dreams faraway and trail_running

I never imagined that one day I would start running, participate in marathons, and even suddenly decide to run a trail race. Only I know the path I've walked.

Speaking of trail running, I signed up for two races in 2018, but they were canceled for various reasons. However, this didn't dampen my desire to run a trail race. One day, Wenwen asked me if I wanted to join a trail race in Dapeng. I was skeptical: a trail race? How hard could it be to finish? But then I thought, it's in Shenzhen, so I should support the local event. Without hesitation, I agreed, took out my previously prepared gear from the box, and began my first official trail race.

• Dapeng Delicacy—Sea Urchin Rice Dumplings

The journey to Dapeng was beyond my expectations; it was quite far. It took two and a half hours from Futian to Dapeng. After meeting Wenwen and Yuting, I joked that traveling to any district other than Nanshan and Futian in Shenzhen feels like going on a trip out of town.

Yuting had prepared sea urchin rice dumplings for us in advance. This is the most authentic local delicacy in Dapeng, bar none. I couldn't wait to dig in, and it was delicious. The sea urchin rice dumplings definitely provided enough energy for the trail race the next day.

Yuting said that each sea urchin rice dumpling contains nearly half an ounce of sea urchin, so you can taste it in every bite, and it's all fresh. The fat from the pork belly seeps into the glutinous rice, making it more fragrant and smooth without any greasy feeling.

Searching all over Guangdong, it seems that only Dapeng uses sea urchin in rice dumplings. If you get to taste Dapeng's sea urchin rice dumplings, it will definitely be worth the trip.

There's an old saying in Nan'ao, 'If you can't afford eggs, eat sea urchin every meal.' This shows the locals' love for sea urchin.

With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, if you want to eat sea urchin rice dumplings, head to Dapeng for a unique 'Food in Dapeng' holiday. Recommended: Haibay Restaurant, a food spot that will leave you wanting more.

You can get the link to Haibay Restaurant by reading the original text.

After eating sea urchin rice dumplings, have a Snow Beer to fuel your trail adventure.

• The first forty kilometers of the trail race, are you sure this is a trail race?

The first forty kilometers were on main roads. At first, I thought running on main roads was just like running a marathon, with no difficulty at all. There was no 'difficulty' in my dictionary. We crossed streets and met the most beautiful and enthusiastic volunteers of the Dapeng Trail Race, including the handsome Yueyang.

We ran past small hills, saw the sea, visited Yangmeikeng, and reached Luzui. We drank a bottle of cola for energy and took beautiful photos with natural filters. This was the first forty kilometers of the trail race, and it was exhilarating.

For lunch, we had steamed buns and pickled vegetables, which I consider the simplest food in the world. At the 40-kilometer rest stop, we drank mung bean soup and ate a super large bowl of Master Kong's braised beef instant noodles, which tasted like the best thing in the world. After running in the scorching weather, this bowl of noodles gave us boundless energy.

After organizing our gear, we set off to tackle the remaining 12 kilometers, estimating it would take 5-6 hours to finish. This was our group's estimate before entering the mountains.

• The remaining 12 kilometers turned into a super trail race.

We used tree branches as trekking poles and happily climbed the mountain, taking photos along the way. I never expected trail running to be so enjoyable. The race staff reminded us that it would get dark soon, and the temperature would drop rapidly after dark. We needed to wear windbreakers, use headlamps, stay together as a team, know how to use thermal blankets, and ensure we had enough supplies. I always thought trail running was easy, with no high difficulty, but a series of problems soon followed.

Our team of three had only one headlamp, so the other two members had to use their phones to light the way. A reminder to all future trail runners: always bring complete gear. You may think you won't need it, but that's just your opinion. In trail running, there's no such thing as 'your opinion.' With complete gear, you can get closer to home and finish safely, then go home and catch up on sleep.

Besides, this mountain path was the toughest I've ever walked. We crossed jungles and headed toward the finish line. Following the race markers, we moved forward, scraping our knees on rocks, falling, climbing up and down hills, with endless mountain stairs and peaks ahead. We began the real trail running, pushing our limits to cross mountains and ridges. After running through the jungle, I just wanted to make it back alive and live well afterward.

After it got completely dark, looking back at the mountains we had crossed, they were densely connected, forming a path of no return, much like life.

In the last kilometer, we met Yueyang again. Seeing him felt like meeting a family member, giving us hope for the descent back to the finish line. After the race, Yueyang said the photos were beautiful. I replied that we should look beautiful both before and after the race. Even with messy hair and tired faces, we successfully descended and got our medals, making us the best.

We are a group of people who love to have fun. Always remember to play and enjoy the joys of life. The path was tough, but we conquered it. Our lives have dreams, distant places, and trail running. You've seen me laugh heartily when I'm happy, but you've never seen me sleep for two hours on a yoga mat after a trail run and then go to work. Life is not just about trail running; it's also about working.

My colleagues knew I went trail running but didn't know I got home very late. They asked me to go home and catch up on sleep first, then handle work later. This was the warmest moment, love to my dear colleagues.

Nextrace, we'll meet at the 2019 Yinchuan Marathon, and I'll still be your 6:30 pacer.

After that, we should meet again at another trail race.

 Because of you, I had the most beautiful time.
I wish that the sun would be warm,

the wind would be cozy, time would be gorgeous, and we would be fine.