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Nearly two dozen people have died in China after taking part in an ultramarathon that continued under extreme conditions, including freezing rain and hail.
A few hours after the race began, the weather around China’s Yellow River Stone Forest Park took a turn for the worst, Zhang Xuchen told theTimes.
“In a short period of time, hailstones and freezing rain fell in the area, and there were strong winds,” Zhang, the mayor of the host city, Baiyin, said. “The temperature dropped sharply.”
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Many of the 172 runners participating in the event were wearing t-shirts and shorts as they traversed up the mountainous area, the newspaper noted. The race was eventually called off due to the inclement weather and a search and rescue effort was performed.
“At 1 p.m. on Saturday, the wind got stronger. It was hard to stand up straight and move forward. When the wind was the strongest, I had to grasp the ground with both my hands to avoid being blown over,” a participant said, according to theWashington Post.
“I felt nothing but cold at the time,” the participant added. “I just ran about 30 kilometers and quit the race ahead of the third checkpoint. I fainted halfway down the mountain.”
Liang Jing in 2019.JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT/AFP via Getty
One runner, Mao Shuzhi, said she quit the race after 14 miles due to fears about developing hypothermia.
“The rain was getting heavier and heavier,” she toldReuters.
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“At first I was a bit regretful, thinking it might have just been a passing shower,” she added. “But when I saw the strong winds and rains later through my hotel room window, I felt so lucky that I made the decision.”
According toUSA Today, China’s General Administration of Sport pledged to improve safety measures in ultramarathons and other endurance races following the event.
source: people.com
