Q1: We learned that after winning two gold medals at the 2008 Paralympics, you plan to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics. This is exciting news. Which events will you be competing in? Are there any challenges in training for these events? Personally, I won two gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, achieving China's first-ever breakthrough in middle- and long-distance running events at the Paralympics. But when I heard that the 2022 Winter Olympics would once again be held in Beijing and Zhangjiakou, and that visually impaired athletes could also compete in some Winter Paralympic events, my once-calm heart was stirred again, and I began to think about competing in the Winter Olympics. I’m tentatively planning to take part in cross-country skiing. This sport is a completely new challenge for me. I’ve only been to ski resorts a few times with the help of friends and have learned some basic skiing moves. But I believe that with my efforts, my love for winter sports, and the support of my friends, I can definitely achieve excellent results. Most importantly, what we need is not just gold medals — we need the joy that sports bring us.
Q2: What kinds of obstacles did you face before you started running? When I was studying at the Shenyang School for the Blind, I was a poor student in physical education and often had to be hospitalized due to illness. At first, I ran just to get my body in better shape and have more energy for studying. Little did I know that running would change my future. When I heard that the Disabled Persons' Federation was coming to our school to select athletes with disabilities, I began my real long-distance running training. Because casual running and semi-professional training are very different, I needed to run faster and longer. The 150-meter track at school could no longer meet my training needs, but in 1999, open stadiums were still rare, so I had to choose the dangerous roads. Back then, I asked my parents to ride bicycles with a long rope tied around their waists, and I would hold the other end and run behind them. The physical hardship of training was manageable, but the fear of unfamiliar routes was hard to overcome. When I forced myself to run fast, I often fell because of small potholes on the road. So what pained me the most back then was how to take off clothes that had stuck to my wounds, and what was even more difficult was that every time my parents saw my bloody wounds, they firmly opposed me continuing to train.
Q3: How did you overcome these obstacles? Whether you’re a professional athlete or a passionate runner, after training for a long time, you’ll encounter injuries and burnout. When injured, it’s important to adjust or treat the issue promptly, and also examine your movements and equipment. Many injuries are caused by improper form or overexertion. I usually analyze the cause of the injury based on the affected area. For example, injuries to the heel and the back of the calf are mainly due to landing on the heel while running — a common issue for the visually impaired. Because of psychological fear, every step involves subconsciously probing the ground. This not only leads to injuries but also creates a backward force that affects performance. When I switched to a rolling landing technique and combined it with supportive treatment, such injuries were easily resolved. For other injuries, I use physical analysis of muscles, ligaments, and joints, along with coaching corrections to movement, to avoid them as much as possible.
As for burnout, I have several solutions: such as changing routes to maintain freshness; listening to music or audiobooks to shift focus; running with a few friends, which not only provides a temporary guide but also lifts your mood; signing up for races, which not only builds experience but also boosts motivation. For the visually impaired, the hardest part is overcoming the fear. First, you must bravely face the unknown and fully trust your guide. Once you build a bond, you can fully entrust your safety to them.
Q4: If there are no competitions in the short term, what are the general training goals and frequency? Even without competitions, I still run every day, though the intensity and distance are reduced. Usually, my daily training volume is between 10 to 12 kilometers, with an average pace of 4 to 30 minutes per kilometer. I start slowly, gradually picking up speed as my body gets into the rhythm, and finish with a little boost to my heart and muscles. The most important part of this training is muscle stretching. When every muscle and ligament is fully stretched, the whole body feels relaxed and the mood is pleasant. Engaging in other work not only avoids suboptimal health but also makes your thinking much clearer. However, for ordinary runners, the training volume and intensity should vary from person to person — following my routine would be counterproductive.
Q5: When the weather is bad or the guide is temporarily unavailable for training, can you suggest some exercises visually impaired individuals can do at home? How do you adjust yourself in such situations? It’s indeed frustrating to face such situations, especially when we’ve grown to love the joy that running brings. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing — it’s a good opportunity to overcome burnout. We can do some body workouts at home, which are also very helpful for running. Those with access to a treadmill can warm up on it; if not, they can jog in place or practice arm swings. Then, plan out what to do for the day, such as push-ups, sit-ups, crunches, leg lifts, bicycle crunches, squats, heel raises (place hands against a wall, stand upright at a 60–80 degree angle to the ground, lift heels and lower them repeatedly until calves feel sore), straight-knee jumps, and high knees — none of which require equipment and can be done at home. Combine some of these exercises based on your needs, alternate them, and continue until you’re breathing heavily and your muscles are sore. Tests show that a lot of body training not only doesn’t affect running performance but can also make your body look more toned and fit.
Finally, I wish all blind friends a joyful and successful race at the Guangzhou Marathon. I’m truly honored to share my running experience with everyone and hope to see more blind running groups in future marathon events. Thank you very much to the Guangzhou Marathon organizing committee for providing such a platform, to the media for your promotion and support, to the Guangzhou Association for the Blind for your advocacy, to the KAILAS brand for your sponsorship and strong support, and especially to able-bodied runners who support blind runners. Through running, blind friends can also enjoy the health and happiness that sports bring, and experience this colorful world.