Chinese ultramarathon deaths turn spotlight onto runners’ safety and leave some questioning their future in the sport
- The death of 21 runners in treacherous conditions on Gansu has turned the spotlight on race organisers across the country amid concerns many are cutting corners
- Some trail-running enthusiasts are now questioning their participation in events and becoming more aware of the need to carry proper equipment
Last week, ultrarunning suffered its deadliest tragedy ever when severe weather killed 21 runners in a long-distance race in northwestern China.
Endurance sports have undergone a boom in recent years in China, but some enthusiasts now say the incident has prompted them to rethink their approach to the sport and has made them more mindful of the safety considerations involved with such extreme endurance events.
Vector Xu, a 22-year-old marathon runner, said she had seen extreme long distance races as her “final destination” and preferred trail running in the mountains to urban marathons because they allowed competitors to “get back to nature and feel free”.
She completed a 35km (21.7 miles) race on Mount Mogan, in eastern Zhejiang province on Sunday – the day after the Gansu tragedy – but now plans to stop trail running for the time being.
“For greater professionalism and safety, I will need to invest in the necessary equipment. The entry barriers are way higher compared to marathons,” said Xu.
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Chinese goat herder saves 6 ultramarathon runners stranded on a mountain by extreme weather
She also said trail runners needed to ensure they had outdoor survival and basic first aid skills – something the typical marathon runner does not need.