Revisiting the Great Wall Marathon 2010

You may remember my Beijing post a few months ago detailing my trip to China’s capital and my attempt at running the Great Wall Marathon so why am I revisiting it?

Well, since then, the official photograph I ordered arrived (see left), the official video was also delivered and I have managed to upload it for you (see end of post). However, the main reason is that a great  friend of mine who has just started an online trail running magazine asked if I would write-up my experience for his December issue. More on that later but first a word or two from my mate James Hallett.

As the editor of an up and coming South African online trail running magazine, one of our biggest challenges always seems to be finding good, well-balanced, quality reading material to capture our readership and grow the integrity of the publication. Rory and I go back as far ar 2005 when we met in the halls of an institution that probably shaped our way of thinking today. Since then, we have remained great friends and I think it’s most certainly safe to say that we have learned a lot from each other. And who wouldn’t learn a lot from this guy?!? He’s originally a Zimbo, his parents having left Zimbabwe when he was young, to pursue a life in South Africa, and his brother is a very unique and eccentric person in his own way, the author of Fly Fishing For Sharks -  A Memoir of Life with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

So this month in Go Trail. (December 2010 issue) we decided to feature Rory’s incredible journey to China and his ambition to complete the Great Wall Of China Half Marathon. Some people have asked, “what’s so great about a half-marathon?”. This is a story not only featured for the running aspect, in fact that comes second to the story of Rory’s adventure to the Far East. No, this is a story of one man’s objective to discover more about himself, to test the limitations of his existence and to define a path of self achievement. After all, isn’t this what trail running is all about?! The journey one embarks on, the moment you set foot onto the single track, is an adventure like no other. Your body, mind and soul are immediately absorbed by the test that lies ahead, and the sense of achievement when it’s all done is something that will have you coming back for more time and time again.

This was an interview that we conducted with Rory in the build up to the article being published, perhaps in hind sight the part that should have been included in the feature first. We wish you all the best as you continue to pursue your path of self discovery in a land that most Westerners cannot fathom, we’re sure that it will continue to shape your outlook on your own life and bring you great clarity on what makes Rory Alexander…Rory Alexander!

James Hallett, Go Trail Editor

To read my article, click on the logo above and make your way to pages 10 and 11 of the new look Wedzine but don’t forget to read the Q & A below and don’t miss the official video at the bottom. Enjoy!

GoTrail: It’s not every day that we as Africans can appreciate stories from the Far East, let alone understand why a person would want to choose to live in such a diverse and strangely foreign land. How did an ex-Zimbabwean end up teaching English and running marathons in one of our planets most unknown countries?

Rory: With the economic slow-down I seized an opportunity to try something new in a country that looks set to be a major economic player in the future. Teaching English was my way in, as the demand is high, while the chance to run on the Great Wall was just an added bonus.

GoTrail: The Great Wall Marathon is an iconic and well-subscribed event gaining entries from all over the world. Knowing this, did it change they way you prepared for the race in the build up to it?

Rory: As I said, I don’t enjoy running but I enjoy the challenge. I didn’t really change the way I prepared for the race but the reputation of this marathon did make me a lot more nervous than I usually am.

GoTrail: It’s most certainly regarded as one of the races on earth that is completely different due to it’s location and obvious running conditions. In your preparation ahead of the event, how did you managed to simulate some of the “terrain” you’d be covering as you ran along sections of the Wall?

Rory: In every article I read on preparing for the wall, stair training was the key. Not just fitness but strength too is required for your legs to cope with the thousands of steps. Just two weeks before the race our school took us on a staff trip to Huang Shan (Yellow Mountain). Known as China’s most unique and beautiful mountain range, it also 1800 metre high peaks along with some 9000 steps that have been carved into the mountain. This proved to be a great last test of my strength and fitness before the marathon.

GoTrail: Seeing some of the images and video from the footage, the start area looks quite daunting with the Great Wall towering up ahead of you. Arriving at the start line, were there moments where you felt overwhelmed and if so, how did you managed to cope with those thoughts?

Rory: Daunting is the word. Climbing off the bus in the morning mist, which was being burnt off by the rising sun, you could just make out the Wall and towers snaking up the ridges on either side of the valley. That was when I realised this was for real and I started wondering if I had done enough training. Everyone was excited as we kitted up. I found myself amongst other first timers eavesdropping as other runners, who had clearly run the race before, talked about the tough sections and how to approach the different stages so as to not burn out.

GoTrail: Anybody who has been to the Great Wall of China will tell you that it is one of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring sights one will ever have the privilege of seeing. Did you find yourself drawing from that inspirational backdrop for motivation or were you more focussed on the task at hand?

Rory: I think I was more focused on the task at hand, after all the build up and the long journey to get to the start line. However, I did stop several times on the Wall just to take it all in. The awe of being on the Wall, looking back along the section I had just run and forward across the valley where it continued up and over another ridge. To not only be on the wall but also to be one of thousands of others taking part in this challenging event was truly amazing.

GoTrail: Although the Great Wall of China is not a technical single track along a mountain contour, or an open jeep track through an indigenous forest, it certainly has its fair share of challenging aspects. How does this differ to trail running and can you draw any similarities between the two?

Rory: I haven’t done any trail running but from what I know there are more similarities than you might think. In the half marathon you have 700 metres of ascent and descent over the length of the course. The steps on the Wall vary from 3 to 15 inches in height. There are also several kilometres of dirt road through the nearby village with some single track in the neighbouring orchards.

GoTrail: We believe that the route didn’t only run along the wall itself. What were some of the memories from the surrounding villages and countryside as you passed through these areas?

Rory: The interest and support from the locals was great. Everyone from kids to grandparents, lining the roads, shouting “jiāyoú” (pronounced gy yo) which is a Chinese idiom that literally means, “Add fuel”. Equivalent in English to shouting “Go!”

GoTrail: Finishing any race is an accomplishment that all people strive for. What were some of the feelings you had as you crossed the finish line, and how did these feelings compare to other events you’ve taken place in?

Rory: I was hurting, my muscles were tired and my left thigh was starting to cramp but I knew the clock was ticking and I desperately wanted to finish in less than three hours. With the finish line in sight, I heard my name called out over the PA system and all the pain was forgotten. I was ecstatic to have finished, relieved that is was over and thankful that the journey had not been in vain. While not the fastest half marathon I have ever run it is definitely the most memorable.

GoTrail: A South African by the name of Braam Malherbe took up the challenge of becoming the first person in history, along with his running partner David Grier, to run the full length of the Great Wall of China. Would you ever think of returning and attempting to run a longer distance along the Wall as a personal challenge to yourself?

Rory: The Great Wall Marathon was tough and running is not my thing, but if the right challenge comes along, who knows?

Advertisement