CHANCES
The first sponsor that Penbin thought he could get was a factory that specialized in leather shoes. This Wenzhou factory had once sponsored a marathon race back in 2001. This first attempt at paid sponsorship garnered a solid "no."
Using a connection from his uncle, Penbin was able to get a corporate job beginning in 2004 at a kitchen appliances company called Supor. The security of working at Supor was something that others envied. He had one chance at making something of this opportunity. In a meeting with the corporate chairman, Su Xianze, Penbin shared his story. Penbin's passion for sports together with his willpower and perseverance touched Su profoundly. Su related Penbin's story to his own, when he endured times of difficulty as his business first began.
To ensure a successful run with Penbin, Supor corporate invested more than four million yuan over 10 years. From basic triathlons to ultimate marathon, Penbin proceeded to take the world by storm. "Even if I were to pay back the initial sponsorship fee, I couldn't pay back any deeds on a personal level," which is to say, without Supor there would be no Penbin today.
Su's sponsorship came with little to no conditions. He didn't require Penbin to display any visuals relating to Supor when he ran. But to pay back his debt of gratitude, Penbin designed his own Supor logo and placed it onto his racing gear.
From a venture capital point of view, Su's investment was not about profit but why? Su's branding director Huang Li gave her version of explanation.
"In my opinion, Mr. Su's original concept of Supor was shared by Penbin. It was this determination that aided our company's breakthrough. I think he believes Penbin's dream and passion will term him successful just like Su once did," Huang said.
Fate alone could not decide Penbin's course. It took determination and grit, and by the age of 26, he became the man he dreamt of becoming.
FAME
By 2009, Penbin was already a sensation in the outdoor sporting community. His ambition didn't stop there. He was confident in his ability to push himself to his limits and his body to the extremes of what a human is capable of. It was out of this determination that he resolved to become the first man to complete an ultramarathon on all seven continents.
His first time abroad was in France at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB). "Witnessing our national flag abroad was of an experience that made me realize competition was more than just fame and profit. It is a national honor," Penbin said.
His seven-continent race began in 2010, in China's Xinjiang, his concluding last steps were in the South Pole, in 2014. In between: the Sahara Desert, the Western United States, the Queensland in the Australian subcontinent, Athens to Sparta, and the Amazon rainforest in South America.
Out of six participants, Penbin was one of only two that completed the South Pole challenge, enduring 14 hours of minus 20 degrees Celsius arctic winds. He became the first and only Chinese to complete and win this race.
He equates his personal achievements with strides made for the Chinese nation. Penbin's success was the head-wave of China's own marathon fever. Running from Guangdong to Beijing, across nine provinces, Penbin became the only athlete in history to run 100 marathons in 100 consecutive days. Aided by governmental reforms which are attempting to increase the prevalence of sporting activities, many Chinese are now looking up to Penbin as a role model. In 2015, the year when Penbin was voted as the Athlete of the Year for non-Olympic sports by the state television CCTV, there were 10 times the number of marathons as 10 years ago. By 2016, the number of races exceeded 300.
Even though the time alone is one of the distance running's attractions, "Run Together!" was the title of Penbin's effort to engage more people in healthy lifestyles, with 100km races held weekly for five consecutive weeks.
"I am empty without everyone's enthusiasm towards marathon. My success was due to this era, if I were to complete the ultramarathon anytime different in history, I wouldn't be as famous."
CHIVALRY
The blessings from his ancestors that are embedded in Penbin's name are very much evident. Penbin was able to provide for his whole family during their time of need. By 2011, he was able to build a four-story home and move his family off the island.
Penbin's wife, Huang Qingqing, is a college graduate. Although some might think that a difference in education, experience, and expertise would create a gap in between the two, according to her, love and companionship come with no conditions. "We plan to bring our daughter to the upcoming Taizhou Marathon, to participate as a family unit," both said.
The fact that her husband loves the sport leads to Qingqing's full support for Penbin, no matter how much concern and pain she has watching him endure all those hardships.
However, Penbin's new cause has won his wife's even more applause.
"I want to train others professionally free of charge. I think the more important thing is the philosophy of running that can be applied to every aspect of life," says Penbin.
"I understands the masses'concern with injuries that come with running. One should not result to urge to bolt as soon as one puts on his running shoes; and should not neglect training and professional coaching," he adds.
Having experienced major injuries during his training career, Penbin has revolutionized a form of long distance jogging close to what the Africans use.
"My plans for the next twenty years will not only include training runners online but also constantly promoting healthy lifestyles." He also says he hopes to document his story through film.
When asked about his status as "China's Forrest Gump," Penbin had this rebuttal: "Shouldn't my story be more compelling?"
