Going the extra mile
From the peaks of the Alps to the mountains of Yunnan, female ultra runners are redefining endurance, resilience and empowerment, one step at a time, Xing Wen reports.
Solitude, darkness, the capriciousness of the wilderness, and the physical toll of traversing steep terrain over long distances — any of these could understandably deter women from taking up trail running.
Yet, in defiance of such challenges, China is witnessing a remarkable surge of women embracing the world of dirt, rocks and hills, with its elite athletes now commanding international recognition.
A standout example came in late August, when Yao Miao, 29, triumphed in the women's category of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc OCC — a 61-kilometer race around Mont Blanc. It is so called because the course runs from Orsieres to Champex to Chamonix in France. With this victory, together with her 2018 win in the 101km Courmayeur via Champex-Lac to Chamonix and another OCC title in 2024, Yao made history as the first and only Asian athlete to claim three UTMB titles across different event categories.
Widely regarded as China's "Queen of Trail Running", Yao currently holds fourth place globally in the International Trail Running Association rankings, with a performance index of 827. Her compatriot Xiang Fuzhao, 34, follows closely in sixth place with a score of 816.
These are not isolated victories, but clear signals of the profound rise of Chinese women in trail running, marked by elevated competitive standards and expanding grassroots participation.
