chongqing marathon hotpot and pb flavors i want to know all
This is a young municipality directly under the central government, also known as the Mountain City, a city full of enthusiasm, the hotpot capital of China—Chongqing.
With curiosity and a treasure-hunting heart, I embarked on the Chongqing Hotpot Marathon journey.From the moment I got off the plane, I felt the fiery enthusiasm of the people of Chongqing. Sitting in the car of a lively girl, her straightforward talk left a deep impression on me. However, I lost count of how many bridges we crossed and how many slopes we went up and down on the way to the hotel. I thought to myself, 'Oh no, these slopes are impossible to run on.' I started to feel anxious... but this thought was soon defeated by my Buddhist-like mindset. Since I came here with excitement, I might as well run well, eat well, and have fun.
'Hotpot Marathon,' as the name suggests, means 'hotpot + marathon,' so you have to eat well first and then run well. I fully embraced the theme and indulged in hotpot after picking up my gear on the day of the event. I just want to say that Chongqing's hotpot is incredibly delicious, described in three words: 'fragrant, spicy, fresh.' Some say that once you enter Chongqing, the aroma of hotpot fills the city. Although a bit exaggerated, it's true that you can smell hotpot everywhere.
The long-awaited race day finally arrived. Walking out of the hotel with fellow runners, a cool breeze greeted us. The 15-degree temperature was perfect for running. Excitedly chatting with the group, we weaved through the up-and-down buildings to reach the starting point (I was confused about how I got there and how I would get back later).
Amidst the cheers and the high-spirited crowd, I was filled with excitement, like a bird ready to take flight at the sound of the starting gun.
At 7:33, a crisp starting gunshot was heard, and I was instantly swallowed by the surging crowd. The runner's carnival began joyfully amidst the enthusiastic crowd.
The first few kilometers were crowded, with some runners even running on the curbs in their haste. It wasn't until we passed the first supply station that the run became less congested.
Running along the river, I enjoyed the beautiful scenery on both sides. The layered buildings seemed like the growth rings of a city, recording the unique charm of this place. 'The river flows gently between the banks, and the river breeze lightly brushes my face,' I thought. Passing countless bridges, a song came to mind, 'Beijing's bridges are diverse and beautiful.' This song perfectly describes Chongqing's bridges. I tried to count the bridges I crossed: Chaotianmen Bridge, Qiansimen Bridge, Dongshuimen Bridge, Yangtze River Bridge, Caiyuanba Bridge, Egongyan Bridge, Lijiatuo Bridge... and many more (Why so many bridges? Later, I learned that Chongqing has over ten thousand bridges of various sizes, possibly due to its unique terrain, mountains, and two rivers, forming a distinctive bridge culture).
The entire course was relatively flat, with not too many slopes, so my anxious heart could finally relax. With favorable weather, terrain, and people, I was lucky not to hit the wall during the run.
The supplies were plentiful and rich, but this time I controlled myself a lot. At each supply station, I only took water and drinks, avoiding food (learning from past experiences). I was touched to see many enthusiastic citizens cheering for the runners in the 15-degree weather, with some even providing supplies (the most common cheer was 'Chongqing, rise!').
In an unfamiliar city and on an unfamiliar course, seeing familiar running friends felt especially heartwarming. The simple encouragement and cheers when we met were truly comforting, like a shot of adrenaline during the long and lonely run.
Following my own pace, heart rate, and breathing, I continuously adjusted and enjoyed the joy the course brought me. Steady progress—I successfully finished the race and achieved a personal best by 5 minutes and 31 seconds.
Crossing the finish line, I felt a huge sense of relief. It had been four months and seven days since my last personal best. The efforts of the past four months were not in vain—interval runs in the park, treadmill runs, spinning for leg and core training, strength training with equipment... different training environments allowed my body to fully adapt to various exercise conditions.
The Chongqing Marathon organizing committee meticulously prepared the pre-race and post-race gear, reflecting their attention to detail everywhere. I don't want to talk about the similarities in race gear, but rather the differences. The gear included items I had never seen in my previous races, such as slippers, cooling patches, stamps, and compression socks.
I have to talk about the design concept of the medal. The round medal made of aluminum alloy features the characters 'Chong' and 'Qing' on the front and back, with iconic Chongqing landmarks like the Liberation Monument, cableways, bridges, and light rail as the main graphics, combining tradition and modernity. The characters can be split to reveal 'thousand,' 'miles,' 'vast,' and 'great,' representing the Chongqing Marathon spirit of 'traveling a thousand miles, achieving greatness.' The designer's ingenuity is evident.
The China Grand Slam Chongqing Marathon will lead Chinese marathons to world-class events! The unique geographical environment has created the resilient Chongqing legend of today. I look forward to another hotpot marathon journey in Chongqing, traversing through ancient and modern times to purify the soul.
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