In recent years, with the rise of the national fitness movement, an increasing number of fun and diverse running events have emerged. Whether it’s the Shenzhen Women’s Marathon that shines for its participant demographic, the Lanzhou Marathon known for its excellent supplies and hospitality, or the Xiamen Marathon that boasts the highest number of participants, all have become hot topics among runners. This summer in Nanjing, the talk of the town among runners was most likely the Sanfo Outdoor...“Mountain Measuring Heroes”Fluorescent Night Run. This was a half-marathon mountain race registered with the Chinese Athletics Association and open to participants nationwide. To allow more runners to take part, in addition to the half-marathon distance of 21km for the Heroes Group, a 14km Experience Group was specially designed for beginners. The event attracted over 1,700 runners from across the country, nearly 700 of whom were local to Nanjing, with the majority coming from surrounding cities. The race concluded successfully at 10 PM on July 25th. The top five male and female finishers in each category received outdoor gear prizes sponsored by Nanjing Biancheng Sports.
Off-road trail running showcases a different kind of running sport
Locals in Nanjing are likely familiar with the Asia Outdoor Show, held every July at the Nanjing International Expo Center, which celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. This exhibition has helped Nanjing’s outdoor industry stay ahead of many other cities in China. Whether through sales agencies or manufacturing companies, the expo, aiming to let more exhibitors and citizens experience the unique charm of outdoor sports, co-founded a mountain trail running event with Sanfo Outdoor Sports Management Co., Ltd. in 2013 during the show — the very event that brought together 1,700+ participants we see today: the Sanfo Outdoor...“Mountain Measuring Heroes”Purple Mountain Fluorescent Run. In just three years, the scale of this event grew from an initial 300 participants to this year’s 1,700. Due to venue capacity limitations, registration closed early as no further expansion was possible. The organizers hope to showcase a different form of sport to outdoor enthusiasts through this direct mountain running event. The biggest difference between trail running and road running lies in the environment. Compared to the relatively uniform road conditions of road racing, trail running poses greater challenges, with elevation gains and descents as well as varied terrains that demand more from runners. Running in an outdoor environment with stunning scenery and fresh air not only improves physical health but also provides better mental relaxation — perhaps the greatest joy of trail running.
A Summer Running Gathering Brought by a Race
The middle and latter half of July in Nanjing is the hottest period of the year. As if to welcome runners from across the country, there was continuous rainfall in the week leading up to the race, bringing a rare sense of coolness to Nanjing, known as a “furnace city.” Post-rain Purple Mountain had pleasant temperatures, and although humidity was relatively high, it didn’t affect the runners’ performance. Over 1,500 participants achieved a remarkable 96% completion rate — a rare feat even in many regular marathons.
Music, beer, food, body painting — the atmosphere was filled with joy and harmony. This was a grand summer gathering brought about by a race, a passionate rendezvous for running enthusiasts.
The Running 3.0 Era: Gear Upgrades the Running Experience
When it comes to gear, people often assume running requires the least amount of equipment. But seeing the runners at the Mountain Measuring Heroes event — equipped with everything from specialized night-running headlamps to professional trail running shoes, from glowing wristbands to reflective night-running clothing, from specialized running water bottles to compression apparel, from running socks to sweat-wicking bands, and even music curated for running — it becomes clear how much gear matters. Especially in trail running, protective gear is even more crucial. If we consider the era when people didn’t run as the 1.0 era, then the phase where a basic pair of sneakers sufficed for any terrain would be the 2.0 era. Today, with all the hardware mentioned above and a flood of running apps — from registration and result tracking, to photo downloads and finisher certificates, from GPS tracking to social running apps — we’ve entered a brand-new stage: the 3.0 era of running. It's truly a fully-equipped, “armed to the teeth” phase. Equipment advancement is, of course, closely tied to the actual needs of the sport. If the 1.0 era was running around your neighborhood, the 2.0 era was running in parks, then the 3.0 era is naturally running outdoors amidst mountains and water. Along with market development, related industries have also entered another phase of rapid growth.
At the same time, many pieces of gear specifically designed for trail running are also quite unique, offering not only greater comfort and aesthetics but also enhanced safety. To showcase these products, the Asia Outdoor Show has added a dedicated running section alongside its existing product displays, presenting these professional items while also offering various running-themed sessions to make the sport more scientific.
Let’s Talk About Running: Social Running as the Best Way to Connect
Running is both a solitary self-expression and a dazzling self-display. Just putting one foot in front of the other is enough to draw admiration. Whether you join a running group, hit the road with fellow enthusiasts, or go solo while sharing your results on WeChat daily — a year ago, you might not have understood terms like...BPpersonal best, pacing, or mileage. But today, if you’re completely unfamiliar with these concepts, haven’t used WeChat Sports, aren’t part of any running groups, don’t have friends who’ve suddenly fallen in love with running, or haven’t been invited out for a jog, then you’re either quite advanced in age or simply don’t have friends. From seniors in their seventies and eighties to teens around twelve or thirteen, running has gradually become part of our lives. More and more people are using running to share lifestyles and even to discover new directions in life. These days, if you don’t share your workout stats,...
Socially Organized Races Make Events More Diverse
Sanfo Outdoor is a professional outdoor gear retailer. To provide outdoor enthusiasts with better experiences, the company has consistently promoted experiential marketing. The Purple Mountain Fluorescent Run is a key market event for the company in the Nanjing area. To encourage healthy activity and foster an outdoor lifestyle, Sanfo organizes various mountain trail races in cities such as Beijing, Nanjing, and Suzhou.”Mountain Measuring Heroes“It is a nationwide mountain trail running event that the company has been dedicated to developing, symbolizing”that every runner is a hero who measures the mountains with their own feet.”When asked by reporters about the plans for the Purple Mountain Fluorescent Run next year and in the future, Ms. Zhang Chaohui, the project leader of the company, said:“In 2016, we plan to expand the scale of the race to between 3,000―and 5,000 participants, allowing more running enthusiasts the opportunity to witness the beautiful scenery of Purple Mountain and experience the exhilaration of sweating under the summer sun.”Its professional course design and people-oriented event logistics provide participants with the safest and most reliable racing environment. It is precisely because of companies like this that our events can be so vibrant and diverse.