Runner Shatters Alpine Ultra Record in 66-Hour Mountain Race

A former food delivery runner who trained by sprinting orders through city streets just conquered one of Earth's most punishing ultra-marathons, proving that extraordinary dreams can start from the most ordinary places.

Jiaju Zhao crossed the finish line first at Italy's 2026 Tor des Géants on September 16th, obliterating the previous course record with a time of 65 hours, 55 minutes, and 22 seconds. The victory marks a stunning milestone for the Chinese athlete who once delivered takeout on foot to fund his training.

The Tor des Géants stretches 205 miles across the Italian Alps with a staggering 78,740 feet of elevation gain. Runners navigate unmarked mountain ridges and technical descents for more than five days and nights straight, battling brutal weather and sleep deprivation.

Zhao's journey to this historic win began around 2014 in Hangzhou, where he deliberately chose running over cycling to deliver food orders. After leaving school early and working jobs like security guard, he channeled his grit into trail running and rapidly climbed the ranks from 2017 onward.

His trophy case now includes being the first Chinese winner of Spartan Race Super in 2018, setting a new record at the Jiangnan 100-Mile in 2020, and becoming the first Chinese male champion at Japan's Mount Fuji Ultra Marathon in 2023. Just two months before Tor des Géants, he secured his fourth consecutive Chongli 168 Ultra win while breaking his own course record.

Why This Inspires

Zhao's story demolishes the myth that elite athletes need perfect circumstances to succeed. He transformed a delivery job into paid training, turning city streets into his personal track and financial necessity into competitive advantage.

His record-breaking performance shows that world-class achievement doesn't require a privileged starting line. It requires showing up every single day, even when you're exhausted from work, even when nobody's watching, even when the finish line seems impossibly far away.

From running through Hangzhou with takeout bags to standing atop the podium in the Italian Alps, Zhao proved that the only limits that truly matter are the ones we refuse to accept.

Every mountain gets conquered one determined step at a time.