Scaling China's mountaintops in breathtaking triathlon

Athletes race in the water during the 113KM triathlon race which covers swimming (1.9 km), cycling (90 km) and running (21.21 km). [Ian / for China Daily]

Huangshan: Beijing native Zhang Jie is the holder of the Guinness World Record in swimming non-stop for 21 hours to cover 74 kilometers in fresh water. On June 11th, she tried something formidable: doing the incredible 113KM Triathlon race here in East China's Anhui province, to cover swimming (1.9 km), cycling (90 km) and running (21.21 km).

"I'll never know my limits until I try," she spoke of the new trek she has never done before. To her surprise, after seven hours, she scaled the mountain peak despite the rain and won the championship in the Woman's Group.

The 113KM Triathlon is the first race on the Chinese mainland that brings mountaineering with an elevation of some 2,000 meters into a running course, posing a huge challenge for the hundred over athletes from home and abroad. Mount Huangshan, or the Yellow Mountain, is a world-renowned scenic spot.

An expert in swimming, Zhang knew her weakness -- cycling. "I started cycling a month ago, and I only covered 50 km at once. So it's worrisome for me this time and I was truly tired out," she recalled, adding, "when I was running up the stone stairs, I nearly collapsed."

Tired but excited after the race, she beamed. "I'll step up training later on and come back for it next year." In her eyes, this is "a most unforgettable triathlon event."

Prior to Zhang's race, some 500 domestic and foreign participants also joined the 2016 Huangshan Taiping Lake International Triathlon Eventon on June 10th, which is a point race hosted by China Triathlon Sports Association, Anhui Provincial Sports Bureau, and Huangshan municipal government. That 51.5-km race includes 1.5 km in swimming, 40 km in cycling and 10 km in running.

For the Individual Group in the 113KM Triathlon, Zeng Wenbo from Changsha Clockwise Cycling Team in Hunan province, won the gold medal.

Zeng stunned everyone when he appeared first on the mountain top of Huangshan, instead of the favorite, athlete Li Pengcheng. "Frankly speaking, I'm the best at this type of race, and I love it dearly," said Zeng --- a new face in triathlons.

It turned out that Zeng has been a famous amateur athlete in cross-country mountaineering in China. As the annual champion of Chinese Mountaineering Association Races in 2015 in Shanghai, Zeng takes to mountaineering like a duck to water, but seldom goes for cycling and triathlons.

Among the athletes, Chinese Football Association staffer Qi Jun was most impressive in his Chinese dragon pattern outfit, cutting a striking figure, and finished third for in the age group 35-44.

A triathlon lover, he commented, "I often participate in 113KM events, but this is the first time in China. It happened that the timing is perfect for me as the traditional Dragon Boat Festival falls between June 9 and 11, and so here I am. And it turned out to be a most worthy one."

He first started trail running in the past two years, and Qi is very excited about the Huangshan event, as it incorporates mountaineering in the race, saying, "I joined a 113KM event each year during the past few years, but this race is fun, and the scenery is breathtaking."

Atop the Yellow Mountains, he was thrilled. "I've been to Huangshan previously in snow as well as in sunny days. The race this time amid rain is quite something for me."

Due to the rain, many athletes were afraid of falling off their bikes during cycling, and so was Qi. "I am very careful today, and this is my mentality. For amateurs like us, what matters the most is participation itself instead of winning a medal," he added.