1. Along the River, Starting from Wanguo Stadium
Golden Week turns Shanghai into a softer city. Traffic thins, the air cools, and the river path near Wanguo Stadium feels like it belongs to the runners again. On the first morning of the holiday I slipped onto the trail, followed the water south until the path ran out of concrete, then traced the same route home.
Distance: 15.02 km
Time: 1:12:58
Average pace: 4'51’’/km
Fastest split: 4'35’’
Calories burned: ~892 kcal
The pace settled into something meditative—steady breathing, steady cadence, just the splash of waves against the embankment. The only real obstacles were the holiday strollers drifting three abreast, chatting as if the path were their living room.
2. The Stadium Grind
A few days later the city snapped back to life, so the only safe flat stretch I could find was the neighborhood stadium. Not exactly inspiring, but I had a half-marathon personal record to chase. So I lined up with the lane markers, set the watch, and surrendered to 21 kilometers of monotony.
The first ten laps felt fine. After that, each turn became a negotiation. Lap after lap, the view never changed, but the discipline sharpened. Eventually the numbers on the watch dropped below my previous best. The finish felt less like triumph and more like a long exhale of relief.
3. Reflection
Both runs told the same story: location matters less than rhythm. Give the mind a pattern to hold and the body will follow, whether you’re tracing the edge of the river or circling a rubber track. Shanghai’s skyline faded into a backdrop while I listened to footsteps and breathing, and that turned out to be the view worth keeping.
Next goal: sub-1:40 half marathon before winter. Preferably not in circles.