I enjoy zooming through new places or my favorite trails, draped with those tall, emerald-green oak trees. Running a marathon or simply jogging through your neighborhood is an accomplishment, and for many of us, we get a runner’s high and a rush of feel-good endorphins to go along with it.
Some marathons are more grueling than others, depending on various factors like the terrain and the weather. Recently, one of the more challenging marathons took the spotlight. While it’s certainly grueling, you’ll also see entrancing scenery and one of the most captivating, historic, cultural landmarks in the world, the Great Wall of China.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is thousands of miles long, spanning China’s northern border. Depending on how it’s measured, it’s between 2,500 and 3,400 miles long. Originally built over centuries to help protect the territory of China’s emperors from northern, nomadic invaders, the Great Wall of China remains one of the most awe-inspiring man-made structures in the world. One section of the ancient wall in the Shandong province consists of hard-packed soil or “rammed earth” and is believed to be around 2,500 years old.
Over time, emperors strengthened and extended the wall, building it out of brick, marble block, or quarried granite in some places. The wall has been adapted as building techniques improved. The Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang took power in 1368 C.E. and further refined the wall with platforms and watchtowers.
The grueling yet entrancing marathon
A marathon is 26.2 miles, and on May 17th this year, runners set off to conquer the Great Wall of China marathon in Beijing, China. To complete the marathon, the runners have to climb all 5,164 steps and tackle a terrain that’s flatter in some areas and a steeper incline in others.
With parts of the Great Wall having steep steps without any handles near the middle to hold on to, there’s an increased risk of falling and tripping, and runners had to really work those quads and glutes to get up the steps to the finish line. Eager runners from 52 nations around the world traveled to Beijing to take part in this epic marathon adventure. The marathon course also passed through villages in a rural province called Tianjin, where the locals were happy and excited to cheer on the participants.
