Jia Ning, a middle-aged man who reportedly runs 1,350 kilometers from Beijing to Wuhan, posts on his social media account of his running journey. Photo: Screenshot from website

A middle-aged man's reported 1,350-kilometer run from Beijing to Wuhan in 40 days has surged onto China's trending list on Weibo, Chinese social media platform, drawing widespread attention and speculation, according to multiple local media reports. 

According to local media's report, the runner, Jia Ning, set off from Beijing on March 23, traveling entirely on foot without using any form of transportation. His route took him through Hebei, Shandong and Henan provinces before he arrived in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, on the first day of the May Day holidays. As of press time, Jia had not responded to an interview request from the Global Times, and the authenticity of his run remains unverified.

After documenting his journey on social media, Jia quickly gained traction online, with his story trending on Weibo and prompting discussion. While some netizens questioned the authenticity of his run, arguing that he could not prove he completed the journey entirely on foot, others expressed confusion over the purpose behind such an endeavor.

In a previous interview with Jimu News, Jia said he began running in 2017 and has since completed more than 30 full marathons. In previous years, he had also undertaken long-distance runs from Beijing to cities such as Shanghai and Shijiazhuang. Responding to skepticism, Jia said he was simply doing something he enjoys and felt no need to prove himself to others.

He told reporters that his decision to run to Wuhan was partly driven by repeated unsuccessful attempts to secure a spot in the Wuhan Marathon. He noted that running there himself felt like a way to fulfill that long-held wish, per Jiupai News.

According to Jiupai News, Jia was accompanied by a friend who followed him on a bicycle carrying luggage, while Jia himself carried a trail running pack. He initially set a target of running 30 kilometers per day, though the plan often changed due to circumstances. On some days, he ran up to 45 kilometers before finding a place to rest.

Over the course of the 40-day journey, Jia wore out four pairs of running shoes. He described moments of extreme fatigue, with muscles becoming swollen and stiff to the point where he could barely lift his legs. "This is something I chose to do. Since I decided to do it, I have to bear the cost, injuries and pain included," he said, according to Jiupai News.

Some online commenters also noted that Jia did not appear particularly slim in videos, questioning whether he fits the typical image of a long-distance runner. Jia responded that his relatively slow pace, combined with the need to consume large amounts of food, especially carbohydrates, to sustain his energy, meant he did not lose much weight.

On May 1, Jia was reported arriving at Wuhan railway station before continuing on to the Wuhan Yangtze River bridge, where he concluded his journey. Looking ahead, Jia has set himself an ambitious goal: to run from Beijing to every provincial capital and municipality across China, per local report.

Global Times