Yinchuan, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Welcome the new year and run with the marathon Asian Games champion.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Ma Sijia.
What is it like to be side by side with He Jie, the men's marathon champion of the Hangzhou Asian Games, to welcome the arrival of 2024 in the run?"Lucky!"Excited!"Come and get lucky" ......
When the first rays of the new year shine on Yinchuan, Ningxia, the city with a population of less than 3 million is already lively with the footsteps of runners.
At 6 a.m., 36-year-old Gong joined his runners to start the 18-kilometer run "ceremony" every two days – a habit he has adhered to for more than a year. Subsequently, he ran to Haibao Park in Yinchuan City, and together with 1,500 runners, including He Jie, he completed the 5th of the 2024 Ningxia New Year Fitness Run5 km.
Many runners come for He Jie, and the power of idols has a great motivating effect on us. I think it's very meaningful to start the natal year by running, and I hope that I can break last year's marathon record this year. Gong comrade-in-arms said.
As the first men's marathon gold medalist in the history of the Asian Games of the Chinese team, what is the experience of participating in the New Year's fitness run in my hometown?"It's just a warm-up training, and it feels very meaningful to be able to say goodbye to 2023 and welcome 2024 in this way with my parents and fellow villagers. He Jie said.
2023 is He Jie's 10th year in sports. Ten years of sharpening his sword, he created a new milestone in his life in this "perfect, no regrets" year - in addition to the Asian Games gold medal, he also broke the 15-year-old men's marathon national record in Wuxi, and will also start a new journey for the Paris Olympics.
Recently, he took a break from intensive winter training in Yunnan and asked his coach Xiao Li for leave to return to his hometown just to participate in the New Year's fitness run. "When I was younger, there was such a person who planted a seed in my heart when I watched him play. I came back to participate in this event because I hope that my younger siblings will see that as long as you do one thing consistently, you can succeed. The seed planted in He Jie's heart was the "Chinese Flyer" Liu Xiang, so he hoped that he could also plant a seed in the hearts of young people in his hometown.
Xiao Li was also very supportive of his decision. "The coach told me that I must have a sense of responsibility for my hometown, do something for the people of my hometown without hesitation, and bring spiritual strength to everyone through sports. ”
The influence of sports icons speaks for itself. Starting from the red arch, the gray-haired old man, the parents who pulled the children, and the fashionably dressed young people all followed He Jie to complete the 55 kilometers to the end to pick up souvenirs and hot soy milk prepared by the event organizers.
Running is not timed, and for us, being able to finish it is a success. Running to welcome the New Year means a good start, and I hope that this year will be the spirit of the dragon and the tiger. Li Xiuping, a runner in Yinchuan City who is over half a hundred years old, said. The exercise habit that she has adhered to since she was young makes her look young and tall.
After running for a year, Gong comrades-in-arms also experienced the benefits of this sport - unhealthy habits such as staying up late and drinking alcohol were naturally quit, sleep and digestion were good, and the whole person's mentality was also very positive, exuding self-confidence from the inside out, and meeting many runners full of positive energy.
There are many non-governmental running groups in Ningxia, and Gong's comrades-in-arms have participated in two at the same time, and he will actively participate in any activities and small events. "At first, I forced myself to persevere. Under the leadership of the runners, from 3 kilometers, 5 kilometers, to the current 18 kilometers, it has completely become a habit, and I can't quit after becoming addicted. He said.
The sports career has endowed the 25-year-old He Jie with the calmness that has been carved and polished. In marathon after marathon, he feels that "completion is more important than perfection": "Everyone will strive for perfection, but perfection is a mentality, and completion is a pursuit, and the two do not conflict." ”
At his core, he is still an unstoppable teenager. Preparing for the Paris Olympics, countless eyes are focused on him, what kind of pressure is that?"There's definitely pressure, but it's motivation for me and it's clear what I'm going to do next, I'm going to improve my training sessions and my training plan even further. He said. (ENDS).