In the world of marathons, there is such a figure, who is not a top professional runner and has never made a name for himself in international competitions, but he has become a hero in the hearts of countless runners - Wang Lianzheng, who is affectionately called "Taisho".
He often haunts marathons everywhere, and every time he runs, it seems to tell a story of perseverance.
"The mountain is not high, there are immortals, the name is good, the water is not deep, there is a dragon and the spirit." This ancient poem just describes the spirit embodied by Wang Lianzheng: although there is no flower in the array, there is a determination to move forward in the waves.
In many races, he achieved outstanding results in many marathons with his perseverance and continuous improvement in training methods, and gradually, his name spread among runners, and many people were inspired by him and determined to follow in his footsteps.
The rise of grassroots runners
"If he is Ling Yunzhi, he dares to laugh at Huang Chao's husband. This poem is best embodied in "Taisho". Taisho doesn't have a wealthy background, he is just one of countless grassroots runners.
However, his story has inspired countless people, especially his performance in the 2023 Wuxi Marathon, which has pushed him to the status of a "grassroots hero".
In the 2023 Wuxi Marathon, Taizheng finished in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 27 seconds, becoming the first runner to break the 220 mark as a non-professional athlete.
On the national marathon course, there are less than 100 elite runners who can complete the whole course and run into 220. This achievement represents that Wang Lianzheng has become one of the athletes, and this achievement has also captured the hearts of the majority of running enthusiasts.
When he crossed the finish line, the figure of hiding his face and crying was deeply imprinted in the hearts of every audience.
He said: "I followed the professional team's run, and when I ran 37 kilometers, I was completely supported by willpower, and I hadn't lost speed yet, so I asked the professional team around me, 'Can we get into 220 at this speed', and they said, 'Even if you drop to 3 minutes and 30 seconds (pace, that is, 3 minutes and 30 seconds per kilometer), you can score'." Wang Lianzheng said that in order to run into 220, you must ensure that the pace is within 3 minutes and 20 seconds, and when he heard the professional team say this, he was resurrected with full blood, and he wanted to cry at that time, "If the last 5 kilometers are slowed down, it means that the previous efforts are lost."
Behind this achievement is the efforts of Taisho to work at sunrise and rest at sunset countless times.
At the 2024 Beijing Half Marathon that ended not long ago, Wang Lianzheng won the 6th place in the men's group with a time of 1 hour 07 minutes and 40 seconds, third in China!
Taisho's success is a symbol of the rise of grassroots runners. He proved with his actions that no matter where they come from, as long as they have unremitting efforts and persistent pursuit of their dreams, everyone has the potential to surpass their limits and achieve themselves.
The journey of Challenge 220
Wang Lianzheng was trained at Weifang Sports School and returned to Gaomi in 2016 with the dream of running.
The following year, he joined the local running group and worked in car washers, labor insurance factory assembly lines, machinery factory assembly lines and 4S shops during the day.
At night, he sweated and trained hard, running more than 20 kilometers. He doesn't have luxurious training conditions, he doesn't have the guidance of professional coaches.
On October 31, 2020, he challenged the whole marathon for the second time, and ran a personal best time of 2 hours and 24 minutes in the first Apple City Marathon in Qixia, Yantai.
Wang Lianzheng's love for running is beyond ordinary people. In the face of the 220 barrier, he did not have any fear, but regarded it as a challenge.
He confidently predicted in his circle of friends: "In the future, there will be a place for me in the whole Malaysia 220." ”
Just a few months later, at the Xiamen Marathon in April 2021, he finished fifth among amateurs with a time of 2 hours and 21 minutes, making the name "Taisho" gradually emerge.
In order to devote himself to the marathon training he loved, he resolutely decided to quit his job and firmly embarked on the road of pursuing the ultimate competition.
However, his journey was not without its challenges.
That year, most marathons were cancelled for some reason, and the lack of financial support put his running dreams in jeopardy. The ambition to run into 220 put a lot of pressure on him, and it was accompanied by numerous doubts. Under heavy pressure, he suffered many setbacks and did not achieve satisfactory results.
But Taisho is not fighting alone, and the most important thing on this long running road is the selfless support of his wife Daxia.
Daxia's support for Taisho is not just words. Financially, in order to give Taisho more time to focus on training, Daxia took on most of the family's financial responsibilities, so that Taizheng could go all out and concentrate on the development of his running career.
In life, Daxia plays multiple roles as a nanny, a chef and a physiotherapist. Every morning, when Taisho runs to the street, Daxia, who stays at home, has already started her day: placing supplies, preparing nutritious meals, and paying attention to Taisho's physical condition.
At the end of each game, Taisho comes home exhausted, and he can always see Daxia's hot nutritious meals and hot water bottles cooked by himself, ready to restore his strength.
Although Daxia may not be able to give professional guidance on the technique and strategy of running, she has given her full support at every stage of Taisho's training.
Especially when Dazheng is facing injuries and failures, Daxia is always by his side for the first time, telling him with practical actions: "No matter what, I support you." ”
This silent support and firm belief became an indispensable source of spiritual strength for Taisho.
In Taisho's running career, behind every success, there is Daxia silently giving. Daxia is undoubtedly Taisho's strong spiritual pillar, which is an important reason why he can continue to challenge his limits and realize his running dream.
He knows that if he wants to go far on the marathon road, he must prepare methodically.
In the face of extreme challenges, Taisho has developed a strict personal training plan. The first rays of sunlight in the morning hit his room, and he began his training day. Whether it's hot or cold, he insists on running outdoors and never stops. This perseverance and perseverance stems from the belief that if you work hard, you will be able to achieve your goals.
Through unremitting efforts and the support of his family, Taizheng finally reached his goal in the 2023 Wuxi Marathon, running into 220 with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes and 27 seconds, realizing his dream.
This achievement is not only an affirmation of his personal will and hard work, but also the best reward for all those who support him, especially Daxia.
Taisho's story quickly became a hot topic on major social media platforms. Many runners and ordinary spectators were infected by his spirit of perseverance and perseverance.
They all said that the Taisho experience made them see that in the process of challenging themselves and surpassing their limits, encountering difficulties and facing failures are normal and necessary parts, and the most important thing is how to maintain a positive attitude and unyielding spirit.
"Internet celebrity" has both strength and strength
With the story of Taisho spreading widely in the circle of running enthusiasts. Some people regard him as an "internet celebrity" and think that he is just running a marathon to create a buzz and attract attention.
However, anyone who really knows Taisho knows how unfair this label is to him. Taisho's strength has been accumulated through countless running races, and his continuous improvement is enough to prove his ability and determination.
In the face of doubts, Taisho never defended. Instead, he chose to respond with action. Every training session, every game, is an effort he has put in to improve himself. The third place in the 2024 North Half Malaysia speaks for itself!
The stories of grassroots runners are always moving, and the stories of Taisho are even more so. He is not only a winner in running performance, but also a warrior in spirit.
He uses his story to show people that no matter what the outside world says about you, what really matters is how you prove yourself.
Therefore, when we talk about "Taisho" again, we should not only look at his "Internet celebrity" appearance, but also deeply see his persistence and struggle as a runner, as well as the truth and strength shown behind it.
In Wang Lianzheng's story, we see an ordinary person's love and pursuit of his running dream.
His story is not just about running, it's about perseverance, courage and self-transcendence. With his footsteps, Taisho has drawn a beautiful arc in countless marathons, and has also left a deep mark in people's hearts.
In this process, the core value of sportsmanship is embodied - not only physical exercise, but also mental and spiritual tempering.
Taisho's running story is the best interpretation of the spirit of sportsmanship, and he uses his actions and perseverance to prove the truth that "dreams and perseverance will eventually succeed".
For everyone who has a dream, Dazheng inspires us to brave difficulties, move forward bravely, and make unremitting efforts for the perseverance and dreams in our hearts.
How do you feel during your run?