chongqing marathon diaries next time i will break 4

Since registering for the Chongqing Marathon in January, I've been eagerly anticipating the trip to Chongqing in March, dreaming of the steaming Jiugongge hotpot.

01

I had long heard that the Chongqing Marathon course is one of the 'best PB courses,' and this year it was awarded the 'Double Gold' title. Honestly, I had high expectations for both the Chongqing Marathon and my own performance. However, my willpower was ultimately defeated by the cold wave in Inner Mongolia, and in the freezing weather, all I wanted to do was hibernate in my fat.

As a result, during the winter break leading up to the Chongqing Marathon, I only ran a full marathon in Hong Kong and didn't do any more 10K+ LSD runs. I just ran 3-5K daily to maintain my condition. But actually, this 'maintaining condition' isn't very scientific because, as a serious marathon runner, 3-5K runs are too little and not a good plan for periodic training.

I seem to be well aware of the reason why my performance hasn't improved. Ultimately, the unsatisfactory results stem from my own lack of effort.

Although the final time on the clock started with a 4, which was filled with regret, it also became a beautiful memory because of the misty and poetic Nanbin Road in Chongqing.

The day before the race, I was supposed to pick up my race kit. In the morning, I checked the map and saw that the Jiangnan Sports Center, where I needed to pick up my kit, was less than five kilometers from the pedestrian street of Jiefangbei where my friend and I were staying.

To truly see the full spectrum of a city, one must run and walk through it seriously. Coming to Chongqing, I found it very similar to Hong Kong, and it truly deserves the nickname 'Little Hong Kong.' The night view of Chongqing is beautiful and dreamy, like a giant amusement park. However, running in the morning or at night here can be quite challenging due to the tempting aroma of food along the way.

After having breakfast, my friend and I leisurely headed to the Jiangnan Sports Center. I naively thought it would take just an hour to get there, but sometimes I can be too innocent. The roads in Chongqing never yield to any GPS. In the end, I reluctantly asked a police officer for directions and spent nearly two hours walking about eight kilometers. When I saw the golden Twin Towers on the other side of the river, I felt they were the most amazing buildings I had seen that day, incredibly familiar.

Finally, I arrived in Chongqing, a city I had been longing to visit.

As one of China's Grand Slam events, the Chongqing Marathon offers abundant gear and attracts many businesses to the Marathon Expo.

After dinner, I took a walk and took some photos at Hongya Cave. Hongya Cave is indeed stunning. Under the bright lights, it feels like the stilted buildings in 'Spirited Away.' Whether viewed from a distance or explored up close, it is filled with enchanting lights and charm.

After a day of non-stop activities, I had a lot of fun, but my feet were sore. Therefore, I highly recommend that marathon PB runners avoid exhausting themselves the day before the race. If you have enough time, you can explore after the race. However, if you, like me, run with the mindset of 'running through a city, falling in love with a city,' then it doesn't matter how you play. The experiences you go through and understand will support your life journey, intertwining and growing stronger. The good and the bad are all good because experiences are called experiences because you need to truly feel them with your heart.

Without further ado, I went back to the hotel to sleep. Pre-race rest is very important. Goodnight to the dreamy, steamy little Chongqing.

02

On the morning of March 25, 2018, it was still dark, but it seemed that the entire city of Chongqing was already awake.

At five o'clock, I started having breakfast: Master Kong's braised beef noodles and a whole pack of red bean bread. This is usually my pre-race breakfast, as they are familiar foods that provide sugar, salt, and carbohydrates, giving me enough energy. Many people got up early, and many stayed up all night. I am grateful to the staff, volunteers, event organizers, and everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes for every marathon. Because of you, runners can experience such happiness and a sense of accomplishment in every race.

'Run a marathon, love a city.' This saying is popular among runners. In my eyes, everyone who loves the Chongqing Marathon deserves our respect. A marathon is a celebration for a group of people, bringing together individuals from all over the country who share the same passion, allowing their love to be released and displayed.

Before the start, tens of thousands of people sang the national anthem together, creating a very inspiring scene.

Throughout the Chongqing Marathon, I was accompanied by Brother Feihu from the running group. He was very enthusiastic and even wanted to help me achieve a PB. However, when he saw that my feet had blisters, he gave up his own goal to run with me to the finish.

Because I dawdled until the last minute to squeeze into Zone B, by the time I crossed the starting line, nearly four minutes had passed. But this is one of the reasons I love marathons. As a super amateur marathon runner, I have always been afraid of competitions and the sound of gunshots. Although I had to participate in university sports meets and the National University Games after accidentally joining the school team, I still have lingering fears about those loud noises. My reflexes are slower, and I always feel a step behind others, so I don't like competitive sports. I prefer the more recreational and endurance-focused marathon.

This is also one of the spirits of the marathon. It's not about competing in a short period but about daily perseverance. Day in and day out. This is also my belief.

After the start, Nanbin Road was still misty and poetic. Running in such good weather is a kind of happiness. As someone who is mostly from the north but has a quarter of Sichuan blood, I love this humid environment and immediately felt at home in this moist weather.

Although the start was crowded and I couldn't run freely, I felt great and kept trying to break through the crowd. The first ten kilometers went very smoothly. At the six-kilometer mark, I met Captain Wildfire and Sister Summer. Captain Wildfire was kind enough to help us shoot a short video.

However, I overestimated my abilities. Although the first half felt okay, not doing a few LSD runs before the race was a big mistake. Additionally, stepping into a puddle and getting my shoes and socks wet caused blisters on both sides of my feet. By the 14K mark, the pain was unbearable, and I felt genuinely disappointed. Today's PB was out of reach. At the 20K mark, I started to hesitate: Should I keep running? Every kilometer after that felt like torture. But I still believed I could finish the race. As long as I gave up the PB goal, I could definitely finish without getting injured.

With such beautiful scenery on Nanbin Road and rare good weather, I decided to treat the second half as a training run.

As expected, the second half was a complete collapse.

03

I met many acquaintances along the Chongqing Marathon route, like Yunyan and Yanshen. Congratulations to them on their great results.

Completing the Chongqing Marathon in 2018 was a milestone for me. For every runner, it is not just an end but also a brand new beginning.

Runners, remember the warmth of the Chongqing Marathon, remember the warmth of this city, and remember the glory you achieved here.

On the marathon course, it's not just us runners who are striving. There are countless cheering spectators, volunteers, photographers, event security, live broadcasters, and many others whose efforts make the marathon extraordinary. Thank you to everyone involved in the Chongqing Marathon for making it so special.

After the race, I went to Chengdu. I feel that my sense of happiness always increases in Sichuan and Chongqing. Every time I come, I am drawn to and linger in the steaming spiciness and the soft, gentle atmosphere.

Thank you, Chongqing Marathon, for your care. Until we meet again. Next time, I'll break 4 hours!