jinma marathon | the road to a 3000 bonus, long slopes and high winds

"Even against the wind, you must have hope

Even when it's tough, you must stay strong

Fly with your dreams"

I remember someone once asked me, "How do you manage to finish a marathon?"

Since the person asking didn't run, I couldn't explain training or energy distribution, so I made a joke: "It's all about sheer willpower."

I've been running for almost two years now. After organizing my data, I've run 36 half marathons and 9 full marathons, including 14 races. Not a single one was completed by sheer willpower!

However, everyone is destined to be responsible for their words. I finally faced my first marathon completed by sheer willpower: the inaugural Jinzhong International Marathon.

I was just there to run a marathon.

On the return train, I posted on social media: "Goodbye, Shanxi." I received many comments. Some said, "You should visit the old town of Yuci"; others said, "Pingyao Ancient City is nearby, you should check it out"...

Why didn't anyone tell me when I arrived in Jinzhong?

Every time I go to another city for a marathon, I imagine it will be like what others think: run a marathon, do some sightseeing, eat local snacks, and bring back some local specialties...

But reality is harsh: after a long journey, I go straight to the hotel, maybe pick up my race packet, run the race, shower, and rush to catch the train back to not miss work on Monday.

Jinzhong was even worse—I booked a hotel one kilometer from the starting point, surrounded by high-rise buildings and upscale neighborhoods, but not a single place to eat! I asked the hotel security and local residents, and they confirmed it. There was only one roadside stall selling spicy skewers, which felt out of place and tasteless.

Stuck in the hotel, I woke up and thought about finding something to eat, so I scouted the area. The starting point was in Baicaopo Forest Park, a park (scenic area), so there should be food, right? But I took the wrong path, walked in circles, and confirmed again: there really was no food!

So I comforted myself: it's okay, I'm just here to run a marathon.

A 5-minute pace couldn't catch up with the 3:45 pacer

Not finding food wasn't a total loss: I discovered a Ferris wheel as big as the Tianjin Eye at the starting point; found many gentle and steep slopes; and was asked and encouraged by many enthusiastic and curious locals... I predicted the atmosphere would be good, but the course would be tough. Thinking about riding the Ferris wheel after the race made me happy.

But reality showed its teeth before the start: a 15-degree summer morning with strong winds... Luckily, a subway attendant in Beijing gave me a disposable raincoat, so I wasn't shivering.

Plus, I met a friend I had arranged to see months ago, which made me happy and feel that the low temperature was a good thing.

While waiting in line for the restroom, a girl behind me asked, "Can I go first? I'm running the full marathon and want to be closer to the front." I said, "I'm running the full marathon too, we're all the same."

If she had said she was in urgent need, I would have let her go. But to break the rules for her own selfish reasons, I couldn't do it. Everyone was in line; just because she was running the full marathon and wanted to be closer to the front, should she get an exception? Even if a champion was standing there, social order must be maintained, right? Besides, I checked the official website after the race, and she wasn't on the podium.

Based on my experience from previous marathons (where gun time and net time rankings differed), I moved to the front before the start. This was my first time seeing the A-zone perspective—

Surrounded by either black runners or elite-looking athletes, I felt like a small fry... but still couldn't contain my excitement. After all, standing next to elites meant I had worked hard for two years.

The gun went off, and everyone in sight surged forward at a 4-minute pace. For a moment, I even doubted: is this not a full marathon? Why is everyone in such a hurry? I tried to restrain myself, but still ran the first kilometer at a 4:37 pace. Who told me this was a small event with few elites? I felt the runners around me were generally very strong, constantly overtaking me.

Even the 3:45 pacer was always ahead of me, and I couldn't catch up...

The toughest marathon ever, bar none

"You guys run! My limit is 3:30, my target pace is 5 minutes, I'll just do my best"—you all say I'm fast, but I think my strength isn't in speed. Many are faster than me. My advantage lies in managing my energy well, not rushing, and never letting others disrupt my rhythm. For the first 10km, I kept my pace in check...

Fearing that expending too much energy in the first half would lead to hitting the wall in the second half.

But reality still caught me off guard... The wind grew stronger, and the 17th and 18th kilometers were gentle slopes. At 21km, I watched the half-marathon runners split off, and ahead was another big slope! One slope after another! I started to doubt if I could finish.

A guy suddenly appeared and ran alongside me for a while, asking if my current pace was slow. I asked his previous PB, and he said around 4 hours. I said, "That's not slow, run with me, I should finish under 3:45 if all goes well." He seemed doubtful but said okay. Then, when I started walking up the slope, he decisively left me...

I caught up on the downhill, and enthusiastic locals started cheering: "Go girl! You're currently seventh!" The pain and doubt about finishing reignited my motivation: I had to finish! As long as no other girls overtook me... there should be prize money, right? And seventh place isn't bad? Then I started fantasizing about how to spend the prize money! Later, a girl with a guy pacing her overtook me, which felt like a wake-up call: the revolution is not yet successful, comrades still need to work hard!

At 24km, around two hours in, I should have seen the leading runners on the return leg, but I didn't. I thought, the course must be tough, the leaders haven't returned yet! I walked every slope, maybe because of insufficient training, but those slopes shouldn't delay the leaders by more than 10 minutes, right?

Then I realized I was wrong... It wasn't just the slopes; the headwind in the second half was comparable to the headwinds on the Sichuan-Tibet line! It was truly unbearable... I had to grit my teeth and push forward! More and more people were walking, some aid station signs had fallen, and it felt like the wind could blow me into the roadside barriers at any moment.

At first, I was secretly pleased, thinking I had cycled the Sichuan-Tibet line, so I might be less likely to be defeated by harsh conditions. However, I kept wanting to quit, to give up... In the first half-hour, I still thought about the prize money; in the second half-hour, I was falling apart, feeling that even if the prize money fell on my face, it wouldn't motivate me! The promised adventure turned into a desire to lie down.

Quit? Impossible! Even if I had to walk, I would finish!

From the initial plan to finish in 3:30, to later aiming to keep my position and not be overtaken by other girls, I ended up in a state of "whatever happens, happens," alternating between running and walking, walking up slopes, and walking at aid stations... I lost count of how many times I walked during this marathon!

Enthusiastic spectators kept cheering and giving thumbs up. At first, I would respond with "thank you," "keep going," or a smile... but eventually, I felt too exhausted to speak or smile!

At over 30 kilometers, a kind local set up a small table with private supplies, cheering and offering Red Bull. Heaven knows, I wanted to drink it, but I didn't even have the strength to lift my hand!

The closer I got to the finish line... the harder it felt to take another step, and the harder it felt to give up. I thought, even if I had to walk, I would finish. In reality, I would walk a few steps to recover and then quickly start running again. In the last kilometer, I even sped up for a final push.

Liu Yuanyuan once said—

Never giving up is a very important ability. It may not lead to success, but it can prevent you from falling into a worse situation.

Crossing the finish line, two volunteers greeted me, a guy handed me water, and a girl put a medal around my neck, saying, "Congratulations on finishing." At that moment, I felt a bit moved by myself.

Whether it's running, working, or living.Sometimes you think, maybe I should just give up, sit down, lie on the ground, be overwhelmed by the mundane, surrender to life, and live easily, becoming someone you don't want to be. But later, you feel grateful that every time you had such thoughts, you didn't act on them.

I'm not as inspirational or amazing as you say, nor am I always brave and happy.

I am easily troubled by emotions, I always have a bit of confusion in my heart, my tears fall easily, I fear death, and I occasionally feel very down.

However, after shaking it off, I can still live strongly, never thinking of giving up on myself.

Eighth place, prize money of 3000. This is the highest prize I've received so far. Because of my passion for something, I met a group of excellent people, and I can even earn some money along the way. This feeling is truly amazing!

Thanks to Rudy for the support and sponsorship, allowing me to look cool even when my makeup is smudged and my foundation is caked during the run;

Thanks to Codoon for always being there, making me feel less lonely even when I'm crying and feeling down;

Thanks to the gods and goddesses, and all the excellent people around me... Without comparison, how can one improve.

In the future, let's keep running together ❤