3,800 runners compete in 2026 Mt. Gaoligong Ultra in Yunnan
American Bob Becker, the oldest runner in the race, waits at the finish line to award medals to other American participants on Sunday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Nearly 3,800 runners from around the world participated in the 2026 Mt. Gaoligong Ultra in Tengchong, Yunnan province, over the weekend. Participants came from countries and regions including China, the United States, and Slovakia to test their endurance on the trails of the Gaoligong Mountains.
This year's race, which began on Friday, featured six categories tailored to runners from beginners to elite athletes. Distances started at 5 kilometers for children and scaled all the way up to 168 km.
Set against a subtropical mountain ecosystem, the event incorporated history and culture, including the ancient Tea Horse Road and the legacy of the Chinese Expeditionary Force during World War II.
Eighty-two-year-old Bob Becker from the United States was the oldest participant in the race. For him, the journey was personal. His father and uncle were enlisted in the Flying Tigers, an American volunteer group that supported the Chinese Air Force to fight against Japanese invasion. They both flew over the Gaoligong Mountains during the war.
American runners pose for a group photo at the finish line of the 2026 Mt. Gaoligong Ultra. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Becker was impressed by the nature reserve in which the mountains reside. In his view, what makes the race unique is that runners can feel the heartbeat of the land beneath their feet. He believes the enduring friendship between China and the US will be passed down from generation to generation.
The runner joined the 120-km race and traveled 40 kilometers before bowing out.
Tim Vail, a 26-year-old runner from the US, finished fourth in the 168-km race with a time of 23 hours, 17 minutes, and 41 seconds. Despite experiencing stomach cramps, he said he was proud of his performance.
"The race was extremely well organized, with phenomenal course marking and volunteer support," Vail said. "At no point did I feel lost. I think I could have completed the entire race even without GPS and my watch."
Slovakian trail runner Veronika Leng has long resided in Shanghai and Hong Kong. She competed in the 55-km race and shared her strategy: "Tengchong sees a large temperature difference between day and night, and it becomes extremely sunny once the sun comes out. We started early in the morning, so I went all out while the weather was cool at dawn."
Five American runners arrive at the finish line side-by-side on Sunday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Chi Lingjie, who is nicknamed the "Big Boss" by the trail running community, snatched the championship in the 168-km women's category. This was her third time participating in the race, following two previous withdrawals.
She described the purity of running through the night in the Gaoligong Mountains wilderness, saying that the occasional call of birds accompanied the trail, while the rest of the forest produced an untouched silence rarely found.
In the darkness, she felt less pressure. Free from distractions, she stayed calm and focused, moving forward with determination through the night, she said.
Throughout the longest race, the runners wore headlamps for safety. They needed to complete the run within 47 hours, pushing through elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,500 meters. The difficulty is equivalent to climbing from sea level to the world's second-highest peak and then returning.
A runner makes his way through the Gaoligong Mountains trail. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]