Born in 1979 into an ordinary fishing family in Beishan Village, Jishan Township, Yuhuan County, Zhejiang Province, Chen Penbin has only a primary school education. Since joining the world of extreme off-road sports, he has won all domestic titles and was the first Chinese to take part in and finish one of the world’s most grueling off-road races – the Sahara Desert Marathon. He is also the first Chinese to grace the cover of Outside Magazine in the United States.
Chen Penbin has been dubbed various titles such as “Endurance Maniac,” “Extreme Expert,” “China’s Endurance King,” and “China’s Ironman.” Netizens in China’s outdoor community call him a “folk hero devoted to his dreams.” As a fisherman with ten years of experience, Chen once described himself: “I am a man with dreams.”
Chen Penbin truly embarked on the path of extreme sports after a local sports competition back home. At age 21, he did 438 push-ups in one go, shocking everyone present. From then on, Chen gradually discovered the thrill and joy of extreme sports. Blessed with extraordinary endurance and backed by scientific training, he soon stood out in all kinds of outdoor challenge competitions.
Starting in 2001, Chen Penbin took part in various TV Guinness Challenge events. Carrying a 75kg sandbag up 220 steps, carrying 5 gallons of space water while power-walking for 14 hours, “tire races on water,” and a full marathon in leather shoes... After 2003, he competed continuously in various international and domestic mountain outdoor challenges, Ironman races, and endurance competitions. In more and more events, Chen Penbin’s exceptional stamina was repeatedly proven. In 2009 alone, he won 26 titles in various outdoor endurance races.
In 2010, Chen Penbin began to tackle ultra-endurance runs across seven continents, such as a 250-km trek through the Xinjiang Gobi. In April 2011, he crossed the Sahara Desert in the Morocco Hell Ultra Marathon. Just two months later, he completed the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run in the U.S. with an outstanding time of 28 hours and 33 minutes. By 2012, Chen’s racing schedule had become even more astonishing: within just 20 days, he participated in Australia’s 241-km endurance race, Greece’s 246-km Spartathlon, and Brazil’s Amazon Jungle Super Marathon, achieving excellent results in all. Faced with Chen’s packed racing calendar, many netizens began calling him the “Stainless Steel Man.”
“I’d Be Bored Without Competing”
Participating in outdoor challenge races requires not only extraordinary physical strength and endurance but also significant funding and equipment. For Chen Penbin, whose life is far from affluent, even combined with prize money from competitions, it is difficult to gather the funds needed to compete. “If you think competitors in the world’s toughest marathons get generous prize money, you’re wrong,” Chen admitted frankly.
In recent years, the prize money for these events could only be described as pitiful. The men’s champion received just €4,600, the women’s champion €2,800, and the team winner €3,200. Compared to the total expenses of nearly €10,000 that many athletes invest in training, transportation, equipment, and registration fees, this amount is negligible. It is worth mentioning that the registration fee also includes the cost of repatriating a competitor’s body. Chen believes that after reading the organizers’ rules, few would risk their lives for any amount of prize money. The athletes who take part do so purely because they love the sport.
Behind a series of astonishing achievements, Chen Penbin has been battling injuries. Since his first attempt at the Seven Continents Extreme Endurance Grand Slam, he developed knee problems. Over the past three years, he has competed while receiving treatment. “Competing is part of my life. Without it, I’d be bored. Traveling to different places for races has shown me how big the world is and reminded me that life is short – I should see more of it. Whether people in the circle pay attention to me or not doesn’t matter. I just want to be happy!” Chen said when asked about this.
The Brazilian Amazon Jungle Super Marathon was the third international extreme outdoor competition Chen Penbin had taken part in since 2012. After six days of trekking, he covered 254 km through the Amazon rainforest and finished as the runner-up, just one step away from setting a world record. After competing in three super marathons spanning three continents and covering over 600 km within 28 days, Chen only needs to complete a 100-km cross-country event in Antarctica next year to become the first Chinese to finish top-level ultra-marathons on all seven continents. On this, Chen said that although his left leg is injured and he may face challenges in the icy conditions, he will be well prepared with sufficient medication and tools to take on the Antarctic race next year.
After being nominated for the “2011 CCTV Sports Personality of the Year” award, Chen Penbin said: “For me, running is not just a hobby, but also a part of life. It enriches my life experiences and makes life more colorful.” For Chen, winning a few more world championships and returning to his hometown in his later years to look at photos and recall his younger self is his simplest life plan. In his own words: “Nothing else attracts me as much as running. Actually, I’m quite the typical homebody, aren’t I?”
What Is an Ultra-Marathon?
Exercise physiologist David Blair defines an ultra-marathon as any running race that exceeds the standard marathon distance of 42.195 km. Generally speaking, an ultra-marathon has a minimum standard distance of 50 km, with no upper limit.
The history of ultra-marathons is actually much older than that of the standard marathon, but it has only been recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in recent years. In 1991, the IAAF officially recognized 100-km ultra-marathons as legitimate competitions. Since then, the 100-km marathon has replaced the traditional marathon as the longest distance officially certified by the world’s governing athletics body. The IAAF also sponsors the annual IAU 100-Kilometer World Challenge for its affiliated International Association of Ultrarunners.
Under the same definition, ultra-marathons can be divided into different types. Typically, they fall into two categories – fixed time and fixed distance. As the names suggest, fixed distance races require participants to run a set distance, with rankings based on finishing time. Fixed time races involve covering as much distance as possible within a given timeframe (which could be 24 hours, 48 hours, 6 days, or more).
Journey running is another form of ultra-marathon, which is no longer competitive in nature. Journey runners often go solo, covering greater distances, and follow their own plans, such as running a certain number of kilometers per day. A representative of this type is transcontinental runners, who typically aim to cross countries like Canada, the U.S., or Australia.
Megarunners are the outliers among ultra-marathoners. They are not known for their speed or distance, but for the sheer number of races they enter. Henri Gautier from Nantes, France, is one such person – he has participated in over 200 marathons of 100 km or more.
■ Popular Ultra-Marathons Around the World
1. Morocco Marathon des Sables
The Marathon des Sables in Morocco takes place over six grueling days in harsh weather conditions, covering a total of 156 miles – equivalent to six standard marathons. The longest stage reaches 52 miles. It is considered the toughest marathon in the world. Participants must carry all personal items and food in their backpacks. In the 2007 edition of the desert marathon, two participants tragically lost their lives during the race.
2. North Pole Marathon
The North Pole Marathon requires runners to complete the entire course across the frozen Arctic Ocean.
3. Tibet Marathon in India
Held at an altitude of nearly 11,500 feet, it is the highest-altitude long-distance running event in the world.
4. Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley, Nevada
This race starts in Badwater, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below sea level, and ends at Whitney Portal, 8,360 feet above sea level. Winners usually complete the course within 24 hours.
5. Jungfrau Marathon in Interlaken, Switzerland
Participants in this race must climb 5,960 feet along a 26.2-mile route.
6. Sahara Desert Marathon in Egypt
The Sahara Desert Marathon covers a total distance of 241 kilometers, mostly over rugged terrain including gravel plains, rocky plateaus and mountains, dried-up lake and river beds, as well as sand dunes. During the day, runners must carry a full week’s worth of heavy supplies while running in desert temperatures that can soar up to 49 degrees Celsius, and at night, they rest in the open air where temperatures can drop as low as 0 degrees Celsius. But that’s not the most daunting part — the organizers also set minimum and maximum speed requirements of 22 km/day and 82 km/day respectively, and participants who receive intravenous drips more than once during the race are automatically disqualified. Upon registration, runners must submit a recent electrocardiogram and a medical certificate, and the registration fee is £2,000, which includes the cost of “repatriation of remains.”