marathon

Last year, almost no robots finished the Beijing half marathon. This year one has broken the human world record by seven minutes

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The half marathon world record is held by Jacob Kiplimo with a time of 57:20 achieved just a month ago in Lisbon. This Sunday a humanoid robot called Lightning ran that distance in 50:26achieving for the first time a milestone that had never been achieved. Robots seemed clumsy and unable to outrun humans, but that is no longer true. And it’s just the beginning. Robots are already faster than humans. In the half marathon held on Sunday, April 19, 2026 in Beijing, the absolute dominators were the humanoid robots. Lightning not only broke the human world record by almost seven minutes: he managed to arrive 17 minutes before the first human runner to cross the finish line. The first three classified They were also Lightning models developed by Honor. From disaster to excellence. The first edition of this same event, the Beijing E-Town Half Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half Marathon, It was an absolute disaster for humanoid robots. Only a third of those who ran it managed to finish the race, they were controlled remotely and ran at a pace much lower than that of human runners. This year things were very different: more than 100 robots were presented and most finished the test, but also almost half ran autonomously and several managed to surpass even the best human runners in the world. This is Lightning. The winning robot measures 169 centimeters, weighs 45 kg and was specifically designed to adapt to complex terrain and move at high speed. Its legs measure about 95 cm and its proportions are designed to imitate the stride of elite human runners. It has a liquid cooling system which curiously has been adapted from the one found on Honor smartphones. Du Xiaodi, engineer in charge of this project at Honor, explained that “Running faster may not seem significant at first glance, but it allows technological transfer, for example in structural reliability and cooling, and eventually in industrial applications“. Not everything went well. The race, however, also had moments in which the robots failed. One of them collided with a nearby vehicle although he managed to stabilize himself and continue walking. The H1 model from Unitree, the most famous humanoid robot manufacturer in China, collapsed as it approached the finish line and had to be removed from the road. One of the Lightning models hit a barrier after crossing the finish line, and some other robots they had difficulties with the curves and unevenness of the route. The event also served as a test bed for batteries, joints, motors and algorithms that control these machines. Industrial applications. Xiaodi mentioned it but also Liu Xiangquan, professor of robotics at the University of Science and Information in Beijing. According to him, these long-distance races allow the resistance and behavior of these robots to be evaluated, something essential for their application in industrial environments. Here not only speed is evaluated, but also the aforementioned resistance, stability or the capacity for autonomous navigation in uncontrolled environments. But a key component is missing. Although the demonstration and milestone is fascinating, what this field needs most is other things. For example, advance manual dexterityperceive the real environment in unforeseen situations and be able to perform varied tasks and not focus so much on repetitive movements. Industrial robots are already good at that, but here we are looking for much more versatility because at the moment these robots They are not able to fold clothes or put the plates and cutlery in the dishwasher with sufficient speed and dexterity. China continues to set the robotic pace. The Asian country has completely devoted itself to the world of robotics. Dominate this segment and its companies They manufacture 80% of global production. In recent months we have seen spectacular demonstrations such as the one Unitree carried out with a dozen humanoid robots at a martial arts show. Sunday’s half marathon is one more element of that narrative and that message that China is leaving to the world: robots are our thing. And in a year, what? Breaking the world record is very striking, but this event tells another story: that of how in just one year Chinese manufacturers have managed to improve their models in an amazing way. If everything continues to improve at this rate, it is difficult to predict what the robots that run the next marathon will be capable of, but it seems logical to think that at this point the athletic ability of robots will be absolutely amazing. Image | CGTN In Xataka | In China they are not satisfied with creating advanced robots: a company has developed a head that gestures like a human

China will bring together more than 300 humanoid robots in a half marathon. The goal goes beyond running

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Seeing more than 300 humanoid robots preparing to run a half marathon in Beijing has something of a futuristic image, yes, but also quite a declaration of intentions. The appointment, scheduled for April 19 within the framework of The Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in 2026 is not presented as a simple flashy exhibition, but as an event in which China will bring together dozens of brands, teams and systems to test them before the public. What we have before us is not just a race: it is another way of showing us to what extent humanoid robotics has become an area that the country wants to take very seriously. New edition. Last year, Beijing had already held a half marathon of humanoid robotsbut now the leap is evident: preparation has mobilized dozens of teams and has forced the organization of large-scale night tests to check that everything works on the ground. Xinhua reported that more than 70 teams participated in the last comprehensive test held between the night of April 11 and the early hours of the 12th. More than resistance. The interesting thing about this appointment is not only in seeing which robot can withstand the distance better, but in observing how it travels it. Both autonomous navigation and remote control equipment participated in the previous tests, which will allow different technical architectures to be shown. That nuance matters a lot, because it shifts the focus from the simple spectacular image to something more useful for reading the moment of humanoid robotics in China. What is at stake is not only completing the journey, but also checking what degree of autonomy and what type of control can be sustained in an open environment. The names of this edition. If there are robots that help to better read the level of this appointment, those are the ones that arrive with clearer objectives and a more recognizable profile. The Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center has confirmed the participation of Tiangong Ultra and Tiangong 3.0, with three units of the former competing completely autonomously, without human navigators or external guidance signals. Unitree has also confirmed the return of the H1, in a version adapted for long distances. Added to this is the presence of Lightning and Yuqi Boy, the two models with which Honor enters this race. What China wants to teach. This race can also be read in a much broader way. It is not only about seeing dozens of humanoid robots facing a half marathon, but also about interpreting the message that China projects with that image. Humanoid robotics has become one of the areas in which the country wants to make its position clear.. And few formulas are as effective to do so as taking that bet out of the laboratory, turning it into a public event and showing it on a stage capable of attracting attention inside and outside its borders. Images | Beijing Government In Xataka | Anthropic was the “don’t be evil” of AI for developers. Now he’s squeezing them all

We thought the marathon was heartbreaking. The largest medical follow-up to date has just settled the debate

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When an amateur runner crosses the finish line after 42 kilometers, his body is on the limit, and so is his heart. This is something that can be seen in a simple analysis where it is seen how the levels of troponin T, one of the warning markers of a heart attack, and evident fatigue in the right ventricle. But in this case the question is obvious: Can doing a marathon kill us? The answer It’s no. This has been demonstrated by an exhaustive study published at the end of 2025 in JAMA Cardiology, which has pointed out that, despite the extreme stress on the heart in the short term, amateur marathon running does not cause long-term cardiac damage. To understand the magnitude of this discovery, we must return to the origin of fear and here recent works, such as those published in Frontiers in Physiology or studies on ultramarathon runners, have documented repeatedly what happens immediately after the race. What has been done. Logically, the effort of doing a marathon at a high level of effort induces morphological and biochemical ventricular changes. The heart here is subjected to a great overload of volume and pressure, releasing proteins that in a patient at rest in the emergency room would set off all the alarms for a possible heart attack. But to draw conclusions, the research has followed the same runners for ten years. The Be-MaGIC project. With this premise, the investigation was not born yesterday, but rather the team took advantage of the historical cohort of this project that originated in the 2009 Munich marathon. In this way, the researchers decided to follow 152 amateur male runners with an initial average age of 43 years. In this way, participants were evaluated before the marathon, after crossing the finish line, one day after, three days after and finally ten years later. To do this, state-of-the-art 3D echocardiography was used and also the analysis of cardiac biomarkers to determine how the ventricles function, which are ultimately the main pumps of the heart. The results. After all these years, studies indicated that, after completing the race, all cardiac function began to be greatly altered with increases in cardiac biomarkers. But this is something that was resolved in the following days until he reached the age of 10 with a completely perfect heart. No scarring of heart tissue, no premature heart failure. Everything is normal, despite the fact that after the race the stress to which he has been subjected is very high and can cause concern. What does this mean? The scientific study confirms that the human heart is an extraordinarily elastic machine. Here, right ventricular dysfunction and troponin release after running 42 kilometers should be interpreted as a transient physiological response to extreme exercise and not as permanent pathological damage. Of course, this doesn’t mean that marathon running is without acute risks, especially for people with underlying or undiagnosed heart conditions. However, for the average amateur runner who trains properly, the science is clear: crossing that finish line will exhaust your body, but it won’t mortgage the future of your heart. Images | Miguel Amutio Kenny Eliason In Xataka | Walking very fast seems the most effective way to lose fat: science knows that the key is to do it with an incline

$7,500 a month, but also marathon days

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Jeff Bezos paid about 500 million dollars for his yacht koru 125 meters long, and Mark Zuckerberg almost 300 million of dollars for your launchpad of 118 meters. It is estimated that, on average, the annual maintenance cost of these superyachts is from 10% annual of its price initial, so the bill to keep these luxury vessels afloat ranges between 20 and 50 million dollars a year. Within that budget Something essential for its operation must also be taken into account: a crew. In a recent video that yacht stewardess Florencia Mainet, better known as @florstewardesstold what her salary was as a head hostess and the high salaries charged in the sector. $7,500 a month. According to Mainet in one of his videosfor her work as chief steward on board a luxury yacht, she received a remuneration of about $7,500 a month, with a schedule from eight in the morning to four in the afternoon. As indicated in an interview for Infobaehis role as head of the hostesses was to organize the meals, drinks, activities and cleaning tasks that his team had to carry out. “It requires attention to detail, discretion, organization and a great service orientation,” commented Mainet. Life on board. However, Mainet acknowledges that “as a crew member, a day on board can vary greatly. It depends on whether there are guests or not,” and that is the key: whether the yacht owner makes intensive use of it or not. Mallorcan Esmée Yntema is also a yacht stewardess and, through your TikTok account his life on board luxury superyachts and the day-to-day work on board. As shown in his videos, the work on board the yacht is constant, but when the owner announces his arrival all the alarms go off because everything must be prepared to receive him. While the owner is on board, breaks are sporadic and the days extend beyond the 12 or 13 hours a day in which the crew’s rhythms of life are, basically, those marked by the owner. “The days are long. We practically start shortly before the clients arrive until they go to sleep,” said Yntema. The harshness of the high season. Something that Mainet, Yntema and someone else agree on. another testimony on networksis that during the high sailing season, the days are exhausting and the feeling of isolation and lack of communication on board puts the mental health of the workers to the test. In fact, Yntema put her career on hold for a few months “for the good of my mental health,” according to an interview published by last minute. “People think that on board a luxury yacht everything is glamorous but in reality, for the staff, it is very different,” said the stewardess. Mainet assures that salaries in the sector start at $4,500 for inexperienced yacht hostesses, but he also recognizes that life on board requires many sacrifices and one gives up being present at many family events due to having to be sailing. All-inclusive salary. As Mainet indicates, the monthly salary is full because it includes accommodation on the yacht itself. As shown in one of his videos Yntema, the accommodation consists of sharing a small cabin with a companion and a bathroom of just two square meters that also serves as a shower. However, one of the positive things that both hostesses highlight is that, in the food section, the meals are provided by professional chefs who prepare luxury dishes for both the owners and the crew. Sporadic luxury. Another advantage of working aboard a luxury yacht that both professionals highlight is that, in the few moments of rest they have during their day during the high season, but especially during the low season or when the owner is not on board, they can enjoy living aboard a luxury yacht and visit the best tourist destinations around the world during your day off. Feeling millionaires, even if it is in experiences. In Xataka | Under the infinity pools of luxury cruise ships there is no rest: 80-hour days seven days a week Image | Unsplash (Michael Worden)

China has organized a half marathon in which 21 robots participated. We have questions

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Last Saturday a popular half marathon was held in Beijing in which there were some unique participants: 21 robots joined thousands of human runners to try to complete the 21,097 meters of the urban tour. The event has allowed to yield some conclusions about the Robotics art statusbut it has also generated new questions. Varied robots. In the race They participated Humanoid robots of Chinese manufacturers such as Droidvp or Noetix Robotix. The designs and sizes varied significantly, and were from 1.2 m high models to others that measure 1.8 meters. One of them remarkably imitated the human appearance in a robot that even waded his eyes or smiled. You by your side, I for mine. Although the organizers brought breast, stating that it was the first race in which humans and robots ran at the same time, in reality the Robots route was separated from that of human corridors. The robots were also accompanied by teams of engineers who monitored that their operation was correct (or that the batteries changed during the race). Slow. At the moment the performance of biped robots in the race was modest, and everyone ran clearly more slowly than human corridors. The fastest robot It was the Tiangong Ultra of the Ubtech company in collaboration with the Beijing Humanoid Robots Innovation Center. The tour ended at 2:40 hours after exchanging his batteries three times and falling on one occasion. Only six of the robots ended up crossing the finish line, and most did not last long in the test. Still far from humans. He was the only one that ended before the time limit was fulfilled to finish the test for human runners, which was 3:10 hours. The world record is in 56 minutes and 42 seconds, while a good time for human amateur runners is 1:45 hours for men and 2 hours for approximately women. Varied disasters. As they point out In Wiredthe Tiangong Ultra and the second classified, the N2 of Noetix Robotics at least managed to end at a slow but consistent rhythm. Others were a disaster. It happened with a robot named Huanhuan that moved at snail speed while moving his head uncontrollably. Another call Shennong had to be disqualified (he used small wheels) but the serious thing was that he turned on himself after starting the race and He fell next to their human operators. In some cases the operators used adhesive tape to protect the “feet” of the robots, but also to hit the head of one of them when it fell during the race. Critable autonomy. In addition, the robots were accompanied as we said of human operators. Some had control panels to go to the robots, and others went ahead to point out the way and remove obstacles from Enmedio. During the broadcast several spectators commented how operators seemed exhausted with all that operation to help robots to advance. But running is not theirs. The truth is that these robots are not designed to run, but the objective of the companies that design them is to be able to execute a variety of tasks that have nothing to do with moving quickly. Even so experts indicate that this test demonstrates the evolution of the market, because a few years ago It was difficult until they were walking. Even Elon Musk launched a job offer to “teach Tesla’s Robot Optimus to walk”. That some can already run a half marathon It is a good proof that some companies have created especially robust models. Important absences. Chinese manufacturers participated in the race, but many were absent reference companies In the market. Was not for example the Optimus of Tesla, but neither does the Atlas from Boston Dynamics, the Figure O2 of figure ai or the Apollo of Apptronik. There were also absences of large Chinese robotics companies Like Unitree (which did not officially participate, although two were used by other institutions), AGIBOTor the runner robot Star1 Robot was. Is this for something? The test organized by Chinese institutions served to demonstrate the advances of some of the robotics companies, but it was also a clear demonstration of the limitations of these robots. As we said, these companies do not design these robots with this type of purpose, and specialization is usually a key aspect of current robots. However, this half marathon serves to boost new ideas among robots developers, which should undoubtedly pursue that intensive motor capacity for their projects. Image | Xataka with Freepik In Xataka | China’s robots represent an existential threat to the US, according to semi -health experts

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