After more than a month of anticipation from running enthusiasts, the carefully prepared "I Am a Giant – TECNICA 2012 Tor des Géants Sharing Session" by TECNICA was held at 7:30 PM on October 29, 2012, at Jiamai Cinema in Sanlitun. The four giants who triumphantly returned from the Tor des Géants race—Gao Qing, Wang Zichen, Yang Jianguo, and Yu Lei—shared their experiences and insights with the attending runners. The participants also enjoyed a 40-minute exclusive film edited and produced by TECNICA.
The difficulty and hardship of the 330-kilometer Tor des Géants can be felt through its promotional video. With a total elevation gain of 24,000 meters and a 150-hour cutoff time, the race pushes the limits of human endurance. However, when asked individually, it was hard for them to summarize their experience in just a few words. Yet, the runners actively asked about their physical conditions and mental changes during the race, not only learning about their hardships but also understanding the complex psychological struggles behind enduring pain to finish the race or making the tough decision to withdraw.
The difficulty and hardship of the 330-kilometer Tor des Géants can be felt through its promotional video. With a total elevation gain of 24,000 meters and a 150-hour cutoff time, the race pushes the limits of human endurance. However, when asked individually, it was hard for them to summarize their experience in just a few words. Yet, the runners actively asked about their physical conditions and mental changes during the race, not only learning about their hardships but also understanding the complex psychological struggles behind enduring pain to finish the race or making the tough decision to withdraw.
To produce the exclusive 40-minute documentary, TECNICA spent a month collecting, organizing, editing, and producing footage, presenting the entire race journey of the participants to the running community.
From the film, we see the professionalism of the Tor des Géants organizing committee, the warmth of the Italians, the tireless dedication of the volunteers, and above all, the images of over 600 athletes challenging the tough course, along with their care that transcends status and nationality. Perhaps this is the unique charm of the Tor des Géants.
Our four team members also went through very tough stages. Yu Lei vomited four times in the first stage due to dietary issues and even slept on cold rocks; Yang Jianguo experienced hallucinations multiple times during the race and used medical tape to fix his broken glasses frame; Gao Qing, when exhausted, accepted a drink offered warmly by a local and "floated" through two sections… But they all persevered to the end. In Gao Qing’s words: "Pain is fine as long as the parts still work." Wang Zichen, around the 100-kilometer mark, suffered a recurrence of a leg injury and had to withdraw. In the film, we see his disappointment and tears, but he told us he would be back—he would challenge the Tor des Géants again.
If running is a sport, it is even more fitting to say it is an attitude toward life. Participating in the race is a way to test how firm that attitude is. And the Tor des Géants makes us feel that it elevates life on the course, turns experiences into brilliance, and keeps passion shining brightly despite the passage of time.
In 2013, we will create more miracles at the Tor des Géants.