"I focused only on reaching the next aid station, even if it was 10 km away," he said. "There was also great mental stress and especially immense loneliness."

Crossing the finish line, swollen-faced and tearful, he remarked, "I do not remember the last time I cried, but the tears this time will be ingrained in my mind forever."

Running reshaped Zhan's life beyond physical feats. Once prone to late-night drinking and erratic habits, he now adheres to a monastic routine: bedtime at 10 pm and running 300-400 km monthly paired with gym sessions.

His health metrics — a resting heart rate of 50 bpm, blood pressure of 110/70 mm Hg — reflect this transformation.