Chinese Runners’ ‘Report Card’ at the Berlin Marathon

A massive Chinese contingent lined up at the start of the Berlin Marathon in Germany — in front of the arch just a short distance from the Brandenburg Gate. Crowning the grand arch, the statue of Victory atop the quadriga gazed over the tens of thousands of runners as they eagerly began their Grand Slam journey.

Compared with last year’s nonstop pre-race warnings about a “heat battle,” this year’s decidedly autumnal Berlin, for the runnersoffered ideal conditions — a great opportunity to go after PBs.

Many came with PBs in mind; after all, they had crossed thousands of miles to reach what’s known as the world’s fastest course,not just to “see the world,” but to break their PBs.It’s the constant pursuit of runners.

When Berlin’s results were released —some experienced the joy of a PB, for exampleWang Jiahao, who moved from the mass field into a professional team, leapt from 2:11 to 2:08, becoming the 19th member of China’s 2:10 cohort.

Pre-raceWu Xiangdong, who had still been affected by a cyst,finally turned the page on his 2:08:04 at the 2024 Osaka Marathon, opening a new chapter in his career with 2:07:55. Of course, three weeks before the race,Wang Lianzheng, who had suffered an Achilles tendon injury, also gradually created a grassroots runner’s miracle.

But regret likewise remained on this fastest course —“Only the national record,” Zhang Deshun could not get his wish, ultimately recording 2:23:37— the second-best performance of his career.He crossed the finish. By contrast, leading recreational runner Zhu Qing withdrew at 30 km, making Berlin regrettably her first race withdrawal in three years of marathon racing.

The joy behind PBs

As a new-generation runner,Wang Jiahao, on his third trip to Berlin, propelled himself into China’s 2:10 cohort, becoming the 19th to achieve it.

From Seville at the start of the year to Berlin in September, only seven months separated the two PBs.

The rapid rise of these young athletes is truly impressive. Generational change won't happen overnight, but these new challengers will seize their chances and quietly redraw the landscape of Chinese men's marathon competition.

Newcomers deserve attention; equally admirable isWu Xiangdong (the "President"), who after two years finally entered the 2:07s.From rain-soaked Osaka in 2024 to sunlit Berlin now, 34-year-old "the President" spent a long summer training, tried coaching himself, dealt with numerous unexpected setbacks in preparation, and produced another breakthrough in his professional career.

"After 37 km, if the pace kept dropping like that, I definitely wouldn't break into 2:08. At that point I chose to give it one more push and surged ahead."That was the change in the President's mindset in the final five kilometers, and a regret only he can understand: in Wuxi and Beijing in 2023 he missed Sub2:10 twice by two seconds, so he had no choice but to go all out.

It was that determination that got him into the 2:07s. Although he was still 25 seconds short of the goal he set at the start of the year—2:07:30—for the President, as long as he's still improving it proves he still has the edge.

On the broadcast, Li Jian ("Iron Egg") actually had more camera time than the President for a while, because he shadowed Assefa—who was chasing the women's world record—for 28 kilometers; although he didn't realize his 2:10 ambition,the leap from 2:14 to 2:12also pushed him past the threshold for National Athlete status.

The road to Be Pro is inevitably hard to describe.September 27 eight years ago was the day he took the train out of his hometown. Eight years later today,standing beneath the Brandenburg Gate, he looked back over those eight years and was overcome with mixed emotions.

The 32-year-old said that a finite professional career doesn't allow him to waste time; he will keep trying to crack 2:10."When you're ready, if not this time, then it will be the next."This message is fitting for every runner who harbors a dream.

Another PB achiever isWang Lianzheng, who injured his Achilles in early September. Everyone knows what an Achilles injury means for a marathoner, but he ultimately didn't let that setback spoil his PB dream.

After 10 km, by strictly following her coach’s "steady-first, fast-later" plan, she benefited from a negative-split strategy.

Overall, among China’s large elite contingent in Berlin this time, only one female athlete achieved a PB, namelyLiu Junhui, whose half-marathon time is already around the 70-minute mark.

Berlin has proven to be her lucky course. Last year, in the heated race on this course, she massively PB'd by more than 8 minutes. A year later, she improved again,moving from Wuhan Marathon’s 2:34 to 2:31, and becoming another female athlete with the potential to break the 2:30 barrier.

For a mid-career runner with very solid track credentials, the mental hurdle at 30 km is the key challenge in every marathon she takes on.

This time, she wasn’t afraid and didn’t back down mentally."After 38 km I slowed a bit, but I didn’t walk, my stomach didn’t react, and I finished steadily."

Liu Junhui said that after the Berlin race she believes she can break the 2:30 barrier in the near future. However, hernext big event will be the cross-country race at Chaigu.

Regrets and renewed hopes after the challenge

Berlin brought joy, but also inevitable regrets.

As China’s top female marathoner,Zhang Deshun left Berlin with the regret of not succeeding in her challenge to the national record— in her second Grand Slam outing, 2:23:37 was also the second-best result of her career.

However, after composing herself post-race, the "No.1" said,although the race left regrets, it was only one attempt on her road to the national record.

"I don’t want to leave any room for excuses. If I tell myself 'if this one doesn’t work, I’ll try again next time,' then I’ll never reach that goal. But if I treat each attempt as my last chance, I think my chances will be greater."So, before Berlin, Zhang Deshun had boldly made public her goal to go after the national record.

Although she didn’t succeed in Berlin, the challenge will continue; afterwards Zhang Deshun willShe refocused her efforts on improving her half-marathon PB,Just as she did when unlocking her Tokyo PB — making successive breakthroughs, waiting for the right moment, then coming back to challenge the national record — that will remain her constant pursuit and goal.

Aside from Zhang Deshun, He Jie — who has broken the national record twice — also experienced a collapse in Berlin —having been on PB pace for a while, he ultimately finished in 2:16:16.

Since the National Games, He Jie has been gradually readjusting, both physically and mentally. He has already collected the honors available to him, and as an athlete he needs to find motivation again — perhaps this Berlin race was a good opportunity for that.

Even with inadequate preparation, even...serving also as coach of the Ningxia team, he inevitably had some distractions from miscellaneous duties; at least He Jie has new ideas,and he went to try tugging at his limits —to see how long he could hold on when pushed to the extreme.

Rather than aiming for a 2:08 or 2:09,he would rather attempt to run at a 2:56–2:57/km pace and risk failure than finish conservatively and safely.

Besides Zhang Deshun and He Jie, another high-profile runner left Berlin with regret. Among this Chinese elite contingent, there were two DNFs.

One was the much-anticipated Zhu Qing; the other was Yang Zhangxing, who secured a Li‑Ning contract earlier this year.

Yang Zhangxing chose to withdraw from his second World Marathon Major after falling at 38 km.

Zhu Qing stopped at 30 km to wait for her boyfriend Luo Yuan, who was catching up from behind — the pair's overseas Major debut ended there.

Aiming for a PB, Zhu Qing recorded her first DNF in her third year of marathon running. After the race she wrote on her WeChat Moments, "On my period, felt unwell and ran out of energy — DNF at 30KM. I didn't expect my first DNF to be in Berlin."

The ever-cheerful, optimistic runner said,there's no need to worry about her mood; she doesn't have many lingering regrets, and if she races again she'll still choose to leave nothing in reserve.

Because in her mind you must keep trying to find new gains; Berlin felt like an event where PBs were falling in droves, which actually gave her even greater motivation.

Berlin's results were laid out — a bittersweet mix. But in truth no one went home empty-handed. Whether the joy of success or the regret behind failure, both are rare and valuable experiences on each runner's marathon road.

No step is taken in vain, no sweat is shed for nothing; tears and sweat will, one day, turn you into another self — perhaps an entirely new you.

Competitive sport is brutal and beguiling because its script never unfolds according to an individual’s wishes. We never know what story the next course will tell. Yet we keep pursuing, exploring and trying — even if it means risking failure. That’s the meaning of choosing to come to Berlin.

[End-of-article interaction]

#What new stories do you think will unfold at the next Berlin?#

Text/Editor: Pao Ye/Cia

Image source: Paoye Dabaozha

Visuals: Max

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