A 59-year-old woman track enthusiast has defeated her illness and found new meaning of life by breaking the limits in challenging sports with extraordinary perseverance and ambition.
Imagine traversing 330 kilometers over 150 hours and then crossing 25 mountain peaks. For many, this is an unimaginable feat, but for Tan Dehui, the woman of pensionable age from southwest China's mountainous municipality of Chongqing, it's a challenge she has embraced with determination.
Tan is an amateur athlete at Chongqing Liangjiang Triathlon Club. Despite her amateur status, Tan has participated in numerous long-distance races both domestically and internationally, amassing over 100 medals. She has become a legend among jogging lovers in the city.
Tan's journey into running began 20 years ago, initially as a means to improve her health and get rid of herpes zoster -- a virus which causes shingles and chickenpox. Little did she know that this would be the start of an unending passion. From running to hiking, and from triathlons to long-distance trail running, Tan has continually pushed her limits.
Since March this year, she has been in a preparation mode, gearing up for the "Tor des Géants" at the end of August in the French Alps.
"Tor des Géants has 25 snow mountains throughout its route. Each mountain is basically in high altitude, from about 300 meters at the lowest to more than 3,000 meters at the highest," Tan said.
In Chongqing's Jinfo Mountain, the peaks stretch endlessly, with an elevation difference of over 2,000 meters. Tan spends her days traversing these rugged terrains, covering 30 to 40 kilometers daily, deliberately choosing the most challenging paths.
Near the summit of Jinfo Mountain lies "Despair Slope," a stretch less than 100 meters in length but with an almost-vertical gradient of 80 degrees, requiring climbers to crawl on all four limbs.
"This is painful enough! But I feel so well!" she said.
In 2019, Tan, 55 that year, signed up for China's first ultra distance race -- the Ultra-Trail Gobi Race, a 400 kilometer race in desert, no man's land and gorge.
As the eldest contestant running for more than five days, Tan completed 400 kilometers of tough journey with an amazing 133 hours and 32 minutes, claiming women's third place.
"The more difficult the track is, the happier I can be when I succeed. Because that proves I can," she said.
Rewind 20 years, Tan was struggling with chronic shingles, frequently fainting due to a weakened immune system. Her life was overshadowed by pain and despair.
Determined to change her circumstances, she took her doctor's advice and began running.
Gradually, Tan not only experienced physical improvement but also fell in love with running. As her understanding of sports and scientific training deepened, she moved beyond simple jogging to embrace the challenges of trail running.
Tan's passion for fitness has inspired her family and friends to join her in the pursuit of health. They affectionately call her "Yun Jie," meaning "Sister Cloud," symbolizing her free spirit.
"I think my grandma is awesome, and people out there call her 'iron grandma'. I think grandma is really, really great," said Tan's granddaughter.
59-year-old trekker finds healthy, ambitious herself in challenging sports
