Beijing time10month29morning9:00,2017the "Agricultural Bank Cup" 3rd Jiuquan International Gobi Ultra Marathon officially commenced with the starting gun.
Li Jing, technical delegate of the Chinese Athletics Association, He Xiaozu, Vice Mayor of Jiuquan City, Jia Jie, Vice Chairman of the Jiuquan Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference,Shi Binhua, President of Agricultural Bank of China Jiuquan Branch,Li Haibin, General Manager of Beijing Pan-China Emerging Sports Industry Co., Ltd.and other leaders attended the starting ceremony.
Nearly10nationalities,11provinces, municipalities, and regions, and200participants in the 100-kilometer challenge, along with50kilometer challenge runners and1500outdoor enthusiasts competed in a test of courage and endurance along the vast Gobi racecourse.
After an intense competition, Chinese athlete Guan Yousheng ultimately won the men's50kilometer championship with a time of3hours,20minutes, and32seconds. Ethiopian athleteNEDI GADISE GENECHUclaimed the women's50kilometer title with a time of4hours,02minutes, and08seconds.Mr. Li Haibin, General Manager of Beijing Pan-China Emerging Sports Industry Co., Ltd.,presented awards to the champions and conferred prize money of30000RMB to each.
from EthiopiaGURARA MITIKU
NEGAWOfinished3hours31minutes15seconds to win the men's runner-up, while Chinese athlete Zhang Jingxia won the women's runner-up with4hours28minutes46seconds.Yang Xiaodong, General Manager of Agricultural Bank of China Jiuquan Branch, presented awards to the runners-up,and awarded each runner-up20000RMB.
Chinese athlete Gao Yongning won the men's third place with3hours36minutes09seconds, and Chinese athlete Lin Lanxia claimed the women's third place with an outstanding result of4hours55minutes50seconds. Wang Yanhua, Deputy Director of Jiuquan Municipal Sports Bureau, awarded the third-place winners, and presented each with10000RMB.
Vast deserts and gobi, long rivers and setting suns. As the first domestically certified gobi ultra-marathon event by the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA), this year,to enhance the quality of the event and encourage domestic athletes to achieve strong results, a special Chinese Athlete Award was added for the50km race, rewarding the top ten Chinese male and female athletes.
Aihe Maite.Abduwaili, a Chinese athlete from Xinjiang, won the first place in the men's3hours47minutes19seconds in the50km category, taking home a prize of10000RMB; Zhang Changfa finished with3hours51minutes46seconds to take second place, with a prize of9000RMB; Su Wucheng finished in third place with a time of3hours51minutes52seconds, earning a prize of8000RMB.
Chinese athlete Zhang Qian won the women’s4kilometer category with a time of59hours50minutes50seconds, taking home a prize of10000RMB; Zhang Haixia secured second place with a time of5hours12minutes08seconds and a prize of9000RMB; Wang Li finished third with a time of5hours12minutes31seconds, earning a prize of8000RMB.
Even more notably,over 1,500 outdoor enthusiasts from China (Jiuquan), the capital of outdoor sports in the western region, actively participated in the3rd Jiuquan International Gobi Super Marathon10kilometer experience raceon-site, challenging themselves and enjoying the sport amid the vast and rugged Gobi terrain, setting new records.
The “Agricultural Bank Cup” 3rd Jiuquan International Gobi Super Marathonis renowned for its unique terrain and landscape, attracting countless runners. The starting point of the race is located at Huacheng Lake Scenic Area in Suzhou District, Jiuquan City. This year, in an effort to elevate the event to a high-standard competition and to actively apply for world championship status, the Jiuquan Municipal Government invested in the construction of the “Huacheng Lake Outdoor Sports Base” within Huacheng Lake Scenic Area in Suzhou District, Jiuquan. This base will serve as the hub for future outdoor events and fitness activities. Huacheng Lake combines desert Gobi, grasslands, mountains, lakes, sand dunes, and the Great Wall beacon towers, encapsulating the quintessential landscapes of northwestern China in one unique natural setting. The base route passes by Huoshixia Beacon Tower, Xintiandun Farm, and Tianluocheng, forming a counterclockwise loop across the ancient battlefield of the northern deserts.50A closed-loop route for the 100-kilometer Gobi Super Marathon.1432The highest elevation of the course is1314meters, and the lowest is244meters, with a total ascent of approximately244.5meters and a total descent of about
meters. The course not only traverses the Gobi Desert but also features a variety of complex terrains including danxia landforms, wetlands, gravel beds, shrublands, and reed marshes, all rich in the distinctive flavor of China’s western regions. This event once again showcases an ultimate extreme challenge with northwestern flair to marathon enthusiasts.Every marathon has its own unique character. Joining a marathon might mean being captivated by the stunning scenery along the way, immersed in the boundless enthusiasm of the spectators, or even drawn by the delicious food offered en route. As the pinnacle of extreme sports, the super marathon unfolds a grueling test of body and mind on its first-ever “Gobi” course. Every kilometer, every journey, is a personal breakthrough for the runners. Running the longest distance, witnessing the most breathtaking views, and becoming the best version of oneself is probably the ultimate dream of every runner. At this time each year, in this very place, the world’s finest runners gather, leaving their most precious footprints on the Gobi. The allure of the ultra-marathon lies not only in its longer distance compared to a regular marathon but also in the thrill brought by the unpredictability of its intricate geographical environments. In a regular marathon, perseverance and endurance are all it takes to push through to the finish line. But the super marathon is more like an adventurous odyssey—a bit like a sailing race where sailors must rely on their vast experience to assess complex maritime conditions and make adjustments to choose the right course. In the super marathon, participants must adjust their pace and rhythm according to varying environments.
50Being in such a vast, stunning, and unpredictable environment undoubtedly brings out the runners’ physical potential, leading to the creation of super marathon legends that transcend limits.
Stretching as far as the eye can see with endless yellow sand, the moment the starting gun fires, brave runners embark on a solitary journey. Starting is not difficult; it’s finishing the entire course that allows this solitude to be crowned with greatness.The path to excellence is never smooth—just as the ancient Silk Road was fraught with challenges. Without enduring the hardships of a long and arduous journey, how could one fully appreciate the vast beauty of the setting sun? The Echoing-Sand Mountains glow with the rosy hues of sunset, while Crescent Lake cradles the moon and stars. The vast desert and Gobi will surely engrave a new epic of athletic endeavor. This October, let us gather along the Silk Road and meet in Jiuquan to embark together on an ultimate journey of challenging limits and pushing beyond ourselves.