photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows Xi Zhanyu running in east China's Anhui Province in 2008. In 2007, during the build up to the Beijing Olympic Games, Xi Zhanyu took on the mammoth task of run Tall and thin, with an obvious beard and a striking flowery cotton-padded red jacket, 63-year-old Xi Zhanyu cut a distinctive figure running in the field in rural Taku village, near China's northeastern city of Changchun.

Photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows Xi Zhanyu running in the field in Taku Village, Mangka Town, Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province. "The clothes belonged to my late wife Xia Shuyun. I wanted to run with her." Xi said.

Photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows Xi Zhanyu running in the field in Taku Village, Mangka Town, Changchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province. In 2015, Xia was diagnosed with lung cancer. When she passed away, Xia felt he still had much to achieve. "Then I began running to see whether it would bring me any comfort," he said.

Photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows Xi Zhanyu running in the field in Taku Village, Mangka Town, Changchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province. From then on, every day, rain or shine, villagers would see Xi running from Taku to the neighboring village seven kilometers away.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows Xi Zhanyu running in the field in Taku Village, Mangka Town, Changchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province. Running helped lift him out of his sorrows.

Photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows Xi Zhanyu's marathon medals in Taku Village, Mangka Town, Changchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province. At the first Changchun International Marathon in 2017, Xi participated wearing his wife's jacket for the first time.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows Xi Zhanyu running in the field in Taku Village, Mangka Town, Changchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province. Ever since then, Xi's many marathon appearances have been characterized by this distinctive jacket.

Photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows Xi Zhanyu looking at his marathon medals at home in Taku Village, Mangka Town, Changchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province. Now, wherever Xi goes, he feels accompanied by his wife.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows Xi Zhanyu running by the Songhua River in Taku Village, Mangka Town, Changchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province. The more he runs, the happier he becomes, and the more he wants to run.

Photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows Xi Zhanyu showing his marathon medals at home in Taku Village, Mangka Town, Changchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province. "In 2021, I will run across many provinces in China to welcome the coming of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games." Xi said.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows Xi Zhanyu running in the field in Taku Village, Mangka Town, Changchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province.