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August 18, 2018

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On the run: the Mexican marathon man

LUIS Vieyra has a unique way of experiencing cities and countries around the world: He runs. “I’ve run marathons in 19 countries and regions and I want to do 50 countries more,” he says. “That’s my goal.”

So far, the 41-year-old Mexican has taken part in more than 100 marathons all over the world since 2000, including 59 races in 29 different cities in China.

“My favorite marathon in the world is the Great Wall Marathon,” Vieyra says. “That’s very tough, but it’s also a unique experience.”

Indeed, marathon running is an important hobby for Vieyra, or maybe more of a way of life.

After living here for 14 years, Vieyra has grown a lot in his career, and more importantly, he has two Shanghai-born children.

“I came here with my wife, and now we have a family here,” he says emotionally. “That’s something I will always love to remember about this city.”

An operations manager in the auto industry, Vieyra sees the huge potential and opportunities of Shanghai.

“The market is growing,” he says. “China offers very good opportunities, so you have chance to do your own things.”

Q: You have done 100 marathons. How did you do that?

A: I started doing marathon in my hometown, Mexico City, 18 years ago.

I always liked doing exercise and sports. In university, I did baseball and American football. When I graduated, I continued running.

A marathon offers a very good opportunity to improve yourself. It’s tough, but when you finish, you feel a sense of accomplishment.

I like the feeling of running a marathon. It keeps me motivated to do many things. Everybody is having a tough time. Everybody suffers.

But in the end those who finish are happy, and they can share that joy with their families.

So far, I have done more than 100 marathon races. In China, there are about 59 races in 29 different cities. The city I have run the most is Shanghai — 11 times.

Q: How do you feel after each marathon? Aren’t they all about running?

A: Every marathon is different. The cities are different, like the one on the Great Wall which was very special. The last one in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was very different, too. A lot of people wore very nice costumes cheering along the route.

Marathon is not just about running. I enjoy every race, because each time I get to see the city in a very interesting way. Although every time it is tough, especially when you are running the last kilometer, I know I will finish it and I will be very happy.

Somehow I train my brain to resist the temptation of giving up. Once I finish, I want to do it again.

In Shanghai, I practice running in the morning, especially running to the Bund, and then I can have the chance to see the sunrise from Pudong. That’s very impressive.

Q: What brought you here in Shanghai in the first place?

A: When I was studying in university, I was always very interested in knowing more about China and about how fast it’s growing, and I also wanted to experience that in my own way.

That’s one of the main reasons we chose to come here, and then I found a company that was looking for representatives. So, I joined it.

Q: How do you spend your weekends in Shanghai?

A: I run, of course. I will also go with my family to many nice restaurants. We like Ding Tai Feng, Element Fresh and many others.

We often go to Yuyuan Garden as well and quite like it. We’ve bought a lot of artworks there.

My wife and I like theater very much. We also like dance shows. The Shanghai International Dance Center is close to our place in Gubei area, so we have been there several times. We like it very much.

Q: What do you like most about your stay in Shanghai?

A: I think infrastructure is something that amazes me the most here, and also the transportation, the high-speed trains ... Shanghai is a very exciting place to live in. Also what strikes me the most is how fast it’s getting better. In other countries, the changes are very slow, but in Shanghai it’s very fast. Everything is fast.

I work in the automotive industry, and there is more growth in terms of cars and opportunities here over the past decade.

The quality of life is very good for foreigners. There are so many shows, so many restaurants. Having a dinner on the Bund is very special. The restaurants are beautiful.

On the other side of the Bund in Lujiazui, Pudong, there are also a lot of options. The nightlife of course ... there are a lot of things to enjoy.

Besides, Shanghai is very safe compared with my hometown Mexico City. Shanghai is great. In the 14 years we have lived here, we have never heard of any accident involving any of our friends — never ever a problem. Never a robbery. Nothing.

Q: Compared with your country, are there any shortcomings in Shanghai?

A: There are more Mexican restaurants now, so that’s good. You know my relatives and Mexican friends do come here sometimes and they buy a lot of stuff here.

The best Mexican restaurant I could recommend is Pistolera on Hengshan Road, close to Xujiahui.

Q: What is the most memorable about Shanghai for you?

A: My children were born here, which is really special.

Also for my work, China offers very good opportunities. You have the chance to do your own thing. The market is growing.

For my career, it has been wonderful. In other countries, the markets are already developed.

Chinese people are very willing to learn. They learn very fast. Asia is very different from my part of the world, so having the chance to live here and to see how different it is turns out to be very nice.

Every Asian country is different. I like that. Every time we have the chance to travel, we learn many new things.




 

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