On February 26, at the "No Clothes Run" event in Olympic Forest Park. People are gradually changing their impression of running — it’s not all hardship; running can actually be a lot of fun.
Running is part of human DNA. In ancient times, we had to run through wilderness and jungles chasing prey. Today, when we seriously talk about what running is — keeping your upper body upright, taking a leap forward, landing on the forefoot while swinging your arms rhythmically, out in the spring, in nature... How long can you keep up this rhythm?
How trendy is outdoor running now?
How trendy is outdoor running now? Bei Chuang, an outdoor running enthusiast, said, "Recently even urban housewife media have approached me, asking to do content on outdoor running." It might not be surprising — for example, The North Face 100 Beijing Changping Outdoor Endurance Run Challenge, the first 100-kilometer race series in mainland China, had its first edition in 2009. The champion, Xing Ruling, was an ordinary nurse from a hospital in Changping. She started running in March 2001 due to heart problems. Her home was near the Ming Tombs Reservoir, a great place for running. She trained there every morning, rain or shine. Over ten years, she participated in over 100 races both domestically and internationally. She said, "Running saved my life."
Why run?
Almost everyone has a different answer. To lose weight, get fit, people around me are running so I am too... The barrier to entry for this sport is low. Many runners have read Haruki Murakami’s book What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, which mentions several benefits of running. First, you don’t need a partner or opponent, nor special equipment or gear, nor do you have to go to any particular place. As long as you have a good pair of running shoes and a decent road, you can run as long as you feel like it. As long as you persist, and run every day, feeling your body change bit by bit each day — that alone is enough to bring joy to the heart.
Almost everyone has a different answer. To lose weight, get fit, people around me are running so I am too... The barrier to entry for this sport is low. Many runners have read Haruki Murakami’s book What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, which mentions several benefits of running. First, you don’t need a partner or opponent, nor special equipment or gear, nor do you have to go to any particular place. As long as you have a good pair of running shoes and a decent road, you can run as long as you feel like it. As long as you persist, and run every day, feeling your body change bit by bit each day — that alone is enough to bring joy to the heart.
On February 26, there was also a group of “No Clothes Run” participants in Olympic Forest Park. The organizer, Bei Chuang, said, "I think in recent years, people have gradually changed their impression of running. It used to be seen as mechanically moving along monotonous roads, a painful experience. But actually, running can be a lot of fun." And so, a bunch of shirtless guys and a few radiant “flowers” appeared in the Olympic Forest Park, bringing vitality and joy to the park before spring officially arrived.
Persistent running leads to the “runner’s high”
There are many benefits to running. The immediate changes include getting slimmer, having an easier time buying clothes; improved physical condition; being free from hypertension, fatty liver, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, cerebral hemorrhage, etc.; and becoming more confident... If you persist, you can explore the hidden energy within your body — what some runners describe as a kind of religious, saint-like “runner’s high,” training your mind and helping you stay focused.
Noah said that Haruki Murakami’s running may have influenced some people, including himself. Everyone can develop the habit and joy of running. No matter how trivial the action, as long as you stick with it every day, something akin to a philosophy will emerge. But the process is also incredibly winding. Murakami once told a story: “I asked, ‘Even an elite long-distance runner like Sakaguchi must have days when he doesn’t want to run, feels annoyed, or just wants to stay home and sleep?’ Sakaguchi glared at me and replied in a tone like, ‘How could you ask such a silly question?’: ‘Of course I do!’ Looking back now, I realize that was indeed a foolish question. Even then, I understood. But I still wanted to hear his answer firsthand. Even if our strength, training volume, and motivation are worlds apart, I still wanted to know if, when he laced up his running shoes early in the morning, he had the same thoughts as I did. Sakaguchi’s answer put my mind at ease. Ah, I guess we’re all the same after all.”
Bei Chiang shared a story: There’s a top marathoner in China, Zhao Quanming. Back in school, he failed PE, so he insisted on running 10 kilometers every day. When the domestic marathon craze took off, his performance shot up. A few years ago, after getting sponsorship from a brand, he slacked off for two years and his performance plummeted. But this year, he’s back.