With the 2026 Lanzhou Marathon about to start, elite athletes are making their appearances. Zhang Deshun, Li Meizhen, Feng Peiyou, He Jie, Yang Shaohui, Mao Jinhu and other top domestic runners have gathered in Lanzhou, and this year’s race will feature 19 athletes vying for selection for the Nagoya Asian Games. Even elite athletes can’t do without the all-important pre-race “rituals.” Here’s a fresh batch of elite athletes’ official portrait shots and some competitors’ pre-race thoughts. “Model Worker” Guan Yousheng and the “people’s top female” are not part of the Asian Games selection. Guan Yousheng will race next week in the Golden League China Series final, pushing his intensity to the max. Zhu Qing thought it over repeatedly and, due to a lack of experience racing at high altitude and concerns about fitness reserves, also did not register. This year’s Lanzhou Marathon has new rules to pay special attention to: 1、Men are not allowed to act as pacemakers for female athletes; if this occurs, officials will give one warning, a second offense will earn a yellow card, and a third will result in a red card and disqualification； 2、Female athletes may use hand signals or communicate with officials to lodge protests during the race； 3、Improper use of the race bib—if it is folded, obscured, or flapping—the athlete will be disqualified。 In addition, the organizing committee has already sent text messages before the race to athletes ranked in the top 250 by previous results informing them not to provide pacing for female athletes. Did you receive one? #LanzhouMarathon#AsianGames#SelectionRace#ZhangDeshun#LiMeizhen#FengPeiyou#HeJie#TrailRunningBigBang