KUNMING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Dai Longsheng and Zeng Ying, both from China, won their respective men's and women's ultimate races in the 2018 X-Muddy Steeplechase in Qiubei County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province on Saturday.
Nearly 2,000 participants competed in three races: ultimate, classic and parent-kid, with the ultimate being the most difficult.
Dai finished his race in two hours and 38 minutes.
"Jumping into the muddy pond with three meters in depth was a harsh time for me. I was scared as I thought my glasses might fell into the water," said Dai.
"It was not just a race, but a tough way to challenge myself mentally and physically," he added.
Zeng completed her race in three hours and 25 minutes, tagging it as the toughest ever event for her.
Along the 25-kilometer route, there are 40 obstacles for the competitors to conquer, including the popular "Golan Heights", which requires teamwork for success, and the "Pass Under Wires" where competitors have to crawl beneath the wires and even kiss the muddy clay.
Debuted in China in 2015, the X-Muddy Steeplechase, derived from the military training courses, has become more and more popular in the country, attracting some 100,000 participants during the past three years.
The X-Muddy Steeplechase aims for courage, endurance, muscle power and teamwork.
