Survival in the Toughest 100km in North China

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The Toughest in North China

The 2024 Baturu Chokepoint Trail 巴图鲁越野关门山壹佰 took place on 18th-19th, May in the Chokepoint Mountain National Forest Park关门山国家森林公园 in Benxi本溪, Liaoning Province辽宁, with a highly competitive of about 2500 runners from both foreign and domestic in 5 categories ranging from 6km kids run to 100km trail run.

The event's name reveals its spirit of being very wild and tough. It originates from 2 local legends. “Baturu” means “decorated warrior” in Manchurian 满族, which has been the major minority in Benxi for centuries and established the Qing Dynasty in China in the 17th Century, while the Chokepoint Mountain is the most featured nature scenery with two cliffs facing each other like a huge gate of a stronghold.

Founded in 2016, the event had attracted runners mainly from Northeast China in its early years. However, runners from other areas have kept increasing later due to its unique charm: a perfect combination of toughness and warmth.

Course & Service

Its trail running categories of 30km, 50km and 100km are the toughest among races at the same lengths, above the Yangtze River, not because of the sheer ratios of accumulated climb to distance, but also because of the various complexity of terrain and plants.

The route wanders deep into the very rare visited mountainous forest, with steep and long slopes, and as many natural obstacles as you can imagine, such as loose scree on narrow ridges, fallen leaves above rugged stones, muddy riverbanks, rocks in valleys formed by mudflow and dense woods with both askew arbours and thorny shrubs. Paved roads took 25% of the whole distance at the most. The “easiest” part is 7km of paved road with no plant at either side, and it is to be done around the hottest hours of the day for most of the runners.

To help more masochists finish their journey, the organizer has many things to do apart from providing efficient emergency rescue and medical service. They put a luxury local snack salon at each supply point, offering a wide range of stuff from popular energy food to featured barbeque mutton strings, mutton soup, pickle soup, beer, and steamed rolls, to keep morale and hope, and inspire runners exploring physical stamina, mental strength, mountain views and a variety of food.

Its award system is also attractive and pays respect to the local Manchurian culture and nature elements. From the first edition, the medal has been set to a heavy and fine-made arrowhead, with changes in patterns and relief sculptures based on different themes each year. The theme of the 2024 edition is “Calling of Flowers and Creeks” 花溪令. The Runners who meet the “elite criterion” time of each category above the 30k can have a special bonus: an arch ring made from jade 玉扳指. In the Qing Dynasty, the ring is a symbol of power and military achievement among the very few top noble clans. Of course, cash prizes and trophies go to the top 3s.

On the morning of 18th, May, covered by fog and haze, with a comfortable temperature, some 1500 runners of the 100/50/30km started their journey from the Chokepoint Mountain National Forest Park into the mountain. The 100km route consisted of a big loop and a small loop, with a total elevation of 6500m and a very pressing cut-off time of 30 hours. The loop course of 50km contained a total elevation of 3400m, with a cut-off time of 16 hours, while the 30km also required runners to finish a ring route with a total elevation gain of some 2400m within 10 hours.

Although the fog blocked the heat, it made the trail more difficult. In some sections, the route had become more slippery and muddy, hindering the progress. Runners had to split into small groups and help each other move forward by dragging and pushing.

The finishing rate was amazingly high: 90.5% in the 30km. 78% in the 50km and 67% in the 100km. About 30% of the runners are female.

The 30km

Local policeman Yang Sen 杨森 (03:15:53) has defended his honour for 3 editions in a row, and his result is faster than that in 2024. “The 30km is my favourite mainstay race on my calendar. It is hard to train and enjoy my leisure time due to my busy job.” He spoke.

Clementine Eble (03:44:19), a UK runner who has lived in Beijing for 3 years claimed her title as the female champion and ranked 5th overall. She said “I like the wild and tough things; it is much like an adventure through the forest. The challenge has attracted many runners, and the service is excellent.”

The 50km

Former PLA NCO, Kailas-sponsored Lin Xiao 林潇 (06:46:27) triumphed in his first attempt. He said: “This is hard and far beyond my expectations.”

Zhou Jingjing 周晶晶 (08:08:07，20th overall) from Shenyang won the female title, with the help of her friends who worked as volunteers.

Paramedical expert Jia Ziyi 贾子毅 failed in 50km and 100km a couple of times, but he made it under 10.5 hours in 2024. He had trained harder since the second half of 2023 and participated in many events to prepare to break through the Chokepoint.

In 2023, the gruelling 30km made Miss “Lotus” 耿莲莲 from Nanjing 南京 cried at the finish, while in 2024, she finished the more unforgivable 50km within 131.5 hours and brought 2 close friends to try the 30km. At the finish, this trio laughed while enjoying noodles and chatting about the interesting things along the route.

The 100km

Li Ke李科 from Chongqing重庆 set a new record for the 100km category in 13:34:29. The stones, rocks and scree made him a little bit frustrated but could not stop his pace. He is the first person to finish within 14 hours.

Li Silu 李思潞 (15:49:41) from Shenyang defended her title and refreshed the female record again by more than 2 hours after her win in 2023. She helped the organizer do the field job till 17th, May. In the race, she fell into a small river and drank to her full, which made her scared but happy.

On the morning of 19th, May, around 1000 runners took part in the 12km category and “Little Baturu” 小巴图鲁 Kids Run, as the latecomers of 100km finishers approached the finish.

The 2019 UTMB-PTL finisher Meng Qingxin孟庆鑫 “Tim” worked as a living announcer after conquering his 50km a third time in his hometown.

Some 600 volunteers were standing by for the 30 hours, to make all of this happen perfectly.

文/赵小钊

图/巴图鲁越野关门山壹佰

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