Taking the scenic route to endurance-running glory

Hainan's stunning scenery should help ease pain of grueling Hood to Coast relay

At over 150 kilometers long, the BMW Hood to Coast China Relay is high on the list of must-run races for most endurance addicts.

To meet the soaring demand for the 24-hour team test, which staged its third edition in Hebei province in July, organizers have this year added a second race, which takes place on the island province of Hainan this weekend.

Starting from Saturday midnight, a total of 400 teams comprised of 2,000 domestic and international runners will take on the grueling challenge in the picturesque Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone.

A grand party awaits those who manage to reach the finish line at Yalong Bay Central Square Beach.

"For runners from all the different countries, it's a wonderful experience to come to a warm coastal city during winter time," said Felicia Hubber, the chairwoman and race director of Hood To Coast Relay and Race Series.

"I checked the track in Hainan with our partner Starz Sports in late 2016, and I was impressed by the scenic view and distinctive natural beauty－from the mountains to the coastline. I'm looking forward to standing with the runners at the start line on Saturday and I hope all the participants have a great experience in Hainan."

The original Hood to Coast Relay, founded in 1982, takes place in the US state of Oregon every August. The series debuted in China in 2017 when 805 runners participated; a year later the field grew to 1,280.

Completing the race requires a cohesive effort from the five-member teams. Each of the Hainan course's 15 sections must be completed by one team member while the other four travel by car and interchange at the end of every leg.

The BMW Hood to Coast China Relay staged its third edition at 2022 Winter Olympics co-host city Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, in July.

The race attracted 1,800 runners, making up 360 teams. Starting at Thaiwoo Ski Resort, the field traversed tough mountain terrain and bucolic grasslands before finishing at Senado Field.

Hainan will be quite a different racing environment, with its route through rainforest and coastline likely to be a new experience for the majority of the field.

It is the first time Hainan is hosting such a long-distance relay, with local organizers seeing it as a great opportunity to boost the island's tourism industry.

"The combination of sports and tourism also means the combination of sports and the city's local economy, culture and geographic features," said Li Lu, the general manager of Starz Sports Running Culture.

"As an international event, Hood to Coast has a long history and the relay has reached runners from over 40 countries and regions in the world.

"With the relay's steady development and growth in China, we believe the race in Hainan will be attractive to runners from all over the world. It will not only help to build a new sports brand in Hainan, but will also benefit the local economy."

For those not quite ready to take on the 150.4-km challenge, organizers are also staging an easier run which is open to teams of three who are tasked with completing just three of the main event's 15 legs.