On September 21, the 2013 RW50 Wuyuezhai International Trail Running Grand Prix, hosted by Sports Media Group, organized by Runner's World magazine, and co-organized by the CPC Lingshou County Committee and the People's Government of Lingshou County, kicked off with a gunshot at the Wuyuezhai Scenic Area in Lingshou County, Hebei Province. After several hours of intense competition, Shandong athlete Li Zicheng became the first to complete the 50-kilometer race, winning the men's championship with a time of 4 hours, 11 minutes and 52 seconds. Gao Yongning and Li Wei took second and third places respectively; in the women's division, Jia Chaofeng, who had just won the women's marathon championship at the National Games, claimed the title, while Wang Wanfang finished second by just one second, and another long-distance running star, Gan Xue, came in third.
The 2013 RW50 Wuyuezhai International Trail Running Grand Prix attracted participants from over ten countries and regions, making it a truly elite field, especially with fierce competition in the men's division. Yang Jiagen, the three-time defending champion of the 100-kilometer event at the Beijing International Trail Running Challenge, and Swedish 100-kilometer trail running champion Linus Holmsäter were both pre-race favorites. However, as the race began, Li Zicheng and Gao Yongning emerged as the biggest dark horses, quickly pulling away from the rest of the pack and ultimately securing the top two spots in the men's division by a significant margin.
At 6:00 AM on the 21st, the 2013 RW50 Wuyuezhai International Trail Running Grand Prix started at the Wuyuezhai Scenic Area, with over 200 participants setting off on the 50-kilometer course under the morning light. Four hours later, the top three positions in the men's division began to take shape, with Li Zicheng slightly ahead of Gao Yongning in second place, while Li Wei firmly held onto third. In the end, Li Zicheng crossed the finish line first with a time of 4 hours, 11 minutes and 52 seconds, Gao Yongning took second with 4 hours, 13 minutes and 36 seconds, and Li Wei secured third with 4 hours, 29 minutes and 46 seconds.
The men's champion, Li Zicheng, was born in 1990 and joined the Shandong Provincial Sports Team in 2007 to begin professional long-distance running training. He participated in the 2012 London Olympics and achieved a personal best marathon time of 2 hours and 10 minutes. In a post-race interview, Li Zicheng said, "I feel absolutely amazing right now. The course was fantastic—starting easy and gradually getting harder, with a beautiful environment that made running very enjoyable. Winning today was beyond my expectations, and I’m truly, truly happy."
The runner-up, Gao Yongning, is a longtime rival of Li Zicheng. He specializes in mountain trail races and has competed in multiple such events this year, often finishing second to Li Zicheng. During this RW50 race, he engaged in a fierce battle with Li Zicheng, with the two frequently swapping the lead, but ultimately lost by less than two minutes.
In the women's division, National Games marathon champion Jia Chaofeng and fellow Gansu native Wang Wanfang almost crossed the finish line together, with times of 5 hours, 26 minutes and 46 seconds, and 5 hours, 26 minutes and 47 seconds respectively—a difference of just one second. Another long-distance running star, Gan Xue, suffered a back injury during the race which affected her performance, and she finished third with a time of 5 hours, 28 minutes and 43 seconds.
This event was hosted by Sports Media Group, organized by Runner's World magazine, and co-organized by the CPC Lingshou County Committee and the People's Government of Lingshou County. The total prize purse reached 200,000 RMB, with the top three finishers in both the men's and women's divisions each receiving pre-tax prizes of 50,000 RMB, 30,000 RMB, and 20,000 RMB respectively, making it the highest-reward trail running event in China to date. Additionally, the organizing committee set up 50 merit awards, with the top 50 finishers receiving prizes valued from 5,000 RMB to 500 RMB based on their rankings.
Men's Division Top Three Results:
Champion: Li Zicheng – 4 hours, 11 minutes, 52 seconds
Runner-Up: Gao Yongning – 4 hours, 13 minutes, 36 seconds
Third Place: Li Wei – 4 hours, 29 minutes, 46 seconds
Women's Division Top Three Results:
Champion: Jia Chaofeng – 5 hours, 26 minutes, 46 seconds
Runner-Up: Wang Wanfang – 5 hours, 26 minutes, 47 seconds
Third Place: Gan Xue – 5 hours, 28 minutes, 43 seconds