Citius, Altius, Fortius." (Faster, Higher, Stronger.)--Olympic Motto
The winner of the mem's group A division, 34-year-old Wu Yu-chia, also had the fastest time for the entire race at 1 hour, 38 minutes, and 4 seconds.
The gunshot sounded at 7:30 a.m. sharp and hundreds of marathoners charged enthusiastically up the hill, squeezing carefully past each other for running room on the narrow, winding mountain road. This unique venue, high in the famed Taroko National Park in east-central Taiwan, augmented the super-charged atmosphere of the race.
The course begins at Tayuling (大禹嶺)--2,565 meters above sea level--and winds uphill among forested mountains for almost 13 kilometers until it reaches the summit of Mt. Hohuan (合歡山) at 3,416 meters. The course follows the same route downhill for 7.1 kilometers--falling about 700 meters--to the finish line, in all totaling 20 kilometers.
At the steepest section, about 10 kilometers from the start, the road rises over 400 meters, from 2,871 meters to 3,275 meters, in a distance of only two kilometers. The whole length is asphalt-covered except for the four or so kilometers up and down the very summit of Mt. Hohuan, where it changes between cement and gravel.
Running alternately uphill and downhill in high altitudes is a particularly strenuous and grueling challenge for the human body. So, it didn't take long for the line of runners to stretch out longer and longer. Also, the section up to the summit of Mt. Hohuan is very difficult, due partly to the steepness of the grade and partly to the loose gravel on the road. The course at that point rises 146 meters in just one kilometer.
The racers' adrenaline pumped very rapidly, but to minimal effect: only the toughest contestants could truly run, as most were drastically impeded by their lack of oxygen and the steepness of the grade. A question was raised when one examined the leader of the line of runners: what supernatural engine kept him running so hard? "He runs faster than a human being," one television reporter joked.
This is the third Hi-Land Marathon held in Taiwan and the first in the Taroko National Park; it is sponsored by the Olympic Committee of the Republic of China. The new route is widely praised for its challenging degree of difficulty, and for the location's beautiful scenery and relative convenience. People assume that running down steep slopes is easier than running up, but it is equally difficult. The runner has to use discretion and energy to brake and maneuver in order to find an equilibrium between the maximum speed possible and the performance of a fatal "failed somersault."
This year the athletes were divided into four groups: men's Group A, from 18 to 35 years old; men's Group B, 35 to 45; men's Group C, 45 and above; and a women's group in which there were 92 participants. About 750 contestants showed up, accompanied by an equal number of cheerleaders. The race was served by a large and friendly staff. The multitude made this otherwise remote area deep in the mountains an audacious, bustling place. All the runners seemed well prepared on this early Sunday morning.
Thirty-four-year-old Wu Yu-chia led the pack to win the men's Group A championship in 1 hour, 38 minutes, and 4 seconds. Wu, also the men's champion in 1993, is a well-known marathon runner in Taiwan. The 44-year-old Liao Penta won the men's Group B race in 1 hour, 39 minutes, and 3 seconds; and 46-year-old Huang Shih-chiung, father of three girls, won the championship of men's Group C in 1 hour, 51 minutes, and 12 seconds. Both Liao and Huang are veterans of the Taipei Hash House Harriers who just can't resist the call of the mountain. "In 1991, when the International Hi-Land Marathon was held the first time, six of the top 10 runners were Hashers," said Huang. "When it comes to crisp, fresh air, beautiful scenery, and a challenge--what else is there?"
Tough Love
"I started to jog, then to run marathons because I had a sickly body when I was younger. After years of running, though, I found I loved it, and have fully regained my health," said the women's champion, Wu Mei-huei, who finished the race in 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 26 seconds. A 35-year-old housewife and mother of two, Wu belongs to a jogging club in Taipei county. "But mostly I train by myself," she commented. "I run 15 to 20 kilometers a day; but when a contest approaches, I increase the training distance to 30 to 35 kilometers. Although I usually train and compete on level ground, I consider mountain running more interesting and challenging." The oldest runners this time were 82-year-old Lin Hsing-te and 80-year-old Li-Lin Chin-fa. Both of them completed eight kilometers. The only international competitors were two Frenchmen.
The higher the altitude, the thinner the oxygen and the lower the air pressure. Before running on high mountains, athletes must make sure they can handle the extremes. Since the marathon's backdrop is also a tourist attraction and is quite a few hours away from any major city, most of the participants, athletes and non-athletes alike, came a day earlier and stayed in local hostels or hotels. Some didn't leave after the race was over, opting to linger in the beautiful mountains for a while longer.
The weather on the mountain in mid-September this year was perfect. The temperature in the early morning was about eight degrees centigrade. Above, the azure sky was pale and crystal clear; below, the deep valley was filled with a sparse, wispy mist that shaded parts of the mountain. The warm sunshine nourished the flora and fauna, inflicting a mild suntan on the bipeds gathered there while a breeze cooled them.
A Place to Run
The island of Taiwan--about the size of Holland--is the result of an ancient collision of the Eurasian and Philippine tectonic plates; it is a unique configuration, because two thirds of the island is capped with mountains. The mountains are largely covered by fairly well-preserved forests, with some arboreal giants growing at over 3,000 meters above sea level. High cliffs and deep valleys abound. The island's east coast is a convergence of majestic mountain ranges and the fathomless seas of the western Pacific Ocean. Taiwan's topography, together with abundant rainfall, has made this charming island a cornucopia of vegetation growing in a wide range of climatic zones.
The Central Cross-Island Highway traverses the most grandiose part of the island and offers stunning scenery; Mt. Hohuan bustles with activity in the snow season. Tayuling is the highest point of this cross-island highway and is the starting point of the branch highway that leads southwest to the aborigine town of Wushe (霧社), the old, elegant town of Puli, and the popular Sun Moon Lake resort. From Tayuling, the Central Cross-Island Highway leads westward to the summer resort of Lishan (Mt. Pear) and Kukuan Hot Springs, and many forest resorts; to the east it leads to the town of Kuanyuan and the fabulous Taroko Gorge.
This 19-kilometer gorge is an area filled with marble cliffs thousands of feet high, a river roaring past huge boulders, and roads carved into sheer walls of rock. The highway ends at the east coast and connects there with another wonder--the Suao-Hualien Highway. The Chingshui Cliffs top the list as the most famous and popular site along this highway.
All these scenic spots are within a few hours' drive of the venue of the Hi-land Marathon. The course of the race was easily negotiated by vehicles. Attend the Hi-Land Marathon next September and plan to spend a few extra days to enjoy the area. You may choose to lodge in Spartan mountain hostels or posh hotels like the Parkview in Hualien, which bring mountain views of coniferous forest-covered peaks right into your room.