As he neared the finish line, Cao felt his energy waning but the unwavering encouragement and support of his teammates from the Adidas China University Running Association helped him persevere to the end.

At 25, Cao highlighted the connections between marathon running and research, describing the sport as a "numbers game" with its own unique appeal.

"By inputting the fixed race distance and targeted finishing time, you can determine the pace required to complete the marathon. To achieve this pace on race day, specific training exercises must be incorporated," Cao stated.