearing their stories and understanding the culture."

"I want to keep an open mind, to experience everything and connect with as many people as possible."

Platform for exchanges

For many athletes, sports are a way to unite despite different nationalities and religions.

"While oceans, languages and culture separate us, running brings us together,"Pressler said, adding that sports allow people to see each other's humanity.

He described the Mt Gaoligong Ultra as a vivid example of this unity, where athletes from different backgrounds come together to tackle the same challenge.

Zhang Lixin, a senior adviser to the event organizer, echoed this view. As a universal language that goes beyond politics, sports allow people from different countries to come together and understand each other, he said.

The Mt Gaoligong Ultra is not only about building a high-level competition, but also creating a platform for exchange, he said.

"We hope this platform can bring people together," he said, drawing a parallel to the ping-pong diplomacy that helped open dialogue between China and the US 55 years ago.

Competing in China is beyond the expectations of foreign runners, with many of them viewing it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, said Zhang, who invited the 10 US runners to this year's race.

Zhang said he hopes to see more engagement between Chinese and US runners next year, and he plans to organize more globally oriented events and training camps to encourage exchanges between athletes, coaches and professionals.

"Despite global tensions, meeting and talking to people one-on-one is vital to understanding how similar we all are," Becker said, adding that the Mt Gaoligong Ultra is like a smaller version of the Olympics and highlights the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.

As a race director himself, Becker hopes to invite Chinese athletes to run in the US.

"If Chinese athletes could come, it would be reciprocal, and they would have a chance to meet and talk to other international runners, and see the way we live and our culture, which would be very positive," he said.

Contact the writers at zhoujin@chinadaily.com.cn