Current location:business >>
Elderly Couple Defies Age, Completing 100 Marathon Races
business2597People have gathered around
IntroductionContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
- Home
- News
- People
- In-depth
- ACWF
Elderly Couple Defies Age, Completing 100 Marathon Races
February 2, 2024A couple, Hu Yingfu and Wang Zhangmin, dubbed the "marathon duo", has participated in over 100 marathon races across the country, despite their combined age of 163 years, CCTV News reported.
The husband Hu, aged 86, and the wife Wang, aged 77, have maintained robust health due to years of running. In late 2023, they attended Hefei International Marathon, with Hu completing the half marathon in an impressive 2 hours and 20 minutes.
The couple have become stars in the marathon community, having won at least 200 medals from various sports meetings. There is even a special room in their home used to display the medals, certificates and souvenirs they win from the races, with walls covered in pictures of their competition experiences.
At first, the couple started running to improve their health, but, beyond their expectation, they were fascinated by the sport after some time.
Over 20 years ago, Wang picked up running following her friend's advice and felt the health benefits. Therefore, after Hu retired in 1997, she encouraged her husband to join her.
With no prior foundation, Hu found running to be quite challenging initially, managing only to cover a distance of one to two hundred meters. Later, he came up with a tactic — counting telegraph poles while running. Gradually, he was able to run longer distances, and his physical condition improved over time.
In 2004, the couple signed up for the track competition at the National Masters Games for the first time. To their surprise, Zhang won the fourth prize. From then on, they became frequenters of the subsequent National Masters Games, as well as provincial and municipal sports meetings, winning prizes almost every time.
As they became more confident, they wanted to challenge themselves and came up with the idea of running marathons, considering that the longest distance in the track events is no more than 10,000 meters.
In April 2011, the couple attended Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon and finished it smoothly. Then, in December of the same year, they signed up for 2011 Toray Cup Shanghai International Marathon. Though it was a big challenge, they managed to complete it.
Hu recalled: "I had never run a full marathon before, so I was afraid. I fell and hurt my both feet during the race, however, the paramedics patched me up and I continued running."
Over the years, the couple insist on running 10,000 meters every day, and they have accumulated a mileage of over 40,000 kilometers, longer than one lap around the equator.
They've made many friends through running and inspired lots of young people to join them.
"Many people regard me as their role model," said Hu. Therefore, every time he takes part in a race, he insists on finishing it.
From Hu's point of view, no matter what age it is, the marathon spirit of fighting to the end is essential. The couple stick to a motto on the wall of their house to inspire themselves: "Life is a marathon".
Marathons not only bring the couples happiness and health, but also represent their long-lasting relationship. They promise to each other to keep running and to celebrate a diamond wedding anniversary together.
(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Comments
Magazines
Projects
- 2023 Women Science and Technology Innovation Pioneer...
Photos
- People Enjoy Blooming Tulips in Jinan, East...
- Flowers Bloom Across China in Spring
Special Coverage
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Culture Chronicles news portal”。http://spratlyislands.fivesixgroup.com/article-81b699870.html
Related articles
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
businessGENEVA (AP) — Needing a win to face Novak Djokovic next at the Geneva Open, Andy Murray was saved by ...
【business】
Read moreGerman agribusiness giant Bayer confident in China's seed industry
business(Xinhua) 10:57, March 22, 2024SANYA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- German agribusiness giant Bayer is confide ...
【business】
Read moreCash crop plantations boost rural development in SW China's Sichuan
business(Xinhua) 08:18, March 14, 2024A woman shows beverage products made from Cut-leaf Crabapple in Daofu ...
【business】
Read more
Popular articles
Latest articles
Verona confirms Serie A status for another year after beating Salernitana
CPEC hydropower station starts impoundment in NW Pakistan
China sees robust recovery, vigorous growth in cultural, tourism industries: minister
Veteran Nebraska police officer killed in crash when pickup truck rear
Britain's new bonkers EV: Callum Skye is an £80k electric buggy built in Warwickshire
Barges break loose on Ohio River in Pittsburgh, damaging a marina and striking a bridge
LINKS
- Home appliance giant Midea reports 10 pct revenue increase in Q1
- The Rolling Stones are set to rock New Orleans Jazz Fest after two previous tries
- A committee finds a decayed and broken utility pole caused the largest wildfire in Texas history
- Beijing gears up for Strawberry Music Festival during May Day holiday
- Awards give books an exciting chapter
- A $5,000 check won by Billie Jean King 50 years ago helped create Women's Sports Foundation
- Britney Spears reaches divorce settlement with estranged husband Sam Asghari
- I'm a flight attendant
- ReelFocus Project selects fresh blood for film industry's future
- Man arrested in fatal shooting of Chicago police officer who was heading home from work