The fittest of the fit from across China were out in force in Nanjing this past weekend, aiming to complete one of the toughest physical challenges of all, amid the stunning environment that is Laoshan National Forest Park.
At 5 am on Saturday morning, the 2020 Nanjing Laoshan 100-Km Cross-Country Challenge got underway. Aimed at promoting a natural and healthy lifestyle, the Challenge attracted more than 800 cross-country enthusiasts from all over China to participate.
The main event, the 100-km race, included mountain ascents totalling 4,275 metres up and down the slopes of Nanjing’s second national park, Laoshan. The Challenge also offered 50 and 30-km versions, with climbs of 2,450 metres and 1,208 metres, respectively.
More than 200 people participated in the 100-km group, reported the Yangtze Evening News yesterday.
With a time of 12 hours, 45 minutes and 49 seconds, the 100-km men’s championship medal was won by Huang Jianping from Fuzhou, capital of Fujian Province. Zhou Sulan from Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province took home the women’s prize, completing the course in 16 hours, 29 minutes and 10 seconds.
By way of comparison, Scotland’s Classic Mountain Marathon, the Ramsay Round, covers a distance of 90 km with ascents of more than 8,600 metres over 23 of Scotland’s Munros; mountains over 3,000 feet high (914.4 metres). On 31 August this year, Finlay Wild knocked an hour and a half off the record to complete the Round in 14 hours and 42 minutes, reported UK Climbing.
The event’s creator, Charlie Ramsay, set himself the challenge of completion in less than 24 hours; he achieved his goal with 2 minutes to spare in July, 1978. His record stood for 9 years.
Runners in this year’s Nanjing Challenge enjoyed the great outdoors, sunshine and the oxygen bar that is the forest itself, a combination which promotes the unique ecological advantages of Laoshan, together with the associated sports tourism and cultural integration.
Making for an excellent day out, as well as being heaven for mountain bikers, Laoshan National Forest Park is located on the northern shores of the Yangtze River, west of the Yangtze River Bridge and north of the Yangtze River Tunnel (now named Nanjing Yingtian Avenue Yangtze River Tunnel), covering an area of 80 square kilometres and with a forest coverage of 80 percent.
In addition to the tree-covered, undulating hills plus various species of plant life unique to the locale, Laoshan is also home to wolves, deer, foxes and over 200 other species of animals which each year make the area their breeding ground.