Grounded thrills

While Li Yuxuan explores the skies, Li Zhiyu finds joy in earthbound pursuits.

The 21-year-old has been participating in Spartan races since 2022 but discovered a new passion last year: ultra-trail running. With distances ranging from 50 km to 330 km — well beyond the 42 km of a marathon — it is widely regarded as an extreme sport.

According to Li Zhiyu, unlike the seasonal nature of Spartan races, ultra-trail offers year-round events in southern Chinese provinces, which satisfies her need for continuous activity.

"I can't sit around all day at home — except during finals week. I need to stay active," she explained.

She finds that compared to Spartan races — where she must save up energy and strategize for man-made obstacles — ultra-trail running allows her to focus solely on running. Moreover, ultra-trail races are typically held in mountainous areas, providing an immersive experience in nature.

"It's simpler than Spartan races and more interesting than running on paved marathon roads," Li Zhiyu said.

Although running may seem like an ability we're born with, completing a 50 km race is no easy feat.