"I love long-distance running and I will keep at it forever." Hu Sigé always wears a victorious smile on the race track.
For most people, the 42.195-kilometer distance is far enough — forget running, even walking can make one "stop in their tracks," let alone running barefoot. However, Hu Sigé from Xiangtan is a shoeless running enthusiast. Not only did he complete a full marathon barefoot, but he also achieved the best result among amateur marathon runners in Hunan Province. Over the past three years, he has run over ten thousand kilometers. Yesterday, Hu Sigé had just returned from the 2014 Chongqing International Marathon. Back in Xiangtan, he gave an exclusive interview to our reporter.
1. You Only Realize How Strong You Are When You Run a Marathon
Hu Sigé returned to Xiangtan early yesterday morning after participating in the 2014 International Marathon held in Chongqing on March 23. A total of 30,000 marathon enthusiasts from home and abroad took part in this event, but only about 5,000 completed the full 42.195-kilometer course. Hu Sigé finished in 3 hours and 27 minutes. More than 20 people from Hunan participated in the race, but only Hu Sigé and his apprentice Tang Yali ran barefoot.
Hu Sigé, 46, lives in Yisuhe Town, Xiangtan County. Since his school days, he has loved sports related to running, swimming, and cycling. But back then, he never thought he would run a marathon, as the sport seemed very distant to him.
It wasn’t until one day in 2010 that Hu Sigé met a former colleague. This colleague had been a long-distance runner and had participated in several domestic marathons. Encouraged by him, Hu Sigé joined a local running group in Xiangtan and began training for long-distance running.
At first, whenever Hu Sigé ran with others, he was always left behind. So he kept intensifying his training. 5 kilometers, 10 kilometers, 20 kilometers, 30 kilometers... his long-distance running distance kept breaking new ground. In January 2012, Hu Sigé ran his first Xiamen Marathon. Running through the countryside and the city, cheered on by many enthusiastic citizens, was something he would never forget. In the end, he completed his first full marathon in 3 hours and 50 minutes. Hu Sigé said, "When I dashed toward the 42.195-kilometer finish line, I realized how strong I was." Starting in 2011, Hu Sigé ran a series of marathons barefoot and earned the nickname "Barefoot Immortal." Today, he has also trained an apprentice in Xiangtan, Tang Yali, who runs marathons barefoot.
2. Barefoot Runners Outpace Those in Shoes
At the Xiamen Marathon, Hu Sigé saw some barefoot runners for the first time, which piqued his curiosity. By summer, he began trying barefoot running on the track. Though he only ran three laps, the unique sensation of running without shoes fascinated him.
After some practice, he discovered many advantages to barefoot running. He believes that running barefoot is the most primitive and fundamental human ability. Without the constraints of shoes, the feet touch the ground directly. When encountering small stones or uneven surfaces, the body can immediately adjust, naturally finding the most comfortable running posture. It also protects the knees and ankles, making the running motion more natural.
"At first, when I ran barefoot, the bumpy roads and small stones on the ground gave me several blisters on my soles almost every day, but I gritted my teeth and kept going. Later on, I gradually got used to it." Hu Sigé described his experience of running marathons barefoot to our reporter, always wearing a smile. Starting in 2013, Hu Sigé participated in marathons in Lanzhou, Hengshui, Guangzhou, and Chongqing. Each time, he ran barefoot and achieved his personal best time of 3 hours and 20 minutes, becoming the fastest among over 20 amateur full-marathon runners in Xiangtan.
3. As Long as You Keep Running, There Is No Failure
Hu Sigé’s passion for marathon running inspired more long-distance running enthusiasts to join the "Barefoot Legion." Whenever he had time, Hu Sigé would gather three or five barefoot running friends to run for a while in Xiangtan’s Jinxia Mountain, Huxiang Park, or along the riverfront. Whenever Hu Sigé and his fellow barefoot runners hit the road, they often drew amazed reactions from passersby.
When asked by our reporter, "What’s the difference between running barefoot and with shoes? Which feels easier to perform better?" Hu Sigé replied that it’s completely different. Mentally, running with shoes is a "constrained" state. Running long distances in shoes for extended periods can feel monotonous and tiring. In contrast, running barefoot is a "liberating" state — not only does it feel better than running with shoes, but it also doesn’t feel tiring. The whole experience is uplifting and outward-focused, actually making you feel more energetic the longer you run. Physically, since he started running marathons barefoot, he no longer suffers from foot sweat, athlete’s foot, or foot odor. Over the years, his health has improved, and he hasn’t been sick once. The reporter noticed that after two and a half years of rigorous training, Hu Sigé’s feet had changed noticeably: the balls of his feet, heels, and all ten toes were worn smooth. Some areas had even developed thick layers of calluses from years of barefoot running. When the reporter touched them, they felt soft. "After running for so long, I’ve basically ‘grown’ a pair of ‘cushions,’" Hu Sigé said with a laugh.
To take part in the international marathon in Chongqing, Hu Sigé didn’t stop running even during the Spring Festival. He said that ever since falling in love with marathon running, he hasn’t been able to stop moving forward. His life is the same — as long as you keep running, there is no failure.