Hong Zhang

Mrs. Hong Zhang moved to Tokyo in 2009 for work, where she discovered running through friends she met at local parks. It was during this time that she learned that ordinary people could run marathons, sparking her interest. Inspired by her Japanese running friends, she began running and learned about the Marathon Majors. At the time, Mrs. Zhang had been saving for 10 years to purchase an Hermès bag, but she decided that completing the six World Marathon Majors would be far more meaningful. She used her savings to pursue this dream and began participating in marathons in 2011. Through persistence and dedication, she achieved her goal in 2014, completing all six Majors. Her marathon journey extended beyond the Majors as she participated in numerous European marathons, including the Copenhagen Marathon, Jungfrau Marathon in Switzerland, Stockholm Marathon, and Prague Marathon. She later joined Runbuk-organized events, completing the Antarctic Ice Marathon in 2022 and the North Pole Marathon in 2024, both of which she found deeply meaningful. Reflecting on her running journey, Mrs. Zhang believes her decision to focus on marathons was absolutely the right one. Running has enriched her life, broadened her horizons, strengthened her willpower, and, most importantly, improved her physical health—she rarely falls ill. The 2025 World Marathon Challenge, spanning seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, is her gift to herself for her 60th birthday. Whether or not she completes the challenge, she is confident it will be an extraordinary experience. For Mrs. Zhang, life is made colorful and fulfilling through diverse experiences like these.