Running event celebrates nature over competition

A trail running event focused on experience over competition wrapped up in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sunday, drawing 1,500 runners from across the country.

The 20-kilometer Training Mamahuhu Runner's Party did away with rankings, ITRA points and award ceremonies. Instead, participants followed a scenic route past six ancient temples in Hangzhou, including Lingyin and Yongfu, winding through tea fields, bamboo forests and historical streets.

According to the organizers, the trail running gear brand Outopia, the goal was not to finish a race, but to spend a day immersed in the mountains and wilderness.

Hao Ting, a member of China's Paris Olympic gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnastics team, tried trail running for the first time at the event.

She noted similarities between the two disciplines, particularly the need for core strength and lower-body stability.

"In rhythmic gymnastics, when we perform jumps and balance movements, we rely on our core to control the body. The same applies to running, especially on uphill and downhill sections. Core stability is just as crucial. If your body is loose, your knees and ankles are more prone to injury. The difference is that rhythmic gymnastics is performed within a fixed routine, where the music, rhythm, and timing are all choreographed, and every movement needs to be precise," she said.