The community of cross-country runners in China experienced great shock and mourned after the deaths of 21 people in the cross-mountain cross-country running competition held in Baiyin City, Gansu Province, northwest of this country. The tragedy that claimed 21 lives is said to be similar to a 2009 run in France that was not postponed when the weather suddenly turned bad. More new details about the race are being revealed from the accounts of survivors. Several athletes died in the arms of teammates This event is called the fourth “100 km through the Yellow Rock Forest” trail running with more than 170 athletes participating, taking place on May 22. Officials in the city of Baiyin apologized, pledging to investigate the tragedy and compensate the families of the deceased. Additional rescues were dispatched – up to 1,200 people in total. Photo: China OUT. The track area is not too high terrain compared to some other races, nor does any section of the track have glaciers or high passes. The highest position on the track “100 km through Yellow River Stone Forest” has an altitude of 2,250 m. There were no problems in previous events and the race became a popular event. But this year, nature had an unusual rage. There were warnings of bad weather the day before the race but no one expected the weather to turn so severe so quickly. Athletes shared on social media that even before the race started, they had to find a foothold to avoid high winds. Some people even feel relieved at first because it won’t be too hot (the temperature in Gansu is usually very high at this time). Most runners wear shorts, a T-shirt, or a lightweight windbreaker when the wind is strong. The weather started to turn bad about 3 hours after the race started. The temperature suddenly dropped sharply and hail appeared. Many athletes were blown so hard by the wind that they could not move, their faces and heads were bruised, bleeding from hail, and their whole bodies were soaked from the rain. They are disoriented and cold, some can’t even stand, or try to find shelter behind the rocks, or worse, get lost in the terrain full of steep and eroded gorges. The gust of wind caused many people’s help blankets to tear to pieces. Some athletes have died in the arms of teammates while gathering together to warm up. They were unable to locate in time due to harsh conditions and poor visibility, even when using GPS and rescue crews equipped with infrared cameras. Additional rescues were dispatched – up to 1,200 people in total. Some athletes were lucky to survive thanks to a local herder named Chu Khac Minh. Mr. Chu Khac Minh inside the cave used to hide in bad weather. He saved at least 6 lives in the race by taking them to temporary shelters. Photo: Getty Images. Mr. Chu is called a hero for allowing many athletes to hide in his cave. A number of other athletes were also taken by locals to their homes for temporary shelter. The hardest part of the track Many athletes did not bring enough thermals because the weather in previous races was quite mild. Survivors said that despite the cold and wind, they somehow had the strength and determination to keep moving, while others were exhausted and stopped to die. Some people were blown down the mountainside by the wind. Unfortunately, the weather took its toll on runners right at the hardest part of the track, between stations two and three, less than 30 kilometers from the starting point. One survivor recounted his ordeal at that passage: “The wind hit me with raindrops like bullets, it was really painful. I couldn’t open my eyes because of the strong wind and heavy rain, I had to squint to see.” “This is the hardest part of the track…it’s 8km long, with 1,000m of climbing. Only going up, not going down. The road on the mountain is rocky and gravel. Many sections are very steep,” he said. A goat herder’s cave where athletes take refuge. Photo: Handout. “Runners have to climb on all fours, motorbikes can’t get through here, and station 3 has no supplies. Even when you’ve reached the top, all hopes for food, water, and hot water are in vain. It was a barren mountain. There is no way to withdraw from the race at this point. You have to endure to get to station number four.” Pre-race photos show the athlete wearing shorts and a T-shirt. However, in fact, the race organizers have a list of mandatory and recommended equipment to bring. Accordingly, each runner must carry a GPS device that provides his or her location. Other tracking devices are provided by the organizers. Additionally, each runner is provided with a GPS map of the track to upload to their GPS watch, but tracking it in inclement weather is impossible for many. The list of recommended equipment to bring includes an emergency medical kit that includes pain relievers, antihistamines, anti-diarrheals, bandages, electrolytes, sunscreen, energy gels, sun hats, sunglasses, hiking lights, windbreak and a warm underwear. In China, equipment testing in mountain races is taken very seriously. Runners lacking the required items will not be allowed to start, and will still be subject to random checks throughout the race, leading to time penalties and disqualification for missing required items. This race does not include cold weather items such as fur coats or waterproof jackets, or trousers, as mandatory items. The authorities were quick to step in. An investigation was immediately announced by the Central Disciplinary Commission into both the cause of the tragedy and the responsibility of the race organizers. The local government decided to suspend upcoming long-distance races, not only mountain races but also road marathons. The Lanzhou Marathon in Gansu has just been announced, and the list of postponed races is getting longer and longer. A goatherd named Zhu Keming (far right) saved six runners after bad weather killed 21 others. Photo: Handout. Among the victims of the Gansu tragedy is Luong Tinh, 31 years old – China’s outstandingly talented cross-country running superstar. At the time of his death, his ranking in the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) rankings was 918 points, 8th in the world. He is the top cross-country runner in China and Asia. Luong Tinh also won in last year’s organization of this very race. Luong Tinh in an earlier race in Hong Kong. Photo: Sportograf. A witness said Luong Tinh’s body, when found, had no skin on his knees. He died of hypothermia, was blown into a canyon by the wind, and was unable to get up. Finally, Luong Tinh could not stand the cold, he left, leaving behind his wife and children. In addition, among the dead was Hoang Ngan Bin, who was closely following Luong Tinh in the race. As a professional track and field athlete, with more endurance than people and always positive, Hoang Ngan Bin’s talent has brought him to the top of this sport. Hoang Ngan Bin’s body was found not far from Luong Tinh. The third famous victim is Hoang Quan Quan, the national marathon champion of the 2019 Paralympic Games for the disabled. The organizers put profit above safety Gansu is blessed with breathtaking nature and many cultural and historical relics spanning the entire Chinese civilization, with the oldest dating back to more than 6,000 years old. To improve the livelihoods of local people in rural areas, the regional government in Gansu has been making use of these resources. Organizing outdoor events, such as trail races, is one of the ways to boost the economy and generate income. China’s outdoor industry has grown tremendously in recent years, with city dwellers increasingly interested in mountain sports such as long-distance running. Some of the world’s top long-distance mountain races are now held in China, and top international athletes also participate. One survivor received medical treatment after the race. Photo: Reuters. The organizers of the Yellow Forest Trail has been heavily criticized by the media and the running community. News site Wangyixinwen reports that all 22 race employees are part-timers. A similar website also reported that despite numerous calls to rescue the runners starting around noon, the organizers only reluctantly halted the race and eventually agreed to do so at around 2pm. China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said that some local officials put profit above safety, which led to the tragedy that left 21 people dead in Gansu province. Michel Poletti, co-founder of Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, one of the world’s leading cross-mountain events with two races franchised in China, said the tragedy was reminiscent of another race. “There was also a similar accident in France in 2009, during a race (100 km) at the Mercantour. Those were the boom years of long-distance running, the situation in France in 2009 was more or less the same as China now… lots of new races,” he said. “Three athletes were killed, for exactly the same reason – a big storm hit… some (athletes) died of the cold, others slipped. The organizers made a big mistake by not stopping the race in time.”

The morning of May 22 started with the excitement of 172 athletes waiting at the starting line. They are participating in the 100 km cross country race in Gansu province, China. Before the opening whistle blew, Zhang Xiaotao felt that it was cold and the wind blew the hats of several other athletes. This is a sign that a series of challenges await him in the race ahead. Just a few hours later, Mr. Truong was lying unconscious on a rugged mountain due to the rain and the bone-chilling wind. Rescue vehicles joined the search for the athletes. Photo: AFP. Moment of life and death Truong Tieu Dao is a sports blogger. He was among the survivors rescued after being trapped in hail and cold winds without any protective gear. More than 1,200 rescuers were deployed to search for athletes on the mountainside. A total of 21 unlucky people were killed. Many people have fainted before because of hypothermia. According to Truong, the contest started at 9am. During the first 20 km of the competition, he felt the weather was still within an acceptable level. However, when it came to the hill climb, the runners began to face the most difficult part of the race when heavy rain obscured their vision. “The rain kept hitting my face and my eyes blurred. I couldn’t see the road clearly,” he said. Right before starting to climb the mountain, Mr. Truong overtook Hoang Quan Quan, the men’s marathon champion at the 2019 Paralympics. Mr. Hoang died not long after. A surviving athlete undergoes a health check in a hospital in Baiyin City. Photo: AFP. By the time the athletes reached the middle of the mountainside, it was already past 10am. Truong Tieu Dao felt that the wind was strong at that time, about level 9. Cold rain and strong wind swept across his face, making him feel like a knife. His whole body trembled because he was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt, shorts and a thin jacket to block the sun. When faced with weather that was harsher than a sandstorm, Zhang Xiaotao continued to run for a few more kilometers. By this time, his body became cold due to hypothermia. The wind was so strong that he slipped and fell dozens of times until he couldn’t get up on his own and fainted. His left arm and leg were injured. “At this point, I surrender to the wind and rain.” When he woke up, he found himself in a cave, wrapped in a blanket and sitting by the fire. A shepherd found him and brought him to safety. “I owe him my life,” said Truong. Chu Khac Minh is a resident of Truong Sinh village. Every day, he went to the top of the mountain to herd sheep. On May 22, when it started to rain, he had to go to the cave to take shelter. In the past, he also used to heat and cook here. When he looked up the hill, he saw that in the rain, Zhang Xiaotao was fainting. Before that, he had also saved five other people. Mr. Zhou tried to carry Zhang Xiaotao on his back, moving little by little towards the cave. At this time, Mr. Truong was still aware that he was being dragged away. However, because of his small body, Mr. Zhou could only drag him on the ground. After that, a few athletes who had recovered temporarily joined forces to bring Zhang Xiaotao into the cave. It took more than two hours from the time Mr. Truong fainted until he was rescued. Zhang Xiaotao is the only survivor among the top 6 athletes. Unforeseen danger After two days of treatment to restore health, Truong Tieu Dao was discharged from the hospital and returned to his hometown in Luoyang. As he exited the train gate, a member of the welcoming crew hugged him. The man gave him a bottle of water and said, “Now go home, drink some water.” He used the palm of his hand to turn the cap of the water bottle. His fingers were still numb. Zhang couldn’t even tear the plastic bag to get the mask. Baiyin city government officials said the tragedy happened due to a sudden change in weather when the athletes were at an altitude of 2,000 meters. The story of athletes stuck without phones, without raincoats published by Chinese media has caused outrage in the past few days. Rescuers rushed to find the athletes. Photo: AFP. By the evening of May 23, the Gansu provincial government had set up a task force to investigate the incident. It is one of the deadliest events in Chinese sports. This raises concerns about the dangers of the transcendental runs that draw thousands of participants each year. Even the most veteran cannot avoid danger. As cross-country races have grown in popularity over the past two decades, organizers have continued to include increasingly difficult challenges and longer races. The cross-country run on May 22 is part of a series of annual programs that have been successfully held in the previous 4 years. This is seen as a way to promote tourism in Gansu, one of the poorest provinces in China. Participants are usually mountain climbers and cross-country runners. Many of them are motivated by the prize money as well as the glory. According to the event’s official account, the prize pool for this year’s contest is around $2,300. Yun Yancao, one of China’s top athletes, did not participate in the competition. However, he lost two friends, Hoang An Bin and Luong Tinh. The contest is an opportunity for them to earn a large amount of money because neither of them comes from rich backgrounds. Luong Tinh in an earlier race in Hong Kong. Photo: Sportograf. According to Mr. Van, Luong Tinh participated in the contest because of his wife and young children, as well as his passion. “Luong Tinh always works and trains hard. He cares about his family a lot,” Mr. Van commented. Experiencing life and death moments, Truong Tieu Dao still loves this sport and will continue to participate. However, for him, it was still a painful lesson: “I will carefully consider the different factors and improve my gear in the competition.” “Man is very small before nature. A wind, a rain can take anyone’s life,” he said.