Over the past weekend, the weather in Beijing could be summed up in one word—“hot.” But at Jinhai Lake in Pinggu, Beijing, the atmosphere was even more vibrant due to the grand hosting of the Sanfo International Triathlon.
2015 Beijing Pinggu Jinhai Lake The North Face?The The North Face Cup 16th Sanfo International Triathlon7was held on1the 1st, with the awards ceremony and closing ceremony taking place at 12:00 noon. This year’s event was title-sponsored by the brand that believes in “Never Stop Exploring,”The North Face?and achieved great success with strong support from leaders and relevant departments of the Pinggu District government.
This year, the race distance was upgraded to the Olympic standard—51.5kmkilometers in total (including 1.5 km of swimming,1.5km40 km of cycling,kmand 10 km of running), attracting over 700 triathletes from 15 countries. To ensure smooth operations, various levels of the Pinggu District government and the Shanshui Wenyuan Group provided substantial support. On-site, there were 260 Sanfo volunteers, over 300 volunteers from Pinggu villages and towns, more than 200 public security and traffic personnel, and 100 health and related supporting department staff involved in comprehensive event support.km), attracting over 700 triathletes from 15 countries. To ensure the smooth running of the event, various departments of the Pinggu District government and the Shanshui Wenyuan Group provided strong support. On-site, there were 260 volunteers from Sanfo, over 300 volunteers from various villages and towns in Pinggu, more than 200 public security and traffic personnel, and 100 staff members from health and related supporting departments who participated in the full-scale safeguarding efforts.
The race started promptly at 8:00 AM and the awards ceremony was held at 12:00 PM local time. A total of 607 athletes successfully completed the course.
After intense competition, the men’s champion was Jin Xi, with a time of 2:16:37. Jin Xi is a former professional triathlete who, even after retiring, remains passionate about the sport. Currently working as a police officer, he still manages to train regularly despite his busy schedule—an admirable feat. Hu Yan won the women’s championship in the 41–60 age group, marking her 26th title. Ma Dan successfully defended her title, winning the 20–35 age group championship. Due to the challenging nature of the race, this year’s Sanfo International Triathlon had 376 participants in the professional category (standard distance triathlon)—332 men and 44 women—with 334 finishers, achieving an 89% completion rate. The experience category (standard relay triathlon) saw 103 teams register, with 91 completing the race, for an 88% completion rate.Notably, although this was an international event, all category champions were won by local Chinese athletes, showcasing the remarkable progress of grassroots sports development in China.
Sanfo Triathlonhas becomeanother new highlight for Beijing Pinggu Jinhai Lake
In interviews, we met a pair of athletes who competed last year. When asked about their experience over the two years, the female athlete eagerly responded, “Last year I swam, and he cycled—I always thought he was cycling too slowly. This year, we switched, and when I got on the cycling course, I finally understood why he was going so slow—the scenery is just too beautiful!”
Jinhai Lake Scenic Area is located 15 kilometers east of Pinggu District and 85 kilometers from Beijing. Covering a water area of 6.5 square kilometers, it is the largest comprehensive water recreation destination in the Beijing area and is now a municipal-level scenic spot and a municipal-level tourist resort. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Jinhai Lake boasts lush peaks and picturesque scenery.It has been praised by athletes as Beijing’s “most beautiful cycling route.”
We only host the most joyful races in the most beautiful environments.
The beauty of the Jinhai Lake course is beyond doubt. And the Sanfo Triathlon, being such a joyful event, always features many heartwarming highlights.The successful hosting of four pre-race Sanfo Triathlon training camps boosted the confidence of many first-time triathletes. From regular training and nutrition, swimming techniques, cycling gear, and running posture tohow to refuel during the race, how to rest, how to adjust one’s condition, and how to avoid aggravating injuries when feeling unwell,all aspects were thoroughly covered.Comprehensive advice and sharing were provided.One first-time triathlete confidently said: After attending the training camp, he believed he could improve his time by at least half an hour.
Due to the hot and humid weather on the day of this year’s race, two hydration stations were set up along the cycling segment, while the 10km running segment featured as many as seven aid stations and six cooling stations. To ensure participants could promptly rehydrate and recover with stretching after the event, every aid station provided ample Met-Rx electrolyte drinks to help athletes restore fluid balance. At the finish line, partners from Beipai Foot Care even offered acid-relief massages for the athletes. The level of care rivaled that of international marathons. The watermelon served at the finish line successfully won over every athlete’s heart, drawing laughter all around.
A contestant proposed on-site, vowing to compete around the world together with his partner.
Raceended, and then an emotional moment unfolded on-site—Hu Chunxu, a well-known Chinese triathlon enthusiast and participant, crossed the finish line hand-in-hand with his girlfriend and proposed to her on the spot. Hundreds of triathletes witnessed this romantic gesture, capturing the sweet and heartwarming moment with their cameras and offering their sincerest blessings to the newly engaged athletic couple.
JinhaiLake: Where Heroes Gather, Glorious Battles Echo Across the Triathlon World
Sixteen times the flowers have bloomed, sixteen times they have faded, softening youthful faces and graying young heads. Yet the Sanfo Outdoor Triathlon has persevered through sixteen editions. It is precisely because of this persistence that today’s glory has been achieved. On the day before the race, the neat rows of bicycles densely packed on the dam left countless people in awe. Looking back a hundred years, wasn’t this just a herd of sturdy warhorses awaiting their heroes’ departure to battle?
Many contestants were familiar faces at the Sanfo Triathlon. What kind of charm keeps drawing them back year after year? This year, the editor went undercover as a first-timer, immersing themselves in the full race experience as a participant.
On July 10th, humming a tune, I checked into the athletes’ village. The uniform TNF race apparel transformed numerous farmhouses into a red-clad triathlete manor. A month before the race, Sanfo Outdoor initiated a triathlon WeChat group, facilitating extensive online communication that made athletes from all corners of the country and of all skin colors feel right at home. Though their nicknames left the farmhouse owners utterly baffled. “Hey, aren’t you Pighead Xin? I’m Butcher Li.” “Nice to meet you, I’m… uh, no problem, my name’s Foam.” Amid these modern-day aliases, the athletes chatted and connected with no sense of strangeness or restraint, as if a group of people had reunited back home for the holidays, treasuring this rare moment of togetherness. Slowly, even I shed my undercover identity and began experiencing the pre-race camaraderie from a participant’s perspective.
At 5 a.m. on July 11th, the alarm rang on time. After getting ready and heading downstairs, the road was already a sea of red-clad triathletes. Many seemed different from the day before—less relaxed, more serious. But to me, the atmosphere of warriors about to head into battle gradually thickened.
By 6:20 a.m., most participants had gathered at the competition area, where final adjustments to bikes and gear were underway in an orderly fashion. Many complimented the race setup, but I also noticed the bright smiles of the Sanfo staff hiding eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. As in previous years, they’d been busy all night—but the real challenge was just beginning.
At 7 a.m., the entire Jinhai Lake scenic area was immersed in an electric atmosphere of excitement. As the host shouted, “How are you all~~~?” the red-clad triathletes collectively jolted into high-energy mode. The intense response even startled Dang Qi, one of the triathlon industry’s big names on stage. The concise, content-rich, and fast-paced opening ceremony joyfully concluded with a collective horn blow from leaders of the Pinggu District Government. I spent the whole time silently chanting to Dang Qi in my head: Channel your power, work your magic, grant me strength… In truth, I wasn’t alone—why? Because “nerves” had set in…
At 7:50 a.m., standing by Jinhai Lake, I scrutinized the water, carefully calculating my route—how to dodge the countless “racing legs.” After repeated mental rerouting, I couldn’t settle on a perfect plan. Glancing at a guy nearby with a six-pack, I discussed my planned course with him. Ultimately, he gave me one piece of advice: “When two paths cross, the brave prevail!”
At 8:50 a.m., the staff fished me out of the water like pulling up a radish. Getting out on my own would’ve been tough. With hundreds of athletes, they had to pull each one out—hundreds of times. From the moment the first athlete entered the water, an invisible battle began for all support staff, erupting in splashes along the 51.5-kilometer course. Everywhere along this stretch played heartfelt, admirable melodies.
The 40-kilometer cycling leg, though grueling, was made easier by countless people giving athletes thumbs-ups. In 36-degree heat, many young volunteers barely had time to drink water, continuously waving flags to guide racers forward. Although it was my first time going undercover at a triathlon, and the strenuous cycling left me physically drained, I felt immeasurably fulfilled inside. No worries about traffic, pedestrians, or navigation—I could even ride freely with my head down. Only at an event like this could one enjoy such treatment. At numerous junctions, local police blocked off roads entirely to ensure athlete safety. Drivers stuck in traffic didn’t complain but instead gathered roadside to cheer racers on. This level of support allowed me to truly savor the ride—yes, I savored it for a full two hours. If not for the upcoming cut-off time at the cycling section, I wouldn’t have even bothered transitioning to the next zone…
Along the way, I passed many professionals—their speeds were so fast even the camera vehicles struggled to keep up. But another vehicle shocked me even more than the pros. You’ve seen them—those with baskets and seats. Yep, this one wasn’t slow either. Now there’s a legend circulating in triathlon circles: a new-age superhero triathlete who can do groceries, pick up the kids, and crush a triathlon on weekends.
At 11 a.m., just as I climbed the first hill of the 10km trail run, a staff member eagerly handed me a cola with ice cubes. My nearby teammates and I were stunned… wow, what a great idea. The second half of the hill passed in a series of contented burps.
On the descent, I met an older athlete. At first, I thought he was suffering from cramps, but upon approaching, I realized his right leg was atrophied. Though his stride lacked the rhythm of others, to me, he was the true embodiment of a triathlete—writing his own legend with a spirit that defied the odds.
At 11:35 a.m., with just 25 minutes until the cut-off, my legs were uncooperative, my head spun, and even in the heat, I felt chilly. Any athlete still short of the finish line likely experienced this. The staff, hoarse from shouting, encouraged us: “Hold on, you’re almost there!” But what was usually just a few hundred meters now felt impossible to reach. I regretted going undercover—why put myself through this? Life offers so much convenience and comfort; modern tech lets us get everything without leaving home. But now? It was tough. Maybe I should quit—why torture myself? I was just an undercover experience-seeker…
Then—my waist tightened as I crossed the finish line…
Now, back home with air conditioning, tea by my side, and a few Pinggu peaches still glistening with dew within arm’s reach, I’m still reflecting on the moment I crossed that line. We all have inner demons to conquer, and only through trials do we learn what sweetness truly is.
Only by participating and experiencing can you deeply grasp the meaning of a triathlon. And only by understanding can you truly appreciate the immense effort behind organizing such an event. Swimming, cycling, running—three sports unified by one race. Countless teams worked tirelessly behind the scenes: determined athletes, selfless organizing crews. Each point connected to form a dynamic tapestry. As the tapestry vibrated with life, a flesh-and-blood event transformed into a living, breathing triathlete, stride by stride, year after year, racing along the beautiful shores of Jinhai Lake in Pinggu.