The elderly man is named Xu Yucai, the oldest amateur marathon runner in Taizhou.
When it comes to marathons, people often think of athletes with strong physiques, astonishing endurance, and unyielding willpower. But in Jiangyan District, Taizhou, there is a 75-year-old man who has overcome stroke, high blood pressure, and heart disease through long-distance running. He has participated in marathon races held in Shanghai, Yangzhou, and other places. This elderly man is named Xu Yucai, the oldest amateur marathon runner in Taizhou.
Elderly Man Registers for Marathon
Recently, when registration for the Yangzhou Marathon opened, 75-year-old Xu Yucai signed up once again.
To train his endurance, Xu Yucai didn’t let his son drive him to Yangzhou but instead quietly rode his bicycle there.
On the day of registration, a cold front had just arrived. Xu Yucai set off from Jiangyan early in the morning and took six hours to reach Yangzhou. The return trip was against the wind, taking nearly nine hours.
This is not Xu Yucai’s first marathon.
In 2008, at the 3rd Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon, 71-year-old Xu Yucai made his marathon debut. During the race, he left many young runners behind, finishing in 791st place with a time of 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 43 seconds.
Later that year, Xu Yucai also registered for the Shanghai International Marathon. Among tens of thousands of participants, he completed the race ranked 1870th. From then on, Xu Yucai couldn’t live without marathons, participating in these two events every year.
Running Helped Him Beat Illness
“If I hadn’t run marathons, I wouldn’t be alive today.” Born in 1938, Xu Yucai was overweight in his youth and was nicknamed “Big Belly Xu.” By his 30s, he already had high blood pressure and heart problems. “I was a walking medicine cabinet when I was young—I was a frequent visitor to the Jiangyan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital,” Xu Yucai told reporters. He retired early at the age of 50 due to high blood pressure and heart disease.
Despite taking medication all day, his health did not improve, and he suffered three consecutive strokes. At the age of 60, during his third stroke, he survived but became bedridden. After two years of rehabilitation treatments such as acupuncture, Xu Yucai managed to stand up with difficulty, but he still couldn’t walk.
“I’m only 60 years old. I don’t want to just wait around to die.” The stubborn Xu Yucai began rehabilitation training. First, he moved his feet little by little at home while holding onto a chair—two meters, three meters, each time drenched in sweat. Half a year later, Xu Yucai stepped out of the house. Gradually, he could walk 50 to 60 meters unaided. The following year, he made his way to the sports field and began jogging slowly. From 200 meters to 400 meters, he gradually increased the distance until he could finally run 10 laps in one go.
In the third year after his stroke, Xu Yucai was running over five kilometers a day. His legs grew stronger, and his courage grew bigger. Soon, people saw Xu Yucai striding briskly along the inner ring road in Jiangyan District.
Xu Yucai told reporters that persisting in long-distance running had built a strong body for him. Now, his body is like an engine, and he passes all the medical tests required for marathon participation.
Looking Forward to the Beijing Marathon
Xu Yucai is now 75 years old, and his racing condition is not as good as before. His son, worried about his father’s health, firmly opposes him competing in races and even argued with him over it. But Xu Yucai has a stubborn streak, and no one can dissuade him.
When asked why he is so obsessed with marathons, Xu Yucai said, “The openness and inclusiveness of marathons fascinate me.” Other sports have fixed venues where amateur enthusiasts can hardly compete with professionals. But marathon courses are usually set on urban roads, and for participants, every step and every section offers different scenery. Whether professional or amateur, everyone gathers at the same starting line for the same passion.
As for when he will “retire,” Xu Yucai said he hopes to run a marathon in the capital, Beijing. Only then will it feel complete. “I won’t stop until I’ve run the Beijing Marathon.”