On the morning of June 16, Beijing time, Chen Penbin appeared at Beihang University to lead the fourth leg of the 2014 Huawei Honor Super Marathon. So far, the event has been successfully held in Chengdu, Changsha, Nanjing, and Beijing. Chinese ultra-marathon runner Chen Penbin has personally spread the culture of running and the spirit of daring to be oneself to numerous students.
At the recently concluded Beihang event, over 500 students from Beihang and other universities gathered early at the university basketball court at 8:30 a.m. and started the run joyfully. In the end, a student couple won the men’s and women’s championships, bringing a romantic ending to the event.
During the event, Chen Penbin shared his personal experiences from competing in ultra-marathons around the world with young students, while also introducing running techniques and insights, which greatly benefited the participants. One Beihang student said, “Pen Ge is my idol. The rare opportunity to run with him allowed me to learn a lot about long-distance running techniques and inspired me deeply with his spirit.” Chen Penbin stated, “Extreme sports like the super marathon test not only athletes’ physical strength but more importantly, their mental fortitude. It’s a sport where people of all ages and genders can challenge themselves.”
At each stop of the event, Chen Penbin called on sports enthusiasts to keep running: “I’m very happy to take part in a series of running events. My main focus is on ultra-marathons over 100 kilometers, but running is a progressive sport — from 5 kilometers, 10 kilometers, to half marathons, full marathons, and then to ultra-marathons. Every milestone is paved by one’s own steady footsteps. I wish every runner the best in achieving breakthroughs and reaching their personal goals.”
It is reported that this nationwide event across four cities attracted thousands of students and social runners, receiving strong support from schools, youth leagues, and even the entire online community.