A Shandong poet cycled 2,155 kilometers with three cardiac stents.
“A road bike, 11.5 days to cover 2,155 kilometers, climbing a total of 11,121 meters, averaging 187 kilometers and 967 meters of elevation gain per day.” If this happened to someone with coronary heart disease, would you find it astonishing? On the 23rd, the new book launch for young poet Li Hui from our province, *The Ride of Life*, was held in Beijing. At the event, Li Hui shared his inspiring journey from Binzhou, Shandong, through Jinan, Luoyang, Xi'an, all the way to Qinghai Lake.
His mood was once “hazier” than smoggy days
At the new book launch, Li Hui smiled, spoke calmly, thanked many people, and showed no trace of “negative energy” on his face.
In 2009, Li Hui, who loved sports and had just entered his forties, was diagnosed with coronary heart disease. “I always thought I was in very good health, but then I was diagnosed with coronary heart disease. The state I was in during that period was really ‘hazier’ than the smoggy weather in Beijing.” Feeling very down at the time, Li Hui wanted to find some inspirational stories about coronary heart disease patients in books. “My wife spent a whole day going to big bookstores in Beijing and only managed to buy me Master Yinguang’s *Calm Your Heart*,” Li Hui said with a smile.
Later, Li Hui underwent a cardiac stent surgery. In the eyes of many, once a coronary heart disease patient has stent surgery, they basically become a permanent “patient” or even “half disabled.” Li Hui wanted to set a world record for coronary heart disease patients, so he ultimately chose cycling. “Starting from Binzhou, Shandong, heading west all the way to Qinghai, challenging the journey from the mouth of the Yellow River to the source of the Three Rivers, from the northern Shandong plains to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau — a thousand-mile extreme challenge.”
Stung by a fighting cock, got a tetanus shot late at night
On May 11th of last year, Li Hui set off on his journey from Binzhou. At 12:50 PM that day, he cycled across the Yellow River Bridge in Jinan. “Previously, during my solo training rides, I learned how treacherous that pothole near the bridge entrance could be — it once shook off the reflector on my rear wheel. But that day, I easily avoided it.”
Speaking of his cycling experiences in Jinan, Li Hui mentioned how people relaxed on the Yellow River embankment — gathering in small groups, chatting, playing cards, enjoying life. “Passing under a railway overpass, I soon arrived at Jiluo Road. Over 20 years ago, I visited the Luokou Clothing Wholesale Market many times. It’s still as bustling as ever.” The “separate service road with tall roadside trees” and good road conditions on Jingshi West Road left a deep impression on him.
During the 11.5 days of cycling, Li Hui faced even more challenges. “On the morning of the second day, I was knocked down by a speeding car. In the Zhengzhou area, I was pecked by an aggressive rooster and had to go to the hospital late at night for a tetanus shot. More than ten hours of intense cycling a day caused excruciating pain in my buttocks, legs, and arms, and my hands became stiff and numb from gripping the handlebars for so long. I could only sleep for about five hours a night, helped by two tablets of tranquilizer.”
“Challenging your limits means making extraordinary efforts, even risking your life. No one doesn’t cherish their life, and no one wants to joke about it.” Li Hui said that this challenge wasn’t just personal, but represented an entire group.
Creating multiple world records to inspire
The numbers attached to Li Hui created records for coronary heart disease patients post-stent surgery: longest continuous single cycling distance, highest accumulated elevation gain, fastest speed, and greatest athletic intensity. “Through my ride, I proved that coronary heart disease patients with normal heart function can engage in physical activities and sports just like anyone else,” Li Hui said. He hopes that coronary heart disease patients can let go of their burdens and move forward with a lighter heart.
After completing the thousand-mile solo ride, Li Hui wrote and published the documentary literature collection *The Ride of Life*, which recounts his personal journey of battling mental burdens after stent surgery, breaking through the darkness, and challenging his limits. Previously, the Shandong Provincial Writers Association had also listed this book as a key supported work. Li Hui joked that he had finally found “the book he wanted to buy but couldn’t back then.”
At the launch event, renowned poet Ji Dima said: “The significance of Li Hui’s ride isn’t just in the simple numerical records, but in his attitude of calmly reflecting on life’s direction. While challenging himself as a poet and pursuing adventure, he has written a new story of inspiration.” Meanwhile, Ye Yanbin, editor-in-chief of *Poetry Magazine*, said this ride helped many rediscover the poet community. “It’s a great showcase of the positive image of young poets. A good poet can convey positivity through their poetry, character, and experiences.”