64 year old cleaning lady fulfills dream at berlin marathon in germany
The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago.
The second-best time is now.
In 2003, by a stroke of luck, 50-year-old janitor Yang Huilan found herself connected to marathon running, thus beginning her long journey as a runner. At that time, few people had high expectations for the retired Yang, but she kept running for over a decade, progressing from 5 kilometers to half marathons, and then to full marathons. Along the way, the beautiful scenery and new and old running companions added rich colors to her life.
Yang Huilan (center)
From 2004 to 2008, perhaps due to a lack of confidence in her age and running volume, Yang Huilan only registered for 5km marathon races. "I didn't dare to sign up for more because I still needed to train." She didn't compete with others but aimed to achieve her best state in each run. Day after day, year after year, a new opportunity was about to change her running journey completely.
In 2009, Yang Huilan participated in a 5km race as usual, but a fellow runner who had registered for the half marathon couldn't make it. "They gave me his number and said, 'Don't run the 5km, run the half marathon. If you need to stop halfway, just stop.' I naively agreed, not knowing about the chip, and finished the half marathon without any record or medal, but I felt okay." From that moment, Yang Huilan had new expectations and plans for her running life.
"Xiamen has Gulangyu Island. I read about it in my school textbooks, so I wanted to see it." In January 2010, Yang Huilan participated in her first full marathon in Xiamen. Growing more courageous with each run, she has since earned ten full marathon medals and received countless support and applause. In 2013, Yang celebrated her unforgettable 60th birthday on the marathon track. "To run a marathon on my 60th birthday is the best birthday gift from heaven!"
However, Yang Huilan always had an unfulfilled wish—to run a marathon overseas. In 2016, this expensive dream for a janitor was finally realized through the support of 700 kind-hearted people. Yang Huilan ran to Berlin, Germany, carrying her marathon spirit and taking the footprints of an ordinary Chinese runner to distant places!
This Saturday at 1:30 PMYang Huilan will be a guest on Codoon Live, sharing stories from her Berlin Marathon experience at a thank-you event hosted by the Fashion Running Group. She will also chat with fellow runners about her more than ten years of running experience. Stay tuned!
How to watch the live broadcast?
November 19 at 1:30 PM
Click the 'Live' button on the Sports Circle's selected page to enter
(The official live room is valid during the live broadcast period)
Created: 2016-11-17 06:43:49