beijing marathon | girl who broke four hours six months ago PBs again!

On March 25, 2018, I broke four hours in my first Zhengkai Marathon with a time of 3:54. This achievement earned me some recognition in the running community;

On May 12, 2018, I achieved a personal best of 1:43 in the Beijing Yanqing Women's Half Marathon, finishing in fourth place, which made me more well-known;

On June 1, 2018, I led a team of 17 people from Chengdu to Lhasa, cycling 2,100 km along the Sichuan-Tibet Southern Line in 25 days. This journey garnered even more attention, and I became a 'net celebrity' in the eyes of others.

This journey was so inspiring that I get teary-eyed just thinking about it. However, after returning from the Sichuan-Tibet Line, I became complacent after achieving my small goals of breaking four hours and completing the Sichuan-Tibet Line: I stopped strength training regularly (almost no strength training), swam less than four times in over two months, cycled long distances less than five times, and ran only about 120 km in the past two months.

However, the 'inspirational' label had already been attached to me, and everyone who knew me assumed I was still as disciplined as before, making plans and executing them meticulously. This placed a lot of pressure on me.

As the race approached, I caught a cold and cough, and just as I recovered, my period started. The two weeks before the Beijing Marathon were almost entirely spent lying in bed.

I didn't get a spot in the Beijing Marathon lottery, but Codoon provided a free entry sponsored by Luk Fook Jewelry. I knew that my current luck was due to my past efforts, and if I didn't work hard now, I might not have such luck in the future. This realization put a lot of pressure on me.

Based on my usual training, I set a goal of 3:50 for myself. Since my last time was 3:54, I thought it would be good enough just to achieve a personal best. From start to finish, I was easily satisfied. However, the lack of effort made me feel insecure and unconfident about even achieving the 3:50 goal.

The night before the Beijing Marathon, I packed my gear for the next day and planned to sleep before 10 PM because I had arranged with a running buddy to take a taxi at 5 AM, meaning I had to wake up at 4 AM. However, I couldn't fall asleep until midnight, and I was too lazy to get up and take medicine for my cough, so I fell asleep while debating whether to take it or not.

Fortunately, I had braided my hair at the salon the day before:

"Boss! Can you braid my hair?"

"What style do you want?"

"I want a style that I can just get up and go with the next day without having to comb it!"

Yes, I really just got up the next day, washed my face, brushed my teeth, grabbed my stuff, and left. During the race, I kept thinking that my good state was partly due to my hairstyle, which reduced wind resistance and saved me a lot of time getting ready. Thanks to the hairstylist.

On the way to Tiananmen Square in the taxi, I was eating and drinking the whole time. I had to force down slices of bread, but luckily, I had brought a thermos with hot water. Later, I received a message from my mom saying, 'You are the best!' This was her usual way of cheering me on, and I had become numb to it. After finishing with a personal best of 3:33, I posted on social media, 'My mom was right!' It was all thanks to her because without her, I wouldn't be here.

Before we even reached Tiananmen Square, I saw marathon runners with their race bags through the taxi window. My companion said, 'You think you came early, but there are people who came even earlier!' Indeed, in this crowded era, there are always people who are better and work harder than you. What right do you have not to work hard?

After getting out of the taxi, I followed the volunteers' guidance to enter the venue. I have to say, the security level at the Beijing Marathon is different. First, they checked my wristband, then my bag. I had so many miscellaneous items that the security lady seemed like she wanted to dump everything out to check! It shattered my self-perception of looking kind and harmless.

The security check for the race bib was even more advanced! What's there to check on a piece of paper? But there really was something! The Beijing Marathon bib has an anti-counterfeit mark, and when checked with a counterfeit detection pen, the numbers are densely packed with 'Beijing Marathon,' just like checking banknotes. It was so cool! Forgive my ignorance. My companion almost got turned away because of this.

Originally, there were three of us, but only two entered the venue. The other was an elite runner in Zone A, and his bag storage was in a different place. I was initially hesitant about waiting for him in Zone A, but eventually, I decided to go my own way. It would be awkward to make him wait for me later since I hadn't prepared anything.

So, I went to the bag storage area in Zone B alone, organized my waist pack, earphones, kinesiology tape, band-aids, and pinned my race bib. Everything was ready, but I was reluctant to store my bag. It was cold and windy in the morning, and I didn't want to take off my jacket. Mainly, I never feel ready to store my bag before a race, always feeling like I forgot something essential. Once stored, I can't access it until the finish line! I always wish I could run with my bag. Maybe this is a problem that needs fixing.

With less than an hour left to prepare, I still had to enter the venue and warm up. So, I reluctantly stored my bag and joined the crowd entering the venue. Along the way, there were various running groups, clubs, pacers, and people taking group photos, making it hard to move.

I heard someone complaining, 'What's there to take pictures of? There's no scenery!' I actually felt the same but didn't say it out loud to avoid getting beaten up. However, for those who occasionally visit Beijing, this is the capital city! A place you may not care to visit but must respect. As Rose said yesterday, 'Beijing welcomes you, but the Beijing Marathon may not.'

You have to know that 110,000 people registered for the Beijing Marathon, but only 30,000 got in! It's so rare, so photos are a must! From the start to the finish line, everywhere is a scenic spot.

Since I entered relatively early, there was still space to warm up in Zone B, with Adidas coaches leading the exercises. Although it was still cramped, it was better than nothing. Just before the start, I saw a group of people stuck in the restroom, unable to get out, making me realize how 'spacious' the warm-up area actually was. The crowd didn't gradually increase; it suddenly became packed.

At my height, being surrounded by people felt like being a frog at the bottom of a well, unable to see anything. I vaguely heard the host say something about enjoying an ice-skating performance, but I was too focused on playing with my phone to care.

"Are you Kuang Kuang?"

I looked up, confused, and saw a stranger: "Who are you?"

"I'm Niufen! I recognized you by your hairstyle, headband, and earphones." (He was one of the people invited to the hotpot feast by my idol, and we had only interacted on Codoon or WeChat before.)

"Wow, what a coincidence to meet here!"

If it weren't for running and the Beijing Marathon, how would someone from Nanjing meet someone from Beijing? As my idol said, the charm of running lies not only in seeing your own growth, whether in physique or performance, but also in constantly encountering interesting experiences and people.

Niufen was the first interesting person I met at the Beijing Marathon. How interesting? When he saw the top female trail runner, he excitedly approached her and asked, 'Can I take a photo with you?' Then he came back and introduced her to me: 'She's a top runner, the number one female trail runner, a champion in many races, with the exclusive number 001. Everyone in the trail running community knows her, but maybe not in the road running community.'

Well, I didn't know her. Even after Niufen's introduction, I didn't remember her. I was only thinking about my idol: 'Are you alone? Where's Wuzei?'"I'm alone! Wuzei is tall, so he should be easy to find." Then I jumped a few times, struggling to see: "I can't see him!" Before I could react, Niufen lifted me up. My immediate reaction was: 'This talkative guy with a fresh look can actually lift someone as sturdy as me!'

I patted him and said, 'Hold on, this view is great. Let me take a photo.' And that's how I got this 2.2-meter-high perspective shot.

Then, over 30,000 people sang the national anthem together.

Later, a running buddy from Zone F asked in the group chat: 'Did they sing the national anthem at the Beijing Marathon?!'

He said he didn't hear anything and was waiting for the national anthem, but started running before it was sung.

Another running buddy said, 'No wonder we didn't run well in Zone F; we didn't sing the national anthem.'Actually, I didn't sing either, but I did take a short video.

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Before the race started, I realized my left earphone hadn't charged and wasn't working. I felt a bit disappointed. Before crossing the starting arch, Niufen said, 'Let's high-five! See you at the finish line! Yes, see you at the hotpot.' Later, I posted on social media that I achieved a personal best, and that high-five was crucial. He replied, 'A bear hug is also important.' Are you sure that was a bear hug? I thought meeting my idol would be a bear hug.

After crossing the starting arch, I started my watch and Codoon app. Then it was a solo battle. Those who said they would run with me or let me lead them were nowhere to be seen.

When I ran past Tiananmen, many people stopped for selfies and photos. It was a kind of ritual. I also wanted a photo of myself running past Tiananmen, but you can't have your cake and eat it too.

This time, I aimed for a personal best. I'll come back next year for photos.

So, I took a photo of someone else running past Tiananmen.

There were so many people that I almost tripped while taking photos, so I put my phone away and focused on running.

The first kilometer pace was 5:38, slower than the planned 5:20, so I started to speed up. The second kilometer was 4:53, too fast! I tried to slow down, fearing I might hit the wall in the second half. The third kilometer was 4:55, the fourth 4:58, and the fifth 4:56. I couldn't control my pace, but my heart rate was only 160, so I decided to maintain this pace. I felt great, and it turned out to be an unbelievably good state!

In the first half, my attention was almost entirely on listening to my pace and checking my watch. Besides that, I was just running with my head down. Most of my photos show me working hard. If it weren't for the many times I almost tripped over runners suddenly darting towards photographers, I wouldn't have noticed their presence. After the race, at the hotpot feast, I asked Tommy why I didn't see him on the course and why there were so few photographers. He said, 'You were running too fast!'

Actually, it was because there were too many people! In most marathons, after 20 km, there are hardly any people left. But in the Beijing Marathon, from start to finish, you're never alone.

After 20 km, my heart rate never went above 170, and I felt a bit smug. In my last half marathon personal best of 1:43, my heart rate never dropped below 170. This time, it didn't go above 170, indicating stronger cardiovascular fitness. Continuing at this pace, the chances of hitting the wall were low, and the possibility of a personal best was high.

I became more relaxed as I ran, stopping at every station to refuel, eating and drinking as needed.

Until 35 km, there were no signs of hitting the wall. Occasionally, my heart rate would go above 170, triggering a heart rate alert on my watch. I thought, 'Good thing I didn't have this watch when my heart rate hit 200, or it would have exploded!'

At 37 km, I heard calls from the East Group and saw Tiantian, two ladies I work out with. They said they would wait for me at the finish line, but women are indeed unpredictable.

In the last five kilometers, the sun was blazing, and everyone around me was slowing down. I just wanted to finish quickly. I guessed my finish time would be around 3:35, a personal best, and I would soon see my idol. My heart rate skyrocketed with excitement, almost off the charts!

Fortunately, I finished safely, achieving a personal best of 3:33, 21 minutes faster than my goal of 3:50! It was so steady that I couldn't believe it myself.

Running only 120 km a month and still achieving a personal best?! Maybe it was due to the month-long training on the Sichuan-Tibet Line. The roads you travel and the books you read shape your character and determine the people you meet.

From my initial encounter with Niufen to the hotpot feast with this group of running elites, all of them are top runners with both looks and strength. I'm honored to know you all.

Let me introduce the handsome guy in the blue T-shirt, my idol, Shen Wuzei. I started following him since last September when I got into the Beijing Marathon and running. However, he didn't know me.

At that time, he was one of the first two Chinese pacers in the history of the Sydney Marathon. He lost 40 pounds from 186 pounds. After reading his story and seeing his photo as a Sydney pacer, I was amazed: 'Wow! How can someone be so inspirational, talented, and good-looking!' I instantly became a fan.

Since then, he has been my role model in the running community. If you want to achieve something, find someone who has done it and see how they did it. I wanted to lose weight and run marathons, so I watched all his activities on Codoon, seeing how he trained and persisted.

As he said, 'Don't wait. There's no need. Go run and meet the people you want to meet.' Over the course of a year, I ran two half marathons and three full marathons, broke four hours, achieved personal bests, and finally met him. I want to say that the power of role models is great.

Thanks to my idol for giving me the motivation and courage to keep running, which led me to meet a group of outstanding people:

Thanks to Yuge, who tricked me into believing that breaking four hours in the Beijing Marathon guarantees entry, for providing scientific and professional guidance on my running journey, helping me improve so quickly that I reached the level of a national second-class athlete in a year;

Thanks to Codoon for providing the free entry sponsored by Luk Fook Jewelry, helping me realize my dream of running the Beijing Marathon;

Thanks to my running buddies who always encouraged me to run. Without you, I might have succumbed to laziness;

Thank you to everyone who loves me ❤