The 2015 Dalian 100 Trail Race started at 6:00 a.m. on April 18 at Dalian Fujiacao Beach Park. In the 50-kilometer category, Red Bull Outdoor Team athletes Yan Longfei and Dongli won the men’s and women’s championships with outstanding strength, both setting new course records for their respective categories. The 50-kilometer race route included mountain trails, coastal beaches, stone steps, wooden boardwalks, and seaside roads, with a cumulative elevation gain of 2,786 meters.
Before the Ultra-Trail Australia 100K, both athletes chose the 50-kilometer category of the Beijing 100 Trail Race as their final warm-up. Yan Longfei said, “After the Beijing race, I’ll take a complete break, reduce my training volume and intensity, rest more, and aim to be in my best form during those days in Australia.”
Dongli felt her condition that day was only about 70 percent. She said, “After completing the Transvulcania race on La Gomera in the Canary Islands, Spain, I haven’t fully recovered. With about 20 days left until the Australia race, I can’t guarantee a full recovery, but I will definitely try to finish in the top six.”
The Ultra-Trail World Tour is an international circuit consisting of 10 ultra-trail running events. The Ultra-Trail Australia 100K has a cutoff time of 28 hours, with the course set near the Blue Mountains National Park, where runners can enjoy pristine bushland and take in views of the iconic Three Sisters rock formation.