The more you run, the happier you are; the wilder the run, the greater the joy!
A trail run right in the heart of the city!
In the domestic mountain trail running community, the Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Race is undoubtedly a household name. On March 30, the 2014 8th “Vasque (Vasque) – Deep Experience” Cup Trail Running Race, sponsored by the same brand — the leading American outdoor footwear brand Vasque — will also be held in the Yinhu Mountain Country Park that spans downtown Shenzhen.
This is another high-level trail running event sponsored by Vasque, following their consecutive title sponsorships of the 2006 and 2007 Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Races, the 2008 Kunming, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen trail running legs, and the 2009 Beijing, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Kunming, and Shenzhen trail running legs. It will further promote the vigorous development of trail running — one of the most straightforward and pure outdoor sports — across mainland China.
The race route passes through the Yinhu Mountain range, known as the green lung of Shenzhen. During the city’s early development, it served to separate the “Special Economic Zone” from the rest of the area, acting as the “northern wall” that protected Shenzhen. Remnants of the original Special Zone barrier still exist along its edges, including the densely wired double-line patrol path. Surrounded by towering skyscrapers and bustling traffic, this area remains removed from the noise, almost like a hidden paradise.
The race course spans approximately 23 kilometers with a total elevation gain of nearly 1,700 meters. As trail running is a high-intensity, long-distance, and high-risk sport, participants are required to have a solid foundation in regular running training or competition. After careful screening by the organizing team from the Deep Experience Outdoor Sports Club, 150 lucky runners were granted entry, including 120 in the men’s division and 30 in the women’s division. Among them are trail running enthusiasts from the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other regions and countries.
According to the organizer, the head of the Deep Experience Outdoor Sports Club, the Yinhu Mountain Country Park, located in the heart of the city, offers a mix of hiking trails, greenways, and well-preserved rugged mountain paths, making it an ideal natural venue for trail running events. The organizers hope to establish the trail running race here on a permanent basis, creating a Shenzhen version of the “Hangzhou West Lake Trail Running Race.” This event is poised to become a flagship showcase for Shenzhen’s efforts to promote a city brand centered on fitness for all.