Thomas ends heavy marathon on Chinese wall in record time: « Never expected to win » (inland)
The Great Wall Marathon in China can add a Kempen winner on the honors list. Thomas Wuyts from Turnhout immediately crashed the previous record time at his first participation. He also did this achievement to support a good cause.
A 42 kilometer marathon already requires a lot of endurance from runners. On the Chinese wall they get that trajectory of 5,164 stairs, so that the Great Wall Marathon is called the heaviest in the world.
« I really went very deep, » says Thomas a few hours after the arrival by telephone from China. “On the old part of the Chinese wall we had to be over very steep stairs. During the descents you can recuperate a bit, but it will remain extremely tough. On departure I was in a large group, which crumbled apart after a while. I walked to the finish with a Dutchman. The legs were good, but on character I bought the beautiful environment.” ””
Strength training
After four hours and eleven minutes, Thomas, who plays football at SK Sint-Jozef in Rijkevorsel, reached the finish. « That is a new record time. The previous best time was of a Canadian, who took more than five hours. I never expected that I would succeed in winning the Great Wall Marathon. Because of the jetlag I did not sleep much the night before. In the previous months I have done a lot of strength training, so that Thom explains.
Thomas Wuyts conquered 5,164 stairs on the Chinese wall. – © RR
Normally Thomas’ colleague Inge Lauwers would also walk on the Chinese wall. They had registered together to raise money for Oncofitt from Thomas More in Turnhout, where they both work. Oncofitt gives tailor -made exercise for people who rehabilitate a cancer treatment. Both Inge and Thomas lost their father to cancer. « Inge was forced to drop out during the preparation. We decided that I would continue for the charity in which Inge and I are closely involved. A total of around 5,000 euros was collected for Oncofitt. »
Will Thomas start again on the Chinese wall next year? « I don’t know yet. It does taste like more. I would like to participate in the Marathon des Sables or a trail run. But I have nothing concrete on the schedule yet, » he says. There is not much time to enjoy his performance. « On Friday morning I land in Zaventem. In the afternoon I have to teach at Thomas More, because there is no bridging day. Saturday I go to a congress, so the days after my return are immediately filled. »
