On the evening of August 30, with Luwan Running Club’s chant “In wind or rain, Luwan awaits you” ringing out, this PR5000 Biaosu Race, together with Luwan Running Club’s 12th anniversary celebration and the Huangpu “I Come to Compete” Luwan Star 5000m competition, officially kicked off.

After fierce competition among both elite and mass entrants, Yang Yang won the men’s elite title in 15:50.15; Hu Wanchao took second in 15:59.30, just 9 seconds behind the champion Yang Yang; SeydouKa finished third in 16:14.21.

In the women’s elite race, Zhang Cao claimed victory in 18:24.04 with a huge 40-second margin; Liu Liuyi finished second in 19:07.11 and Zhang Hui third in 19:16.95.

In the mass divisions, the men’s top three were tightly contested. Chen Jiale finished first in 17:36.63, Zhang Dongzi 17:46.89 and Liao Pengfei 17:50.90 took second and third respectively, crossing the line only about 4 seconds apart. These three were the only mass runners to break into the 17-minute range.

Liu Dan won the women’s mass race in 20:23.88; Jin Boer placed second in 20:25.65 and Luo Zian was third in 20:37.84.

Because it coincided with Luwan Running Club’s 12th anniversary, this PR5000 Biaosu Race also featured a special segment — nearly 20 Shanghai running clubs were invited to compete in a five-leg relay, each leg 800m.

In the end, Sijingtang, Yushen Running Club and Luwan Running Club finished in the top three overall.

As a 5000m series jointly operated and developed by PUMA, the Huangpu Sports Bureau, Luwan Sports Center and Luwan Running Club, PR5000 was founded last year and is currently held once every two months.

This frequent schedule regularly gives runners a chance for a “free track test.”The last event was held on June 28 of this year.

Across the country, mass-oriented single-discipline, free-entry track races with giveaways are actually quite rare. PUMA and its partner organizations and communities provide such an excellent “testing ground” for the public on a regular basis.

For Shanghai runners, it’s a “home test” to assess 5000m level; for PUMA, it’s a core vehicle for cultivating Shanghai’s running community.

The popularity of PR5000 goes beyond simply attracting runners. HYROX athletes — who combine running and training — also came to take part.

For example, well-known domestic HYROX athlete Su Yan (online handle “Bao Shifu”, HYROX men’s open PB 58:35, China’s first sub‑60 athlete) and fellow HYROX athlete Wang Ren used PR5000 as a way to pair up and chase track PBs outside the HYROX arena.

Su Yan used this PR5000 Biaosu Race as a self-directed test and race-based training opportunity, lowering his 5000m time to 17:43 — about 10 seconds faster than his previous PB.

Track races are particularly important as the foundation and upper limit for marathon and other endurance event performances.

Faster runners can measure their training gains here, while slower runners can experience the vivid “race vitality” and find similarly paced partners to challenge themselves with.

Next time if you have the time, why not give it a try? Together with PUMA, in wind or rain, Luwan awaits you.