24 hour relay unfazed by rain warriors return

Some say life is like a marathon, but your life is more than just one marathon! Which one left the deepest impression on you? Which one made you smile with tears in your eyes?

So many thoughts, yet I don't know where to start, a thousand words but none leap onto the paper.

Let's just recount the weekend then.

As a typical marathon enthusiast and radical, every weekend is spent running marathons or on the way to one, and this weekend was no exception.

Early Saturday morning, I participated in the Kailas monthly race, running 20 kilometers as a training race for fun, and coincidentally snagged first place.

"You run mountain trails faster than I run on roads."

"Those short legs can really move."

"Not at all, not at all." I felt delighted inside but modestly denied it on the surface, knowing there are always critics saying I'm getting arrogant.

After half a year away from mountain running, I was itching to go. Despite the ecological restoration and trail closures on Purple Mountain, running on the hardened paths had its own charm.

Thanks to Ayuan for the amazing photos, love them!

"Let's go to the Jiangning 24-hour relay, have some hotpot and a gathering?" Lunhui messaged me privately.

"No, there's the Li Dada monthly race. I'll run, then go home to walk the dog and sleep." I replied dismissively.

"Banban is going too, it's her birthday."

"Big Face's birthday?"

"Yes."

"Let's go!" I decided immediately, my resolve wavering.

Winter in Nanjing was drizzling with fine rain, like silver threads, exceptionally cold and damp.

Arriving at the race venue, the cold rain continued to fall from the sky. The continuous drizzle made people uncomfortable. The gun fired at three o'clock sharp, and Bobo's UTO-sponsored race outfit was particularly eye-catching.

"Look, tomato scrambled eggs." Someone joked.

"Don't joke, this is clearly the national team." Hahaha, the cheerful atmosphere warmed the cold wind and rain.

Last year, I participated in the 12-hour individual group of the first edition, running alone from day to night, from night to day. In the second half of the night, I was too sleepy and went to the tent to sleep. After dawn, I ran a bit more, completing over seventy kilometers in a relaxed manner. A solo race has no constraints, finishing is enough.

The one holding the big jar in the middle is—Lunhui—a hundred-kilometer expert. This time, he was our team leader, logistics support, secretary-general, nanny, handyman, and chef, doing everything!

He voluntarily gave up his relay spot to provide us with meticulous service, being a strong support for me.

He carefully prepared a feast for us. Look at the menu, isn't it making Old Wang next door drool?

"Look at Lunhui with his hands on his hips, he's a natural. Not opening a private kitchen would be a waste."

"Soon, Solomon's director will call and beg you to take off your apron." Everyone joked about our adorable leader, the atmosphere was as hot and fiery as a hotpot.

Everyone was running in a relaxed manner, changing every two laps, having plenty of time to rest. I used a little trick, changing every four laps to run more. Never staying up late, my biological clock made me go back to rest at night.

At six in the morning, I instinctively checked the rankings on my phone and found we were still in sixth place. Everyone's pace was around four minutes per kilometer. My goodness, running in the cold winter night, the deep night sky dotted with lights made me feel disoriented. No one ever slacked off, maintaining our sixth-place advantage, which was admirable and moving. I, however, was lazily staying warm in bed. I had to get up and fight alongside my brothers.

The night-running brothers went back to the hotel to rest, and we took over. Combining work and rest is the way of the relaxed runner. However, the long rainy night was exhausting, both physically and mentally, but we never gave up, deserving respect.

Suddenly, the situation changed. We were comfortably in sixth place, but the seventh-place team started to push hard, clearly threatening our position. Rumor had it they began changing runners every lap. Due to our significant physical exertion, our teammates' pace dropped slightly, and we were soon overtaken, falling behind by nearly five minutes.

"Should we have Bobo and Ying come over earlier?" Lunhui said, picking up his phone.

"We saw the rankings, we're on our way." Perhaps it was the mutual understanding among teammates; even during their rest, they were always keeping an eye on us. It turned out we were always fighting side by side.

Originally, we were running in a relaxed manner, having a gathering and celebration among friends. Who knew we would stay in sixth place? Something that seemed within reach suddenly slipped away, leaving us with countless regrets.

"Damn, we can't give up. Our brothers have fought all night; it can't be in vain." No one wanted to let sixth place slip away, so we gave it our all to catch up...

Xiaofan, Bobo, Shugen, Xiaohai, Hele, Xiaosanduo, Big Face, Qingqing, Ying, Niling, Duanwen, and I, all our comrades were present, fighting side by side.

"We're more than three minutes behind sixth place." Teammates were constantly monitoring the rankings.

At this point, we had shifted from relaxed runners to battle mode.

"Let's change our strategy, one lap each, those running around four minutes per kilometer. Every lap counts."

Unwilling to fall further behind, we also started giving it our all. After nearly 20 hours of battle, everyone was still full of fighting spirit, giving their best effort.

With only 2 hours left, we were still three minutes behind...

"How about we just run for fun? Everyone's tired."

"Three minutes is hard to catch up. Anyway, we've reached our initial goal." Teammates saw us sprinting back every lap in just over three minutes, exhausted, and spoke with concern.

"No retreat, I have my pride." Bobo and I exchanged a glance.

"I won't give up either; we can't let our earlier efforts go to waste." A single look between men was enough to convey our determination.

"Do our best and leave the rest to fate. Even if we end up seventh, we won't let sixth place sit comfortably."

Maybe you weren't there to feel that unwavering determination, but it was all about giving it our all.

In the end, the daredevil team—Xiaofan, Bobo, Shugen, Xiaohai, Xiaosanduo, Ying, Qingqing, Xiaofuzi—stood up. The girls handled logistics; it was time for the men to fight tooth and nail. With eyes red from determination, it was a fierce and passionate battle.

Xiaosanduo rested intermittently, head down on his knees, curled up silently. Every time I took the baton from him, seeing him sprint towards me with all his might, that was team spirit.

There were moments of hesitation, doubt, and wavering, but because of you all, I chose to keep running wildly.

"We're only thirty seconds behind them!" With half an hour left to finish, maybe time was already running out, and catching up seemed unlikely, but I was still willing to give my last ounce of strength.

The last leg of the race fell on my shoulders. When I saw Xiaohai sprinting towards me, we were actually three seconds ahead of the sixth place team at the baton exchange. So, my teammates' relentless sprinting had given me a three-second lead. I instantly realized this was the final decisive lap.

Knowing this lap would determine the outcome, I sprinted the first hundred meters, my limbs numb, moving mechanically like a zombie—lifting my legs, stepping forward, lifting my legs, stepping forward...

The desire to win filled my mind. All my teammates' efforts over the past 24 hours were riding on this lap. Even if my knees shattered, I would grit my teeth and run.

One step to victory, one step to defeat. I couldn't let down the team's efforts; I had to cross the finish line in sixth place and celebrate with my brothers.

"Sixth place, sixth place, we're sixth!" When I saw the archway, I roared with all my might. This was the bond of all my teammates.

Rivals and friends, respect to all the 24-hour relay participants!

Afterwards, Big Face asked me, "Did you cry after crossing the finish line?" with a mischievous smile.

"How could I? That's impossible." Hmm, the last bit of stubbornness in a man.

The grim face of running, the angry eyes after each baton exchange, the smile as bright as a flower after crossing the finish line. After all the mixed emotions and struggles, only a hug is the warmest.

"If you had another chance, would you give up?"

"No!"

I'm not afraid of a thousand people blocking my way, only afraid of surrendering myself.

Because of you all, I will carry on with heavy burdens.

Look, this is the kingdom we built together!

I gave my all in 28 laps,

An average pace of 4:06 per kilometer,

212 laps of effort from all teammates,

350 kilometers of relentless running day and night,

A 17-second advantage to secure sixth place.

To this group of lovely people, thank you. A thousand words are in my heart.

Interlude:The fourth place team was disqualified for cheating with substitute runners, and the rankings were adjusted..

My teammates and I strictly adhered to the committee's rules and race regulations throughout, with no cheating or shortcuts, firmly upholding the fairness and justice of the race.

Having participated in this event for two consecutive years, I found this year's organization more thorough and complete, with stricter race management and supervision, richer supplies, ample hot drinks and meals, and more thoughtful service, making us feel warm in the cold winter rain. It was a fantastic race experience with a strong sense of belonging. Kudos to the organizing committee!