Qingdao Guy Astonishes with Hong Kong 100km Ultramarathon.
On January 18, the Hong Kong 100km Super Ultramarathon commenced, with over 1,600 trail runners from 40 countries and regions taking part. Participants had to traverse 100km of rugged mountain paths to finish the race. Yao Jintao, a 28-year-old from Qingdao, represented Shandong and completed the course in just 12 hours, ranking first among all mainland Chinese runners. Surprisingly, Yao is not a professional athlete but a workshop worker at a company in Huangdao. This was his first international trail race.
Qingdao Guy Represents Shandong in the Race
As the opening event of the Global Super Trail World Tour, the 2014 Hong Kong 100km Super Ultramarathon enjoys a high reputation worldwide. Participants must run along rugged mountain trails to reach the finish line, with a total elevation gain exceeding 4,500 meters. Its difficulty and intensity far surpass that of a marathon, making it a true test of endurance. It’s reported that athletes finishing within 16 hours will receive a “Little Gold Man” commemorative trophy, while those completing it within 24 hours will be awarded a “Little Silver Man” trophy.
(Editor’s note from Sina: The original text stated otherwise. The actual awards are as follows: Little Gold Man for finishers under 16 hours, Little Silver Man for those under 20 hours, and Little Bronze Man for those under 24 hours.)
This year marks the 4th edition of the event, with over 1,600 trail runners from 40 countries and regions participating. Among them, more than 500 are from mainland China, and only three represent Shandong—Yao Jintao, the 28-year-old from Qingdao, is one of them.
Amazing Endurance Leads Mainland Field
According to reports, Yao Jintao works as a CNC machine operator at an electronics company in Huangdao District. An ordinary guy with no connection to this competitive international event, he signed up for the race simply because of his love for running. “Last June, I joined the Qingdao Louis Track and Field Club and often trained for marathons with friends. Later, I heard about this race from club members. As the club had a spot available and they all thought I had great endurance, they encouraged me to give it a try. No mainland runner had ever completed the full 100km before, and I wanted to take on the challenge, so I signed up.”
No one expected that this rookie would stun everyone by breaking the best record among mainland participants, becoming the first Qingdao runner to finish the race and ranking first among over 500 mainland athletes—and 18th out of 1,600 overall.
Amateur Gear, Pro Speed and Stamina
Yao Jintao explained that the race officially started on January 18, but he only arrived in Hong Kong on January 17. “Although I’ve been running for a while, this was only my second trail race,” Yao said. He had only started competing in mountain trail races last November, making this his second trail event and his first international race. “When I first arrived at the venue and saw so many foreign runners, I felt quite nervous. But I wasn’t under much pressure—after all, even if I didn’t do well, it wouldn’t be too embarrassing,” Yao joked.
The race began at 8:00 a.m. on January 18 in Hong Kong’s Sai Kung district. Compared to other professional athletes, Yao had no specialized gear—he wore shorts brought from home and carried only water and food. Though not professional, his speed was no less impressive. “The race started with mountain trails in Hong Kong, including steps, sandy sections, and village roads, with lots of steep ups and downs. I felt very tired after the first 10km or so, but I gritted my teeth and pushed on. The race allows mid-race breaks, and I stopped around four or five times, resting for just a minute or two each time,” Yao said. To refuel, he brought Red Bull and energy gels, but he was too exhausted to consume any during the race. Running from 8:00 a.m. until 8:03 p.m., Yao finally crossed the finish line in just 12 hours and 3 seconds.
Full of Energy, Back to Work the Next Day
When contacted by reporters yesterday, Yao was already back at work in the factory—a surprising display of physical fitness. After finishing the 100km race on the evening of January 18, Yao flew back to Qingdao the next day and returned to the factory in the afternoon. “I work the night shift at the factory doing CNC work. With the year-end approaching, the workload is heavy. Since I didn’t feel too tired, I came straight to work,” he said.
Thin Build, Strong Endurance
It’s reported that Yao is of a slim build—standing 1.7 meters tall and weighing only 120 jin (about 60kg). However, thanks to years of running, his health is excellent. Starting in 2008, shortly after beginning his job, Yao had more free time and would run at Tangdao Bay Park to pass the time. “At first, I just thought running was fun, but I gradually ran longer distances. I started with 5km runs in the park, then worked up to 20km, and eventually ran a full loop around the park,” Yao said. Over the years, his endurance improved, and he participated in numerous marathons, ultimately achieving outstanding results.
Nearly 1,000 Qingdao Residents Join Trail Running