Encountering extreme weather such as hail and freezing rain, 172 people participated in the race and 21 people were killed in the Yellow River Stone Forest Mountain Marathon 100-kilometer cross-country race these two days, the people of the whole country were worried about it.
So, what is the difference between trail running and ordinary marathons, what are the special dangers, and what special preparations do sports enthusiasts need to make when participating in cross-country running?
The reporter interviewed Chen Penbin, the first Chinese to win the international extreme marathon championship and the first extreme runner in the world to complete the "Seven Continents Extreme Marathon Grand Slam", and listened to his words.
Do your homework in advance to have a good idea
First of all, to understand what is "trail running"?
Marathons, mountain marathons and trail running are different types of competitions, and from the perspective of the location, marathons are mostly carried out on inter-city arterial roads as a road running sport; mountain marathons are mostly held in the suburbs of the city, while cross-country races are mostly held in wilderness far from the city.
According to the International Trail Running Association, more than 70% of the road conditions in the race route are "non-paved roads" to be called cross-country running, and one of the world's most influential and difficult extreme trail running events, the "Tour de Mont Blanc SuperCross Challenge", requires more than 80% of the "non-hardened pavement". This "wild" characteristic undoubtedly adds difficulty to all aspects such as the completion of the athletes and the rescue of the organizing committee. Trail running is perhaps more of a sense of accomplishment brought about by the increase in distance and climb height.
Tour de Mont Blanc Supercross Challenge (infographic)
Chen Pengbin believes that although it is difficult to go to the event a few days in advance to adapt to the local area, athletes participating in cross-country running must do their homework in advance, "There are many cross-country marathons that belong to high-altitude events, where the oxygen is thin, and it has more uncertainties and risks." Be sure to pay attention, it is best to adapt in advance. "In addition to being familiar with environmental factors such as the local climate, it is also necessary to have a good idea of the division of the track in advance, so that in the event of an emergency, you can make a correct judgment." In Chen Pengbin's view, a professional cross-country marathon event, the organizers should also combine the actual rescue capabilities in the design of the route.
Always put the safety of life first
Generally speaking, cross-country running events will provide official mandatory equipment, such as storm jackets, illuminated headlamps and cross-country backpacks, as well as some energy supplies, runners will generally wear a quick-drying jacket as an inner tank, and then put a jacket on the outside to lock in the heat, but this is only a basic participation requirement for top runners. In Chen Pengbin's view, for the sake of fairness, the organizers of the event should make a decision to force equipment, rather than including some equipment in the recommendation column.
Runners who have participated in the Chai Gu Tangs Koo Cang Cross-Country Race are customized, including all the mandatory equipment stipulated by the organizing committee. (Infographic for reference)
Then as an athlete, it is also necessary to have a good idea, and it is necessary to increase according to its own situation on the basis of mandatory equipment, "for example, bring more warm equipment, or water and heat-proof drugs, especially to be familiar with the flexible use of positioning and navigation functions." Always put the safety of life first, and choose to give up if necessary. ”
Talking about persistence and abandonment, Chen Penbin believes that this is a dilemma for marathon runners, and sometimes a decision will change the trajectory of a lifetime. He recalled that the first time he went abroad to participate in the Tour de Blanc, it was also encountered by weather changes, 300 of the more than 700 athletes who participated in the race withdrew, at that time it was to know the advance and retreat and trade-offs, he himself also chose to withdraw because of his poor physical condition, in the case of the last 10 kilometers of the 10 km marathon, "Many athletes will consider a face problem, and they will feel uncomfortable when they fail to finish the race, but in fact, these are not important compared to safety." ”
The professional peculiarity of trail running is that it uses more muscles, changes the road surface at any time, climbs, etc., and has high technical requirements for all-round muscle development, cardiopulmonary stimulation, and climbing and descending. Generally, they will be required to master the ability to supply stronger, exercise the ability to do things in a planned and independent way to survive and adapt. In recent years, the number of people participating in trail running has become larger and larger, but in fact, their outdoor experience is very limited, and there is not enough outdoor safety awareness, and the risk will be very large. Chen Pengbin also hopes that everyone can increase their outdoor experience and then go to cross-country racing. "We must first consider the risks, and finally pursue the results." After all, only safe home is the real end. Chen Pengbin said.
Figure from the network
Producer: Guo Biwen
Review: Tang Yihong
Sports Reporter: Dai Ruizhen