The 2026 Emei Mountain Trail Challenge wrapped up Sunday at Mount Emei in Leshan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The event attracted more than 8,000 trail running enthusiasts and professional athletes from 15 countries and regions, including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and India.
For the first time, the event was held over two weekends. The opening week, held from April 18 to 19, featured shorter distances of 8 km, 18 km, 28 km, and 42 km, designed for amateur and intermediate runners. The second week, held from April 25 to 26, catered to elite athletes with more challenging races of 27 km, 50 km, 75 km, and 102 km.
Runners tackled a variety of challenging terrains such as high alpine trails, dense forests, tea plantations, and flatter sections, while passing iconic landmarks.
In the most demanding 102 km challenge, Chinese athletes Yang Jianjian and Zheng Wen claimed the men's and women's titles respectively. In the 75 km event, China's Zhang Hongfu won the men's division, while American runner Ruby Lindquist secured the women's victory.
"It's very beautiful and everyone is so nice. I was so happy to see the people. They made me feel very supportive. And they were very nice and they clapped for me. And I really like that," said Lindquist.
The event, also known as North Face 100 Ultra Trail Mt. Emei Challenge, was staged on Mount Emei, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism.
Trail challengers conquer Mount Emei in Sichuan
Ordinary Iranians, though in hope for peace, emphasized that Iran must safeguard national interests in talks with the United States, which remain at a standstill so far.
They said that the Iran war has inflicted severe damages to Iran's economy and people's lives. Although many hope negotiations could bring a definitive end to the war, they said that the U.S. has repeatedly sent contradictory signals, making it difficult for Iranians to place trust in the process.
"The war has caused massive damages. A lot of people lost their jobs, including myself, and many people are struggling to make a living. If an agreement can be reached, I think things will get much better, but I don't know if that's possible. Words from the United States have changed many times. I've seen them changing words many times during this period, so they are not very trustworthy," said Rosha, a Teheran resident.
Noting that the U.S. has put forward many demands that do not align with Iran's national interests in negotiations, the Iranian people said that Iran's negotiating team must prioritize the interests of the nation and the people, warning that if Iran concedes, the country could face renewed political and economic pressure from the U.S. and Western countries in the future.
"Our country has suffered losses in both lives and property. Negotiations should be conducted in a way that does not dishonor the dead and the victims. That is indeed how it should be. We do not expect Iran to gain 100 percent of the benefits, but at least Iran should benefit equally, at the very least fifty-fifty," said Babak, a local resident.
Many business people in Iran said that the war has not only inflicted psychological trauma, but also destabilized the foreign exchange market and stalled commercial activity, weakening the country's economic vitality. They hope tensions will ease so that Iran can achieve peace and prosperity.
"I hope the shadow of the war can disappear from each of us, because this war has truly caused enormous psychological trauma for everyone. My family, friends, and everyone around me are not doing well right now. I hope the war ends in a way that genuinely benefits the Iranian people, because we have suffered greatly -- our soldiers and leaders are victims too. It's terrible. I hope the war ends, people gain peace, and the economy can flourish," said Navid, another resident.
The U.S. and Iran reached a temporary ceasefire on April 8. Since then, commercial districts in Iran's capital Tehran have begun to recover, with shops reopening and supplies stabilizing.
Iranians hope for peace, but insist on protecting national interests as talks with US stall
