BMW Hood to Coast Relay wins more fans with latest Hainan edition
Runners set off from the start line for the BMW Hood to Coast China-Hainan Relay at midnight on Dec 11. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
The BMW Hood to Coast Relay's growing popularity with both professional and amateur runners lies in its unique format, an emphasis on teamwork, and its variety of scenic courses. That's the esteemed opinion of marathon veteran Cheng Qianyu after he experienced both Chinese editions of the race this year.
"The Hood to Coast Relay is very different from the marathon, because it requires people to work together in teams," Cheng told China Daily on Friday.
"Each leg of the race provides variety for runners, who need not only speed but also great endurance to finish. So, actually I think it's more fun and challenging than regular marathons."
This year's BMW Hood to Coast China-Hainan Relay began from picturesque Tonggu Mountain at midnight on Dec 11, with five-person teams challenged to complete the 156.4-kilometer course within 24 hours. A total of 400 teams participated in the event
This year's BMW Hood to Coast China-Hainan Relay began from picturesque Tonggu Mountain at midnight on Dec 11, with five-person teams challenged to complete the 156.4-kilometer course within 24 hours. A total of 400 teams participated in the event.
The route took in the cities of Wenchang, Qionghai and Wanning, with a party awaiting at the finish line at Shimei Bay. The course comprised 15 sections, each of which needed to be completed by one team member while the others traveled by car and interchanged at the end of each leg.
It was the second Hood to Coast staged in China this year, following a Sept 25 relay in Hebei province that began at Senado Field in the grasslands surrounding Zhangjiakou, the city that will co-host the Beijing Winter Olympics. The finish line was located in mountain terrain at Wanlong Paradise Resort, with 351 teams taking on the 145.6-kilometer course.
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Cheng participated in both relays this year, with his team finishing third in Hainan.
"The Hood to Coast Relay is a really interesting race. I like its name for a start, which evokes the challenge the runners face. With the Hainan and Zhangjiakou options, runners can experience two totally different courses each year," Cheng said.
"The weather at each location differs, which also presents challenges to professional runners. I hope the relay can keep growing and become a permanent fixture on China's running calendar.
Major League Baseball's China office set up a sand park at the relay to connect with participants. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
"The weather in Zhangjiakou is a little bit cold, but here in Hainan it's very warm, so the challenge is different. Running in the grasslands of northern China and on the warm beaches in the south are two great but very different experiences."
The original Hood to Coast Relay, founded in 1982, takes place in the US state of Oregon every August. Now a firm favorite with the Chinese running community, each race easily attracts about 2,000 runners of different levels and backgrounds
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the relay in China. The series debuted in China at Zhangjiakou in 2017, while the race first visited Hainan in 2019.
The original Hood to Coast Relay, founded in 1982, takes place in the US state of Oregon every August. Now a firm favorite with the Chinese running community, each race easily attracts about 2,000 runners of different levels and backgrounds.
"Hood to Coast is more than just a relay. It's a gathering of interesting, like-minded people," said Li Lu, the general manager of event promoter Starz Sports Running Culture, in an earlier interview.
"The theme of our fifth anniversary is Hi FIVE, which stands for friends, inspiration, victory and embracing. We want to show gratitude and respect to all the runners. For the past five years, everyone who has participated in the relay has created the spirit of Hi FIVE."
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Zhu Haoyu from the Yunnanbaiyao team has participated in all editions of the relay since 2019, and she says the "Hi FIVE" theme is true to the race's spirit.
"When I first ran the race in 2019, I just felt it was an interesting new race with a unique format. Chasing personal bests is not my purpose here. For me, it's about a group of good friends bonding together to complete something meaningful," Zhu told China Daily.
"The runners trust the course design. The supply stations, and start and finish areas are all carefully designed. With the relay beginning at midnight, some of the legs were really dark, with only our headlights and the starlight to guide us, which all made for a really memorable experience.
"Each time, there are surprises and new elements waiting for us. If you ask me what words I would associate with the relay, I would say health, passion, energy, persistence, hard work and realizing your dreams."
True to the relay's strong green credentials, runners were encouraged to recycle waste along the route. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Safety and support
With the pandemic still a major consideration, organizers and local authorities have again gone to great lengths to keep participants safe.
When I first ran the race in 2019, I just felt it was an interesting new race with a unique format. Chasing personal bests is not my purpose here. For me, it's about a group of good friends bonding together to complete something meaningful.
Zhu Haoyu, runner from the Yunnanbaiyao team
Comprehensive COVID-19 protocols were observed, with mass gatherings avoided by assigning different start times and organizing the celebrations at the finish area in a responsible manner.
Excellent medical support was available, including ambulances, defibrillators and a team of 80 first responders positioned along the course. In addition, 300 volunteers served at the race.
"Over the last two years, the pandemic has made it difficult to stage such a big running event. Many events have been canceled. In the past, I could prepare and train fully for a race, but now it's not so straightforward, so I have needed to rearrange many things," said marathon runner Cheng.
"My mindset as a pro runner has also changed, and I've definitely adjusted my body and mentality during this time. We need to cherish an event like this in Hainan to maintain our passion for running."
Li Chun is another regular Hood to Coast runner, and this time he contributed to the race in a special way－by designing the medals.
READ MORE: Endurance enthusiasts rejoice as Hood to Coast returns
"I want to pay tribute to the persistence of the organizers, as they are still staging two events a year, even with the pressure of the pandemic. I designed medals for over 30 sports events this year but many were canceled, so the Hood to Coast is among the few events that I have actually been able to present the medals to the athletes," said Li.
"Because the relay has been able to return, we can gather together and my work can be shown to others. And this year's Hainan race boasted a totally new course, combining breathtaking scenery and cultural sites. It's great to be involved in it, and for artists like myself, it's an inspiration."
