As dawn broke through the morning mist at 7 a.m. on March 15, the starting guns fired for a trail run in Dapeng New District. Participants surged forward from the starting line at the Qixi Bay Yacht Club, embarking on their journey around the Dapeng Peninsula.

The Third Shenzhen TransDapeng100 Ultra Trail Race by Mountain and Coast was held in Dapeng New District on March 15 and 16. The event attracted around 1,700 participants across four race categories: UTDP120, CCDP50, MSDP30, and ECDP10. They completed distances of 120 km, 50 km, 30 km, and 10 km, respectively, over the two-day event.

Runners race along the coastal lane of Luzui Ecological Way. Photos by Liu Xudong

Trail running is an outdoor sport that combines running and hiking. Participants venture out on unpaved surfaces, passing over dirt, rocks, branches, grass, streams, and other natural elements. Trail running comes with inherent risks and demands a higher level of skill compared to traditional road running.

Runners in the UTDP120 and CCDP50 categories were the first to set off March 15.

Liu Jinxiu, a woman living in Shenzhen who participated in the event for the second time, had a goal of finishing the 50-km race. She mentioned that while she has participated in multiple marathons, she lacks experience in trail running.

Noting the differences between the two, she said, “For a marathon, I can just wear my number and begin running, but for trail races, I have to carry my own supplies, including water, and trekking poles. The difficulty of the trails is also greater. For example, they can include steep or long slopes.”

Racers await the start of the trail race at the Qixing Bay Yacht Club on March 15.

Wang Fang, who traveled from Chongqing to attend the race, was drawn to the beautiful views along the trails in Dapeng. “To prepare for the races, I practice running six to eight kilometers daily and train in the mountains on weekends,” Wang said. She has a keen interest in hiking in snowy mountains, which typically have high altitudes, making trail running an essential form of training for her.

During the race, participants crossed Luzui Ecological Way, a stunning coastal road that winds around Dapeng Mountain. They continued to summit the rugged Dayan Peak, traversed the iconic Dongchong-Xichong coastline, passed through local communities in Xigongcun and Egongcun, and walked along the Dalugang Trail, the 18th section of the Kunpeng Trail.

Runners ascend Dalugang on the 18th section of the Kunpeng Trail.

“This is my first time in Nan’ao, and the views along the route are amazing. You can see the sea on one side and the mountains on the other, and we are running right in the midst of these beautiful landscapes,” said Rong Jinlan, a participant who arrived at the Nan’ao Moon Bay checkpoint in about six and a half hours.

At the checkpoint, Rong stated, “There’s only 10 kilometers left, and I’m confident I can finish the race. So far, I feel good. There was a bit of difficulty during the hike up Dayan Peak, which has a long slope, and now that the sun is coming out, it will also increase the difficulty. I aim to finish it in eight hours.”

After passing the Nan’ao Moon Bay checkpoint — 39.5 km from the start — UTDP120 participants continued their odyssey after a brief rest while CCDP50 contenders tackled their final stretch.

For Liu Zhenping, who was in the 120 km category, the race still had two-thirds to go. This was her third time attending the Dapeng trail running races. Having completed more than 10 trail running races, she considers it a lifestyle choice.

“At the moment, I feel everything is alright. The challenge is still ahead of me,” said Liu. “But this is the road I have chosen, and I am confident I will finish the race even though I know it will be tough,” Liu added firmly.

These sentiments were echoed by He Guorui, another competitor in the 120 km race. He was fully prepared for the competition, bringing small packs of liquid electrolytes, protein supplements for essential energy, and outdoor jackets and wool sweaters to protect against the rain and cold in the early hours.

“My strategy is to keep going, especially during those early hours. If we stop to get some rest, we might feel really tired and may not wake up in time for the rest of the race, so I have to push through persistently,” He said.

However, torrential rain in the afternoon temporarily halted the race. By 3:25 p.m. on March 15, about 100 CCDP50 athletes had already conquered their 50 km challenge. On March 16, MSDP30 and ECDP10 runners reignited the competition, completing their 29 km and 11 km trails, respectively, to finish the races.

This was the third year for the event, which takes advantage of the natural landscapes of Dapeng’s mountains, forests, and coastal areas. It was an opportunity for racers to challenge themselves and achieve personal goals.