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How Did 21 Runners Die in a Chinese Ultramarathon?
The other week, I ran 23 miles in the pouring rain down the Appalachian Trail. It was fun but very difficult. Although the distance was not as long as most ultramarathons, the effort most certainly was. I ascended over 4,000 feet in elevation. Rain was coming down the whole time, making the terrain muddy and the rocks protruding much of the trail especially slippery. I personally slipped five times and have scratches I’m still recovering from on my hands and thighs.
I was not ready — I didn’t have trail shoes and my road shoes felt like slippers. I only wore a sweatshirt, t-shirt, and shorts. I didn’t even have food and water, and the three people I was with graciously offered me gels, food, and water.
But never during that ultramarathon-like effort did I doubt I would make it out okay — unlike the recent ultramarathoners who participated in a trail race in northwest China. According to Jenni Marsh and Eric Cheung on CNN, on May 22, 21 ultramarathoners died due to extreme weather in the Huanghe Shilin Mountain Marathon in the Gansu Province. While the race started with sunny conditions, but in the afternoon, the conditions changed drastically — there was freezing rain, hail, and gale winds.
