Posted on 05/23/2021 3:46:29 PM PDT by Libloather
Twenty-one people, including two of China’s top marathon athletes, died after freezing rain and high winds struck a 62-mile mountain race in northwestern China, local officials said Sunday.
Liang Jing, 31, an ultramarathon champion, and Huang Guanjun, the winner of the men’s marathon for hearing-impaired runners at China’s 2019 National Paralympic Games, were among those found dead, according to state news media.
The deaths prompted outrage in China, with online commentators questioning the preparedness of the local government that organized the race, held at Yellow River Stone Forest Park in Gansu province.
Hours into the event Saturday, the weather suddenly deteriorated as the runners were climbing 6,500 feet above sea level to the 12-mile mark, according to Zhang Xuchen, the mayor of the nearby city of Baiyin, who fired the starting pistol. Runners dressed in shorts and T-shirts were suddenly facing freezing conditions, and rain turned to hail. Some passed out from the cold.
“In a short period of time, hailstones and freezing rain fell in the area, and there were strong winds,” Zhang said. “The temperature dropped sharply.”
Some of the participants sent a video message asking for help, and authorities sent a rescue team that assisted 18 of the athletes, Zhang said. The race was called off by 2 p.m. Saturday.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Now that's funny!
Ho Lee Chit!
I did the Mt. Washington hill climb bicycle race in the 80’s. It was 70’s and clear until about halfway up, 50 with 10 foot visibility at the finish. That and the steepness of the climb (the last half dirt) made it a ghastly experience.
“Sound like the Barkley Marathons.”
That’s one crazy race! And race director
Dear Chinese, you wanted Communist government, you got Communist government, with all the death and deprivation that goes with it. Embrace the suck.
Uyghur camps, likely. Best to keep running along and not stopping at those
It bears mention you very rarely ever hear of someone dying ...
... while sitting on a stool at a bar.
What about Global Warming?
They just won’t listen!
1 Timothy 4:8
For bodily exercise profiteth little:
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