US ultramarathon runner Bob Becker, 82, competes in the 2026 Mt. Gaoligong Ultra race in Tengchong, Yunnan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

At the age of 82, ultramarathon runner Bob Becker from the United States returned to southwest China's Gaoligong Mountains with a sense of purpose that stretched far beyond racing.

This is the second time Becker has come to Tengchong in Yunnan province to take part in the 120-kilometer trail race of the Mt. Gaoligong Ultra. This year's event attracted nearly 3,800 trail running enthusiasts from countries including Slovakia and the US.

For Becker, the mountain trails are not just an endurance challenge, they bridge the past and present, linking his family's wartime legacy to the building of relationships in contemporary China. During WWII, both Becker's father and uncle were members of the Flying Tigers, officially known as the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, who flew over the hump from India to Kunming, Yunnan province, to deliver vital supplies to Chinese troops fighting Japanese invasion.

"I thought if I looked into the sky over 80 years earlier, my father would be up there, I can feel that connection. We were in the same space very close, despite being far apart in years," said Becker.

Bob Becker (center), 82, visits the Memorial for the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in Western Yunnan, located in Tengchong city of Yunnan province, with his wife on March 19. [Photo provided to chinadaly.com.cn]

Before the race, Becker paid a visit to a memorial hall for the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in Tengchong to reflect on the alliance of Chinese and US forces during World War II.

"The presentation of Americans and Chinese fighting side-by-side was very impressive and emotional," Becker said.

"I felt a personal connection because my father and my uncle both fought here in this theater during the war."

Becker said he was deeply touched by the spirit of selflessness and moral clarity, and said he hoped that more US citizens could come and see such stories firsthand, and understand the historic bond between the peoples of China and the US.

"Maybe it would help make the world a more peaceful place," he said.

US ultramarathon runner Bob Becker awards a medal at the finish line of the2026 Mt. Gaoligong Ultra race in Yunnan on March 22. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Becker remembered how, 10 years ago when he participated in the Mt. Gaoligong ultra for the first time, a young local man approached him and said: "Seventy-five years ago, your father came here to help liberate our country. Now you are here to help save our mountain."

"That was when I first realized how deeply people here still remember the Americans," he recalled.

The remark referred to the race's environmental mission — to raise awareness about the protection of the Gaoligong Mountain nature reserve and promote sustainable development.

"That really struck home," Becker said.

"It made me realize that this connection isn't just historical, it's continuing in a different way."

Though now in his eighth decade, Becker's passion and resilience drives him to continue competing in long-distance running. Although he missed the cutoff for this year's Mt. Gaoligong Ultra race and had to withdraw, Becker described it as a beautiful experience and said he was glad of the chance to return and run again.

Beyond personal experience, Becker sees broader meaning in events like the Gaoligong ultra trail. Drawing a comparison with last month's Winter Olympics, he talked of the unifying power of sports.

"If you watched the Olympics, you could see in real time how athletes from different countries bonded together," he said.

"That spirit of cooperation and mutual respect, and this race is like a smaller version of that."

Even amid competition, Becker emphasized the importance of solidarity: "We all want to win, of course. But there's also mutual respect and support as fellow athletes."

It is a spirit he believes the world needs more of.

"That feeling," he said, "is something we should be able to put in a bottle and give to everyone."