Running for relief and he’s doing it barefoot.
Chen Yong is running for relief, and he’s doing it barefoot.
On any ordinary day, you might spot Chen Yong, a quality engineer at GE Appliances, sprinting barefoot through China’s bustling streets. His unconventional running method was born out of practicality: running in wet shoes is uncomfortable. When persistent rain hampered his routine, Chen, a problem-solver at heart, simply discarded his shoes.
“There was a typhoon in Guangzhou, and it was pouring,” Chen recalls. “Running with shoes would have been inconvenient. So, I braved the rain barefoot, and it felt invigorating.”
Chen initially took up running (with shoes) as a stress-reliever. “After a taxing day at work, staying home would depress me,” he shares. “Running helped me vent my frustrations.” The exhilaration was so profound that Chen persisted, gradually increasing his distance. “I escalated from 10km to 15km, then 25km,” he says, “until I completed my first full marathon barefoot in 2019.”
Today, Chen runs almost 100kms (over 60 miles) monthly, injury-free, with no intention of slowing down.