2018 Soochow Ultra-Marathon Wins Gold Label Again

The “2018 Soochow International Ultra-marathon plus IAU 24 Hours Asia & Oceania Championships,” held at Soochow University’s Waishuangsi Campus from December 1^st to 2^nd, received yet another gold label from the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU). Awarded the status for the fourth time in its 18 years of history, the Ultra-marathon was one of the two 24-hour races that won the honor among over 100 such events around the world in 2018.

The feat was contributed by 67 ultra-runners from 12 countries worldwide as the final records of 12 male runners and 5 female runners reached 240 and 220 kilometers or above respectively in the 24-hour race. Soochow Ultra-marathon had been granted the gold label three times in the past (in 2012, 2014 and 2017).

Some of this year’s elite participants included Iván Penelba Lopez of Spain (Best personal record: 273.674 km), Yoshihiko Ishikawa of Japan (2017 Soochow Ultra-marathon gold medalist and 2017 IAU 24 Hour World Championship gold medalist), France’s Stephane Ruel (2017 Soochow Ultra-marathon bronze medalist), Japan’s Yuri Matsumoto (8^th place in 2016 Spartathlon), and Australia’s Jodie Oborne (7^th place in 2015 Soochow Ultra-marathon).

The event was witnessed by numerous distinguished guests, including former ROC President Ma Ying-jeou, International Association of Ultrarunners President Nadeem Khan, Ministry of Education Sports Administration International and Cross-Strait Sports Division Chief Hsiu-Ling Hsu, and Chinese Taipei Association of Ultrarunners Chairman Shen-Ming Wu.

Soochow University President Wei-Ta Pan assured everyone that Soochow University would always do its best to ensure a smooth process of the event and allow the runners to simply focus on enjoying the race and giving it their all. Friends of Soochow Chairman Edward Rada, Jr., who has been helping Soochow University organize fundraising activities overseas for many years, flew in from Los Angeles for the ultra-marathon. He felt much honored to be a part of the event as Soochow University has a great academic reputation, and is known worldwide for hosting the Soochow Ultra-marathon for the past 17 years.

International Association of Ultrarunners President Nadeem Khan pointed out the event’s great achievement as runners came from 12 different countries and wished them the best to make it to the finish line with best records. Former President Ma Ying-Jeou stressed the importance of maintaining one’s physical strength and stamina in balancing one’s thinking and spirits and enhancing a country’s energy and power.

This year’s ultra-marathon also featured activities for charity and life education, with many students volunteering to help out during the race. Besides, Zhee Long Cheng, a Malaysian runner with cerebral palsy, and Ssu-chi Chou, who plays for the Chinatrust Brothers, were invited to participate in part of the race. Two visually-impaired students and nine students with disabilities also ran the 30 minute race with the assistance of a professional pacer, demonstrating their courage to face adversity and their positive attitudes towards life. Their determination and strength moved all the contestants and spectators, and served as the embodiment of the Ultra-marathon’s motto “I complete. Never give up.”