look! The story of a 71-year-old runner and his pursuit of the Southern Marathon – People – China Engineering Network

Original title: Look! The story of a 71-year-old runner and his pursuit of the Southern Marathon

Nanning Evening News (Reporter Chen Lei) On November 29, there are four days left before the start of the 15th Nanning Marathon and the 38th Nanning Liberation Day Long-distance Run (hereinafter referred to as the Nanning Marathon). Yesterday, 71-year-old long-distance runner Guo Huiying, who is about to compete, shared her story of chasing the wind.

“This place wasn’t that beautiful before. It was surrounded by low-rise buildings and bare turf.” National Square is where Guo Huiying started 40 years ago.

On December 4, 1983, Nanning City held the first Nanning Liberation Day long-distance running event to commemorate the liberation of Nanning. At that time, Guo Huiying was a running enthusiast and often went out for morning jogging at 5:30 in the morning.

That year, Guo Huiying, who was full of confidence, signed up to participate in the 7500-meter competition for the social youth women’s group. Although the only running equipment at the time was a pair of ordinary Jiefang shoes, she refused to admit defeat and persisted despite having blisters on her feet. She finally crossed the finish line first and won the championship in the category.

Guo Huiying shows past prizes.Photo by Nanning Evening News reporter Song Yankang

After 40 years, Guo Huiying proudly showed off the competition prize that year: an aluminum bucket and a black-and-white photo of the sprint moment. In the photo, Guo Huiying, who has short hair, is in high spirits, with cheering crowds standing on both sides.

From the 7,500-meter race in 1983 to the 2,000-meter fitness walk in 2023, Guo Huiying said with a smile that she has always insisted on participating in the Nanning Liberation Day long-distance running event. Guo Huiying still uses the aluminum bucket that was used as a prize. Every time she sees the red word “Award”, she always feels full of pride in her heart.

Running taught Guo Huiying to persevere and persist to the end, and also gave her the courage to face difficulties and adversities. She also witnessed the urban changes in Nanning and the development of sports on the road of chasing the wind.

Since 2006, the Nanning Liberation Day long-distance running event has been upgraded to a “half marathon event” and in 2017 to a “full marathon event”, and ran across the Yongjiang River into Wuxiang New District for the first time. After 14 years of experience and improvement, Nanjing Marathon was awarded the title of “World Athletics Elite Brand Event” for the first time in 2023.

Guo Huiying is full of expectations for the upcoming new Nanjing Marathon. “People who come to participate in the competition are much happier now. The competition atmosphere is very good and the event is more professional.” Guo Huiying said in comparison that in the past, most of the people who signed up to participate in the competition were Nanning locals. Now there are not only runners from all over the country, but also many international runners. Friends came to compete, and everyone enjoyed the joy of running with pure love.