'Running is great, isn't it? It doesn't cost money, as long as you have a pair of shoes and a road, you can run whenever and wherever you want. This is a quote from writer Haruki Murakami, and almost everyone in the marathon circle knows it. One day at the age of 33, he decided to start long-distance running, 10 kilometers a day, and participate in more than one marathon every year. For 41 years, he has been running all over the world, which is as long as his writing history.

Talking about how to keep going, he said: 'I don't want to run today, so I run, this is the way of thinking of long-distance runners.' ”

On December 31, 2023, the Hengqin Marathon will usher in its fifth event. Nearly 100,000 runners have sweated and will sweat on this track, which is known as the 'most beautiful mountain and sea'. After all, Haruki Murakami can write about the mindset of all marathon runners, but he can't write their stories. We chose three out of nearly 100,000 people to see what they ran and thought on the track.

01 'Closed Door Bunny', shelter vehicle and old friends

On February 26, the Hengqin Marathon, when I ran across the finish line, I looked back and finally breathed a sigh of relief. I was chased by the 'Closing Rabbit' and the shelter car all the way, and finally finished in 2 hours and 50 minutes, only 10 minutes away from the half-marathon closing time.

After 'Yangkang' at the end of 2022, I gained almost 10 kilograms. Originally, as a 'scumbag' with heavy work, three days of fishing and two days of drying nets, my best time in half a marathon was about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Now that I have gained weight and lack of exercise, I really don't have the confidence to finish the race in 3 hours.

A week before the game, the thought of giving up was swirling in my head. But on February 19, when he saw the Shenzhen Marathon, Luo Shujian pushed his son to run the 56th marathon, he was deeply moved.

I wrote the article 'Life is not a marathon', and at the end of the article, I quoted the words of extreme marathon runner Dean Canazes: 'If you can, you run, if you can't run, you walk, if you can't walk, you climb, but, never give up.' ”

Life is not a marathon, so why give up? I decided to run.

Go at the pace set before the race and let the runners around you pass you. At about 5 kilometers, I saw that the half-marathon 3-hour pacemaker was about 100 meters ahead. If they run slower than them, it means that they will be 'closed' on the containment vehicle, hence the nickname 'Closing Bunny'.

At this moment, I really want to rush up and overtake them at an accelerated speed, leaving them far behind. But reason told me that when I accelerated, I would probably run away, so I pressed my inner impulse and continued to run slowly at my own pace, and it finally took 20 minutes to eliminate the 100-meter distance. Now, my goal is clearer: I must not be overtaken by this group of 'rabbits'.

At 10km, I was in a bit close to hitting the wall. 'Come on!' A familiar voice came, an old friend on the opposite track, who had crossed the turnaround point and ran in front of me. Sometimes, in the most difficult moments, all it takes is a simple word of encouragement to give people the strength to keep going.

At 12 kilometers, when I had completed the turnaround, I saw the shelter bus on the other side, and the volunteers on the bus were smiling and waving as if to say, 'Welcome to the bus.'

When I reached 16 kilometers, I finally couldn't run. Looking at the watch, there were still 50 minutes before the cut-off time, which meant that I could finish the race even if I walked down the remaining 5 kilometers.

Life is not a marathon – along the way, there are 'closed rabbits' to push people forward, old friends to encourage and cheer up, and of course, there are shelter vehicles so that we can go home safely regardless of whether we finish the race or not. On the track, some people aim for PB (personal best), many more aim for finishing, but in any case, the most important thing is to get home safely.

And, in any case, don't forget to admire the redbuds that bloom on both sides of the track.

'The miracle is not that I have arrived, but that I have the courage to set out.'

02 The most beautiful track interprets the most beautiful love

On the finish line of the 2020 Hengqin Marathon, a young and beautiful female runner did not stop immediately, but rushed to the finish line and waited for a long time after her boyfriend came to give a big hug. It just so happened that this moment was frozen by the photographer.

They are called '2020 Hengma Best CP' by the media, and Fig, the big bad wolf, is the coach of Shenzhen Jianmu Marathon Club, and Xiao Xiao is a member of the club, and is engaged in the financial industry in Shenzhen. Both are marathon depth enthusiasts, and the two met because of running, and usually train together systematically. 'The marathon is a testimony of our love,' says Murmur with a smile.

In the past few years, the two have traveled all over the country. 'The course is very flat overall, the slope is not very large, and it is a track with good running results. The scenery along the way is also beautiful, showing the ultimate Hengqin landscape is pleasing to the eye,' said Fig, the big bad wolf.

Running all the way through the beautiful scenery, and more importantly walking with the people you like, all the tiredness is not enough.

In addition to the track, the meticulous and thoughtful service also made the big bad wolf Fig and Murmur very moved, 'The overall atmosphere is quite good, and there are a lot of spectators along the way. Organized, spontaneous, and bands singing and cheering on the contestants along the way. ”

The reason why I chose to run a marathon is because of my love and self-discipline, and it is also a life experience of constantly challenging myself, sharpening my will, and seeking personal breakthroughs.

'Originally, we both ran together at the beginning and he was in better shape by the halfway point. I thought about letting him run first and refresh his own time. I was running alone for the second half of the race, but I knew he would be waiting for me at the finish line,' he said in an interview after the race.

Although the horse race is hard, in the process of running, if someone unconditionally supports you and accompanies you, it is actually painful and happy, and happiness will account for a greater score.

''Sacrificing' companionship, the gurgling choice has made me, I have been waiting for her at the finish line after the run, for fear of missing it', when asked how the big bad wolf Fig should compensate for the murmuring, he replied very firmly, 'It must be made up for with two more marathons, and we will meet next year for the Hengqin Marathon.'

03 Accompany the whole process and arrive steadily

Huang Chunmei has never been absent on the racetrack, sometimes as a competitor, and more often as 'Rabbit' – the official pacemaker of the race.

In the marathon, the 'rabbit' is the flowing 'stopwatch' and the 'coordinates' of the race. After becoming a crosshorse 'Bunny', she likes to make herself 'eye-catching', wearing a beautiful pink baseball cap and a white tracksuit, taking a light step, with a stable pace and skillful speed control, leading the competitors at the corresponding pace throughout the whole process, and arriving steadily within the target time.

'Thank you 'Rabbit' for leading the profession!' 'You don't run for yourself, you don't know what to do, you lead all the runners all the way with the most standard pace and rhythm.' At the finish line, Huang Chunmei often received such thanks, which also strengthened her belief in continuing to be a rabbit service runner.

On weekdays, Huang Chunmei works in Hengqin. For her, it was a unique experience to be able to participate in this mega marathon on her doorstep. What impressed her the most was that 'the organizers of the event paid great attention to the voices of the runners, and from the organization of transportation to the supply and rescue of the event, there were great improvements in each edition.' In the past two years, from many competitors and volunteers, I have heard almost all the feedback, and everyone has gained a good feeling from participating in the crosshorse. I'm very proud of that. ”

During her tenure as president of the Zhuhai Athletics Association, Huang Chunmei also actively led members and citizens to participate in national fitness sports such as track and field, and was named the 'Zhuhai 2021 National Fitness Promotion Ambassador'.

In his global bestseller 'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running', Haruki Murakami also wrote: I surpassed myself yesterday, even if it was just a little bit, it was important. In long-distance running, if there is any opponent that must be defeated, it is the past self.

On the Hengma Circuit, countless stories are played out every year. Open each story, and you can see that they are surprisingly consistent - persistence, tenacity, love and sincerity...