From Tibetan nomad, to UTMB race winner, to Olympic marathon hopeful: Chinese runner Jia Erenjia’s rapid rise

Chinese runner bursts onto the trail running scene winning the 55km OCC, but is now focused on shorter distances and marathon running

Jia differs from many of his compatriots in his relaxed, low mileage approach to running

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Jia Erenjia on his way to winning the Wuxi half marathon. After winning the OCC last year, he is now focused on marathons and shorter distances. Photo: Handout

Published: 10:27am, 25 May 2019Updated: 11:32am, 25 May 2019

Jia Erenjia’s rise in running has been meteoric, and he hopes to continue to improve and one day emulate his hero Kilian Jornet. But his beginnings were humble.

“I was born a nomad. My parents are still herders,” Jia said. The 23-year-old ethnic Tibetan has now become the most feared of Chinese distance runners, on both trail and road. Remarkably, Jia only started running three years ago, and is uncoached.

He is endearingly honest and polite. Tibetan respect for elders seems ingrained – addressing me as “teacher”, and helping with my back pack – even though he left home at eight and was educated at a Chinese boarding school.

Jia burst onto the trail running scene last year at Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc (UTMB) where he won the 55-kilometre OCC. Before the festival all the talk was about Yao Miao and Qi Min, but one Chinese commentator sagely predicted Jia’s win: “He is very, very fast. Tibetan! And he can handle his drink!”

Jia Erenjia has only been running for three years, but already hopes to make the Olympics. Photo: Pavel Toropov

But he has quit alcohol due to a sensitive stomach. “My stomach always affects me in races,” he said.