Going the extra miles

Although China is still not a powerhouse in long-distance running at the professional level, nor does it have any marathon superstars, the sport has already become fashionable and attracts a greater number of people.

At last year's World Athletics Championships in Oregon, China's best result in the men's marathon was 23rd place by Dong Guojian, while Zhang Deshun's 11th place finish was Team China's best performance in the women's event. That showed the gap between Chinese athletes and the world's top marathon runners. Moreover, China's national men's marathon record has not been beaten for 15 years.

"At the world's top level of long-distance running, speed is very important. If we let the world's top marathon runners compete in the 10,000 meters, most of them will get a result within 29 minutes, but our runners cannot run inside 30 minutes," said Team China coach Li Li during a seminar of national athletic coaches in Shanghai earlier this month.

Speaking of the ways to improve, Li Li mentioned the need for a better training philosophy, avoiding injuries and keeping a positive mentality.

"As long as a runner can maintain the high quality of their training, they can improve. If the training methods are like a roller coaster, unstable and inconsistent, the runners can be easily injured or may have to retire early," Li Li added.

Despite the gap at the elite level, the growing popularity of marathon and long-distance running allows people to feel confident about the future of the sport in China.

In November, the Beijing Marathon returned after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, attracting approximately 20,000 runners. Only 20 days later, on Nov 27, the Shanghai Marathon and the Xiamen Marathon returned, both running on the same day, and more events are scheduled for 2023.

"For beginners in the sport, the priority is to keep healthy and avoid injuries," Li Li added. "Step by step, all runners can improve. And when you reach a higher level, actually, the gap between you and the top runners is mostly about the mentality. You need to find that passion and inner drive so you can run better and longer."