Running against all odds

Not long after, her husband came across information about an upcoming 10-kilometer running race in Beijing's Chaoyang Park and encouraged An to participate.

It was her first-ever competition, and to her surprise, she finished third.

Standing on the podium lit a spark that would change her life.

From then on, she began devoting more time to running.

She wakes up at 4:30 am, runs 13 kilometers, and goes to the gym for strength training in the evening. On Wednesdays, she joins members of a local running club for sprint interval training, and completes runs exceeding 25 kilometers with her friends on weekends.

"Since taking up running as a hobby, although my schedule has become tighter, I feel happier and more relaxed," An says.

Her dedication quickly paid off. Her personal best in the full marathon now stands at 2 hours and 52 minutes, and she is aiming to break 2 hours and 50 minutes this year. Alongside training, she actively seeks out competitions.

"I usually register for small and medium-sized events where I have a better chance of reaching the podium," she explains, adding that with the current fitness boom in China, there are numerous events for her to choose from, and the events are well-organized.