At more than 4,500 meters above sea level, where oxygen is thin and winters are harsh, running is not just a sport for Suolang Cairen – it is part of life.

Born in 1999 in Anduo County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Suolang grew up on the vast grasslands of the plateau in a herding family. Raised mainly by his eldest sister, he spent his childhood running across open fields, unknowingly building the endurance that would later shape his future as a marathon runner.

Today, Suolang has become one of China's rising long-distance stars. Earlier this year, he clocked 2:08:20 at the Wuxi Marathon, becoming the 15th Chinese male athlete to break the 2-hour-10-minute barrier while also setting a new marathon record for Xizang.

However, the journey from the grasslands of Anduo to the national marathon scene was far from easy.

Suolang recalled that the early years of professional training were filled with hardship and doubt. The physical demands were intense, and there were moments when he wanted to quit. Yet the encouragement from his family and coach kept him moving forward.

"When I finally broke two hours and 10 minutes, I felt that all those years of hard work were worth it," Suolang said.

Now one of the senior members of the team, the 26-year-old has embraced a new responsibility beyond racing. He hopes to guide younger runners through discipline, perseverance and gratitude – values he believes are just as important as physical talent.

His story also reflects the broader development of athletics in Xizang, where improved training conditions and national support programs are helping more plateau-born athletes compete at elite levels.

From herding yaks on the grasslands to chasing records on marathon courses across China, Suolang Cairen continues to prove that endurance can carry dreams far beyond the roof of the world.