commemorating the first trail run longcheng 100 60km division

Why trail running? Actually, I don't know either. I've never run before, but after seeing others run a lot, I wanted to try it myself. After finishing the marathon in 3:30 in 2018, I planned to run a trail race. A 100km race was too long and daunting, so I set my goal on a race around 50km. My first choice was a race within Shanxi Province, and naturally, I thought of the Longcheng 100 race, which I had been following. The course is less challenging and suitable for beginners.

Taiyuan is a basin surrounded by mountains on both sides, making it an ideal place for developing trail running. In 2016, Brother Xiong organized Taiyuan's first trail race, inviting top trail runners to participate, making it a grand event. In my opinion, Brother Xiong is a prominent figure in Shanxi's sports community. In 2015, he initiated the 'Hundred Team Battle' during the Taiyuan Marathon, inviting 100 running teams from across the country to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Let me describe my thoughts through a Q&A format:

Q: Why trail running?

A: I've seen it a lot and wanted to try it myself, fulfilling a personal wish.

Q: Why sign up for the 60KM race?

A: Because I believe I can finish it. Compared to 100km, I'm more confident in 60km, and 20km is too short and not challenging enough.

Q: Are you worried about accidents? After all, there are risks in the wild.

A: The course I signed up for is not very difficult, and most of the time will be during the day, so it should be fine.

Q: Do you have any expectations for your performance?

A: I'll try to finish during the day and avoid getting injured.

Although this is my first trail run, I'm not nervous. It's only 20km more than my usual marathon. I calculated that I could finish the race in 8 hours. I had just run the Zhengzhou Marathon a week before, which served as a good physical training. I believe I can complete the race without any issues.

The day before the race

The day before the race, I arrived at the designated place (North University of China) to pick up my race pack. First, there was a mandatory equipment check before proceeding to the next steps.

I booked the shuttle bus service, which would take us to the starting point in the morning. Staying near North University of China for the night was quite convenient.

I picked up my race bib and verified my information.

The GPS tracker required a 300 deposit, which would be refunded after the race. The tracker was bound to personal information, allowing the organizers to monitor GPS data in real-time. During the race, a group of runners took a wrong turn, and a motorcycle quickly caught up with them, demonstrating its usefulness.

Kailaswas the sponsor of this race. The race T-shirts and finisher's packs were all custom-made by Kailas.

I was curious why the elevation information on my race bib was reversed, but I only found out near the end of the race.

Race day

The shuttle bus departure point was at the gate of North University of China. The buses were scheduled to leave at 5 AM, but they were about 10 minutes late. Since it took about 40 minutes to reach the starting point, everyone was a bit anxious. On the bus, we changed clothes and stored our bags. The volunteers were leisurely handling the bag storage, and the driver was quite grumpy, refusing to turn on the lights. We completed the bag storage using our headlamps.

After getting off the bus, we ran to the starting point. By the time I arrived, the queue was already formed. One side had the stage, and the other had the service area with hot buns and hot water. Brother Xiong gave a speech on the stage, and about 10 minutes later, the race started.

The lights were dazzling, and the atmosphere was exhilarating. Everyone was very excited. It seemed like the trail running scene I had imagined, similar to the photos I had seen others share.

The start was slightly later than planned, and it was almost daylight, so I didn't need to use my headlamp.

The first 10km was mostly uphill on a road, passing the famous internet-famous bridge, and then reaching CP1.

At CP1, there were water anddrinksavailable, along with pickled vegetables, toast, stone cakes, raisins, nuts, and bananas.

This is CP2. Before reaching here, the 60km and 100km groups had already split.

The most beautiful autumn scenery is at this time, with yellow, red, and fallen leaves creating a beautiful picture.

Seeing the trail markers, all my subconscious fears vanished in an instant. They are the safest guarantee. Even if there is no one around, seeing these markers makes me feel very safe.

A rare muddy trail in the north, due to the rain a couple of days ago. Trail running without some mud seems to lack a bit of flavor.

This is CP7, at the 43km mark for the 60km group and the 83km mark for the 100km group. Here, I drank the best cola ever, having three cups in one go. By this point, I had already run a full marathon distance, but I didn't feel particularly tired. It didn't feel like I had just finished a marathon. I was still a bit excited and felt like I could keep running.

The reason for my excitement might be the varied terrain. I particularly enjoyed the soft, untrodden dirt paths, which felt very comfortable. Also, running the entire downhill section without stopping was thrilling and exhilarating.

Trail running is not lonely. I met a college student who had only run a half marathon before attempting the 60km race, experienced runners who had participated in several trail races, and enthusiasts who had consecutively participated in the Longcheng 100. There were also runners with foot, leg, or groin pain who were still persevering.

During the race, I experienced dizziness and calf cramps. After timely replenishment with my energy gels and salt tablets, I managed to maintain a good physical state. I couldn't help but feel that no matter how good the aid station supplies were, they couldn't compare to the effectiveness of energy gels and salt tablets.

With the guidance of an experienced runner, I learned how to read the elevation information on my race bib. By lifting the bib, it was easy to determine my current position. I had never noticed these details until that moment. Understanding this information well can help runners adjust their strategies.

I finally completed the race in 8 hours and 36 minutes, with my watch recording a distance of 86km.

Post-race summary

My first trail run ended perfectly. I didn't get injured or drop out, and I performed well.

Upon reflection, this year's Longcheng 100 course (60km group) was relatively simple. There were no steps, no water crossings, and the downhill sections were not slippery, allowing for continuous downhill running without worrying about slipping. After finishing, I received a Kailas trail running backpack and a buffet meal at a designated restaurant.buffetOverall, the race had a great atmosphere and beautiful scenery. The weather was pleasant, and everyone seemed satisfied. Additionally, the course volunteers left a deep impression on me. They were enthusiastic and hospitable, constantly cheering us on and helping with water refills, so we didn't need to do it ourselves.