Windhoek: When Chinese ultra-trail runner Zhao Jiaju crossed the finish line of the Tor des Geants after nearly 66 hours on the move, celebration was not the first thing on his mind. Zhao completed the 336.1-kilometer race through the Italian Alps in 65 hours, 55 minutes and 22 seconds, becoming the first Chinese and first Asian runner to win the race's 330km category while also breaking the course record.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Zhao expressed that he was too exhausted to immediately feel the triumph of his accomplishment. "I was simply too exhausted to think about winning or breaking the record. I just wanted to lie down and rest," Zhao told Xinhua in Milan on Sunday. Only after waking up, as the fatigue and pain began to ease, did the joy of victory start to sink in, he said.
Zhao's achievement followed a challenging year after his first attempt at the Tor des Geants ended at around 203 kilometers. Having completed the 175km Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) little more than two weeks earlier, he said his body had not fully recovered. This year, Zhao made the Tor des Geants his primary goal, competing in three 168km races before arriving in the Alps for nearly two months of training and acclimatization.
The final 100 kilometers of the race proved the toughest. Sleep deprivation left Zhao struggling to keep his eyes open and see the trail clearly, forcing him to constantly remind himself to watch his footing, eat, and stay focused. Years of ultra-distance racing, Zhao said, have changed his understanding of how far the body and mind can be pushed. Late in the race, when rivals began closing in, he found he could still accelerate despite severe fatigue.
Zhao explained that athletes rarely know exactly where their physical and mental limits lie. Even after years of endurance racing, he believes he has yet to fully discover his own. Before the race, Zhao had publicly set himself the goal of winning and breaking the record. He said he would rather risk failure than hold back simply because others might consider the target too ambitious.
After achieving both goals, Zhao said he was unlikely to race again soon over distances longer than 168km. He has not ruled out returning to Tor des Geants if his record is broken, while his immediate goal is to improve on last year's 10th-place finish at the 168km UTMB.
Trail running has also reshaped Zhao's life. Before finding success in the sport, he went through difficult periods and worked various jobs, including as a delivery rider. Running, he said, gradually gave him greater confidence and resilience. Zhao sees mental resilience as one of his strengths and believes that once he commits to a goal, he will keep working toward it despite setbacks.
Trail running has grown rapidly in China, with more races and participants, and a growing number of Chinese athletes competing in major European events. Zhao said Europe has strengths in outdoor culture, trail infrastructure, and emergency support, while Chinese runners can be highly competitive in ultra-long-distance events.
Zhao hopes the attention generated by his victory can help more people understand trail running and draw strength from the way endurance athletes confront difficulties and keep moving forward. For young runners hoping to turn professional, Zhao emphasized that passion matters more than medals or recognition. "If you're only attracted by the glory of being a champion, you probably won't go very far. You have to genuinely love what you're doing," he said.