Around-the-clock shock
The second edition of the BMW Hood to Coast China Relay returns on Saturday.
More than 1,200 runners will challenge the 180-kilometer marathon course, which starts at Genting Resort, a skiing venue near 2022 Winter Olympics co-host city Zhangjiakou in Hebei province.
Running day and night, teams of five will traverse stunning mountain terrain en route to the picturesque Xiaoertai reservoir in Zhangbei county.
The original Hood to Coast Relay, founded in 1992, takes place in the US state of Oregon in late August. The race is one of the longest and largest relays in the world.
Unlike traditional marathon, the relay requires the joint efforts of all five team members. The China course is separated into 19 sections, and each must be finished by one runner while the other four travel by car to the end of the section to await the arrival of their teammate.
“It’s my second time to join the race along with my mom,” said Li Yinan, PR director of Chinese sports company iRENA.
“Last year when I joined the race for the first time, only two runners of my team had full marathon experience, so it was pretty challenging. Since last year’s race, we kept training. Especially my mom, who will turn 60 next month. She has been training for a whole year.
“We are now more experienced and aiming to have a better result this year, but it will not be an easy task.”
The second edition of the race not only extends the total length of the relay, but also includes a 15-km stretch of muddy cross-country terrain, which is described as “hell mode” by event organizer Starz Sports.
While the race encourages participants to push their limits, guaranteeing their safety is always the top priority — especially considering factors like running at night and the challenges of a muddy cross-country section.
In order to give the runners the best protection, a quick-response medical team will be available to provide prompt and professional medical aid when needed. Also, the runners and their cars will be wired with GPS so that organizers can track them every step of the way.
The popularity of the race has been welcomed by local government.
“As co-host city of the 2022 Winter Olympics, we welcome all sports brands in all seasons to help develop the national fitness program in our city,” said Wu Xiangyang, deputy mayor of Zhangjiakou.
“As a famous sports brand, the Hood to Coast relay will receive comprehensive support from our local government to let the runners experience an amazing and unforgettable relay race.”