Hardy souls primed for Hainan test

Endurance challenge returns with its much-loved mix of fitness and tourism 

The prospect of the BMW Hood to Coast Relay's return to the running calendar would have been inconceivable in the first half of the year. But after overcoming sizable difficulties amid the COVID-19 pandemic to stage an event in August, runners are now all set for a second 2020 edition of the much-loved race in Sanya, Hainan province, on Saturday.

The 156.5-kilometer Hood to Coast China-Hainan Relay is comprised of 15 sections, each of which must be completed by one member of the five-person teams. The other team members travel by car and interchange at the end of every leg.

The relay will start at the picturesque Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone at midnight, with runners given a maximum of 24 hours to reach the finish line at Yalong Bay Central Square Beach, where a party will await them after their grueling efforts.

A total of 2,020 runners from 155 cities across China have signed up for the event. Prizes will be awarded to the three fastest teams, with special awards also up for grabs in four other categories: All-men teams, all-women teams, teams with an average age below 30, and those with an average age above 50.

Thanks to China's successful control of the pandemic, Saturday's event will be the second Hood to Coast Relay to be staged in the country this year following a race in late August in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province.

It will be Hainan's second time to host the event after the race debuted on the southern island in 2019. Combining running, driving, camping and entertainment elements, local organizers have hailed the event as a significant boost for tourism and the local economy.

Over 90 percent of the runners in last year's Hainan relay were visitors, and some were foreigners. Each runner was estimated to have spent an average of 7,000 yuan ($1,072) throughout their trip to Hainan.

"The combination of sports and tourism is how a sporting event can fit with the local economy, culture and environment. And how it can maintain healthy and sustainable growth with the city," said Li Lu, the general manager of event promoter Starz Sports Running Culture.

"In the future, we hope the event will not just be about a group of runners exploring the area. It's also about how the event can help boost tourism and the economy. And it's also about a spirit of teamwork and perseverance. The spirit gives power to both runners and a city."

Organizers vowed to provide participants with the best possible racing environment and service over the course of the weekend.

"Based on the experience of last year, the organizing committee will offer better experiences and a more comprehensive service to the runners," said Mai Youwang, an official of Hainan's bureau of tourism, culture, radio, television and sports.

"Through the joint efforts of many parties, we have devised detailed plans in terms of medical services, security, transportation, communication and volunteer work."

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

In August in Zhangjiakou, a total of 374 five-member, one-car teams were challenged to finish a 147-kilometer course within 21 hours, while 35 ten-member, two-car teams took on a 234.3-km course. Over 2,000 runners traversed Hebei's tough mountain terrain and bucolic grasslands－a very different racing environment to the Hainan edition.