Vibrant splashes of sea blue, sunny yellow, and lush green paint the marathon route on Jiangxin Island as joggers tie their shoes and step onto the race track. Their breaths mingle with the fresh morning air of Nanjing, capital of east China’s Jiangsu Province.
Among them is Dereba Muleta Megersa, an Ethiopian long-distance running enthusiast. Seven years ago, Megersa arrived in the city as an international student at Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST) for a master’s degree in applied meteorology. Campus life offered him the chance to pursue a passion of his: jogging.
“Ethiopia is renowned for its exceptional marathon athletes,” Megersa shared. “Growing up, watching marathons on television inspired my eagerness to jog.” Nanjing, known for its running events and rich sporting culture, welcomed Megersa with a lively running community.
“I am a member of the Cool Running Club at NUIST, where I had the chance to participate in the Nanjing Marathon twice,” he said. “I gained valuable experience and improved my skills while running. But what means even more to me is that it deepened my connection with the local community, and I got several ‘running buddies.’ This friendship truly enriches my life in China.”
Besides Jiangxin Island, Megersa’s go-to destination for long-distance running is the picturesque Xuanwu Lake—a popular choice among runners looking for tranquility and natural beauty.
Megersa recalled a funny interaction with the locals by the lakeside. “People asked me why we Ethiopians run very fast, and they brought up lots of outstanding marathon athletes, especially since Tamirat Tola became the marathon gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, setting an Olympic record. Some people even wondered if we have superpowers,” he said with a smile.
He explained that Ethiopians have a traditional lifestyle that encourages walking and running from a young age. “As a young boy, I used to run to school from home because there was no public transportation. This long-distance daily routine invisibly cultivated our running ability,” Megersa said. In Nanjing, he perfected his skills and has gone on to win multiple relay races.
The city has also helped others find their passion for sports.
Tim Zhang is a pianist born in Nanjing but raised in Vancouver, Canada. Despite growing up abroad, he maintained a strong bond with the city. When Nanjing hosted the Youth Olympic Games in 2014, he was a torchbearer and cultural ambassador and performed at the opening ceremony.
Zhang is an avid runner. “Jogging is a perfect physical exercise for pianists,” he said, adding, “you can decide the pace and speed while not hurting yourself and helping to maintain physical fitness.”
He suggests that sports and piano training share similarities, as they both require discipline, focus, and the ability to handle pressure. “The nerves before a performance mirror the anticipation of competition in sports, which is why people love sports and music,” Zhang stated.
As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, Zhang recommends jogging at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Sports Park for its beautiful surroundings and significance for the local sports community.
“Appreciating the stunning natural scenery while engaging in sports is such a blessing,” said Jasmin Remmel, a German student at Nanjing University of Science and Technology. Remmel volunteered at the Nanjing Marathon and considers herself a sporty person, as the city offers her opportunities to join different sports activities.
“Besides its excellence in hosting running-related events, Nanjing also embraces other sports, particularly dragon boating,” she said. Remmel practices dragon boating at school, and her team won the silver medal at the 4th Shanghai Citizen Games.
“Learning dragon boating in Nanjing has really brought the saying ‘unity is strength’ to life for me,” Remmel shared. “I’ve found that working together as a team is so much better than practicing alone!”
Reference(s):
Nanjing on the move: Exploring the sports culture through city jogging
cgtn.com
