Chen Penbin, a trailblazer in China's ultramarathon field, has dedicated to pushing the boundaries of human endurance for over two decades, earning the "Forrest Gump-style" sportsman reputation from all over the world.
At 46 years old, Chen has already run the equivalent of circling the globe six times, covering an astounding 240,000 km over the past 24 years.
Earlier this year, Chen clinched the victory at the grueling 255 km Doliho Ultra-Marathon in Greece, finishing the race in an impressive time of 40 hours and 55 minutes. This latest triumph is just one of the many accolades in Chen's illustrious career, which includes completing ultramarathon races on all seven continents.
He even came to be known as China's very own "Forrest Gump". The comparison might be surface level, but it is apt: both boast inspirational stories of willpower and perseverance.
At the very beginning, people around, including his family, didn't quite understand the running enthusiast.
"People said, 'Look at you. What's the point of running like this? It's useless.' But if I had given up back then, I wouldn't be who I am today," Chen recalled.
Despite all the skepticism, Chen's unwavering 24-year pursuit has earned him numerous accolades displayed in his studio.
Reflecting on his silver medal won in the Jungle Ultra 2012 in the Amazon rainforest, just shy of a world record, Chen said that ultra-marathon, which requires runners to tackle courses spanning dozens of hours and navigate through challenging environmental conditions, test not just physical abilities, but also strategic thinking and adaptability.
"During the Amazon jungle race, there were segments that involve river crossings, so my backpack inevitably got completely soaked. But the items inside actually remained dry because I had a waterproof bag inside. Otherwise, the food, clothes, and other items would have got wet. I had to figure out an idea like this by myself. So the race is not as simple as just going out for a run. If athletes want to achieve good results, they have to use their brains. If you don't think things through, you'll hit a ceiling in your performance," he said.
Before his legendary story began, Chen was just an ordinary fisherman from a coastal island in east China's Zhejiang Province. From the age of 14, he went out to sea with his father to catch fish, but he could never seem to make much money through this work, despite his efforts.
However, even back then, the villagers had already recognized him as a talented runner.
"He was really good at running even when he was a boy. Every time we came back from fishing, he would just run," said local resident Wang Xiangyi.
Chen was quite puzzled about his future until one pivotal moment - winning a push-up competition in his town. When he discovered that the prize was 600 yuan (about 80 U.S. dollars), Chen did about 440 push-ups, only to realize that his fellow competitors gave up at around 150 to 200. He soon became a household name and had a first taste of fame through this achievement.
As fellow villager Huang Zhoufa observed, "He was really good at push-ups, able to do 400 or even 500. He was so impressive. He clearly had a lot of potential. So he had to go out and forge his own path."
After this breakout achievement, Chen gradually moved away from the fishing life and started participating in various competitions - crab catching, mountain biking, TV Guinness record challenges. Thanks to his physique, the prize money from these events allowed him to sustain himself financially.
Between 2001 and 2003, Chen took part in a TV series about Guinness World Record attempts. During one of those episodes, he ran his first ever marathon in leather shoes and managed to finish second.
When the show finished, Chen started taking part in outdoor sporting events and quickly found a sponsor to fund his new lifestyle over the next decade.
Before 2009, Chen had already won all kinds of stamina competitions in China, but when he accomplished his first marathon abroad in France's Mont Blanc, the Chinese champ set himself the new target of conquering endurance races on all seven continents.
This quest began in 2010 in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where he ran 250 kilometers in the desert during summertime and finished in third place. Then, he competed in 100-kilometer-plus ultra-marathons before the end of 2014, in America, Morocco, Australia, Greece, Brazil and even won the contest in Antarctica.
In 2009, a knee injury sustained during a race left Chen despondent, but the setback proved to be a turning point, as Chen realized he needed to focus on running technique and technology, not just raw physical ability.
Now, Chen shares his expertise as a guest sports teacher at schools, and connects with runners nationwide online to promote healthy, scientific approaches to the sport.
His wife, Huang Qingqing, has been his staunchest supporter, accompanying him on his competitive adventures around the world.
"I started running consistently around March last year. At first, it was difficult to maintain a regular routine, but now, if I don't go for a run, I feel like I'm missing something from my day," Huang said.
At the age of 46, Chen has long surpassed the traditional golden age for athletes. Yet, his passion and dedication to running have not diminished in the slightest. He still maintains an impressive competitive form, even keeping up a daily 10-kilometer running routine.
The running enthusiast said that he would keep running, which hopefully may encourage more to join exercising and lead a healthy life.
"I've been running for 24 years now, covering around 240,000 kilometers - the equivalent of circling the globe six times. I want to set an example. Seeing me still running may motivate many people. They will realize that sports can be a lifelong pursuit and can truly improve one's physical fitness. Even another 24 years from now, when I'm already an old man, I should still be out there running. When people see me still doing that, they'll know that I'm still in my way challenging myself," Chen said.
Chinese marathoner runs 240,000 km over 24 years
