(Photo courtesy of Xiwen Cheng)
With nearly 10 years of marathon training under his belt, Xiwen Cheng contributed his extensive experience to Team Amazfit at the Chicago Marathon this year. Despite running marathon races for a decade, Xiwen, a 43 year old from China's Sichuan province, just made his first appearance at the annual race in Chicago.
His personal record stands at 2:43:47, which he achieved at the 2022 California International Marathon. His 2:47:19 time at this year's Chicago Marathon came close to beating his PR, but for now, his previous record remains intact.
When we spoke with him, Xiwen was eager to share his running history and personal background with our readers.
(Photo courtesy of Xiwen Cheng)
Amazfit: It's a pleasure to have you on Team Amazfit. What made you decide to compete in the Chicago Marathon this year?
Xiwen: I ran marathon races for almost 10 years and it's my first time in Chicago. I have been to Chicago before as a tourist, but running through the city was another unique experience. My first marathon race was the 2014 California International Marathon.
Amazfit: You mentioned you have run marathons for a decade now. With that much experience, what did your training look like for Chicago?
Xiwen: I tried a balanced 60-70 mile per week training schedule with peak week around 90 miles.
Amazfit: Who or what has inspired you to stick with this passion for 10 years?
Xiwen: My father is my role model in this context although he is not a runner. He inspired me to push to the limit and adapt to the environment.
Amazfit: What advice would you give to your younger self or a beginner just starting out?
Xiwen: Listen to your body and start now. You will adapt, learn, and advance.
Amazfit: How has Amazfit fit into your training routine throughout the years?
Xiwen: My first Amazfit watch was the Stratos 3. It is sturdy, tough, and neatly built - just what I wanted for my needs across many outdoor activities: running, biking, hiking, and swimming - and at a very affordable price.
Amazfit: We're glad it served you well! Running aside, how do you find balance in life?
Xiwen: A famous writer said: "Time is like water in a sponge. If you squeeze, you will always find some."
(Photo courtesy of Hongjun @chirunners)
Xiwen is certainly taking those words to heart. He enjoys other hobbies such as traveling, cooking, visiting museums, and reading. If given the opportunity, he said he would like to visit Europe or South America sometime, and we are confident he will find time to squeeze it in.
We were glad to add Xiwen's years of experience to Team Amazfit for the Chicago Marathon race, and we hope he continues to compete for many decades to come!
