Meet the Chinese Athlete Who Runs Marathons While Smoking Cigarettes

• A marathon runner chain-smoked cigarettes for the entire 26-mile run - and broke his own personal record.
• The Chinese runner finished the Xinanjiang Marathon in China in three hours and 28 minutes while smoking a pack of cigarettes
• The 50-year-old finished 574th out of 1,500 runners with an impressive time of 3 hours, 28 minutes and 45 seconds

Most long-distance foot racers need to be in good condition and fuel their bodies right in order to compete in the 26-mile competition.

But for a Chinese racer, it is a breeze and little more than a smoke break.

A 50-year-old runner, known as Uncle Chen, is circulating online for smoking throughout the Xinanjiang Marathon in Jiande, China.

According to Canadian Running Magazine, his feat this year beats his previous times of 3 hours and 36 minutes in 2018, and 3 hours and 32 minutes in 2019 - which he also did while lighting up.

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It is worth noting that Chen did the same back in 2017 at an event in Hangzhou city.

The 50-year-old's smoking habit has clearly not held him back, as he has also competed in ultramarathons.

As there is no known record of someone completing a marathon with a pack of cigarettes, Chen may be the fastest ever runner to complete a race while chain-smoking. There are currently no rules prohibiting marathon runners from smoking.

Images of Chen were posted on popular Chinese social media app Weibo, where some were frustrated he was allowed to smoke throughout the race.

Kipchoge nominated for athletics award

World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge has been announced by World Athletics as being on the shortlist for the Male Athlete of the Year 2022 award.

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The winner is set to be announced by the global athletics body on December 5.

Kipchoge broke his own record at the Berlin Marathon earlier this year, and will now vie for the accolade against other renowned athletes including Mondo Duplantis and Noah Lyles.