Marathon madness sweeps across nation

Healthier lives

In a light drizzle and 18 C temperature, Ethiopian runners Asefa Mengstu Negewo and Guteni Shone Imana set new records in the men's and women's events in Wuhan in March. Meanwhile, Chinese marathon star He Jie broke the national record for the Wuhan Marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 29 seconds.

"I wasn't in my best condition after my recent Tokyo Marathon, but the rainy and cooling weather allowed me to enjoy the race," he said. With the Wuhan Marathon now an official World Athletics Gold Label event, He embraced the chance to compete alongside top international runners.

Chinese runners' performances have seen improvements on the international stage. According to the China Road Running Work Report published by the Chinese Athletics Association, over 18,000 runners completed marathons within three hours at certified races last year, and the national average marathon finish time improved by more than 5 minutes to 4 hours, 7 minutes and 1 second.

While elite runners chase records, many amateur participants prioritize health and the experience over personal bests.

Chen Weifen from Shandong province finished the race in 2 hours, 35 minutes and 50 seconds as the fifth fastest Chinese woman. "This was not my best performance, but I felt no regret. My main goal is to enjoy the race atmosphere in different cities."

Similarly, Yang has seen transformative benefits from running. "I used to weigh more than 90 kilograms due to a sedentary lifestyle. Running marathons helped me shed 20 kg, and now, I wake up at five am every day for an hour-long run before work," he said.

Beyond weight loss, running has given him improved focus and energy. "I don't run for bragging anymore. I run for the joy of it."