Some friends are better known by their nicknames than their real names — this episode we spill the tea. Out of the Hong Kong 100 came a legend known as “Jiao Zong,” joined by special guest Za Liao (Li Zairan).
Cold Open: The Story Behind “Za Liao”
Za Liao? Where did that name come from? We start this episode right there.
Chongli 168 Debrief & Expo Booth Observations
One brand rented out an entire noodle shop; another parked a coffee shop right next door. Race culture is leveling up — what ideas are US races bringing to the table?
Hong Kong 100 × 
This episode is brought to you by Kuai Pao Asia — the stories behind the Hong Kong 100.
Za Liao: Rinjani Champion, Indonesian Internet Sensation
Fans blocked the road for a full 40 minutes. Za Liao: “Now I finally get why celebrities need bodyguards — you literally cannot get through.”
“Won a championship on vacation.”
Repetition vs. Novelty
Why do you set aside even your favorite race for a while? Why didn’t we go back to the “Sea Monster” the year after we filmed it?
Jiao Zong: Inside Hong Kong’s Run-Club Culture
Hong Kong has tons of run clubs that are a decade or older. Running is daily life there, not a special occasion. Mainland vs. Hong Kong clubs: some clubs pose for photos at 45-degree angles with 0.5x zoom; some runners can hit the trails right from their front door? And if a club collected everyone’s phones at the start of a run, how many people would still show up?
All Eyes on Xi’an
As the hub of the northwest, Xi’an is where brands are now courting local run clubs — the next boom in running culture might start right here.
Gear & Course Preferences
Immersing in the course itself > race atmosphere. Plus the placebo effect of private aid stations.
Overseas Race Culture
In Indonesia, spectators know who you are — even an old lady at the roadside recognizes you. That feeling of being seen is something domestic races rarely offer.
Where the Sport Is Headed
From expos to course design, how much room does the Chinese race scene still have to grow?
Two “being seen” moments in this episode are worth holding up side by side. One is Za Liao after his win in Indonesia — mobbed by local fans for forty minutes, recognized by an old lady at the roadside, his Instagram exploding. For the first time he understood why celebrities hire bodyguards. The other is back home: most runners finish a race, collect their medal, take the shuttle to the hotel, post a moment on WeChat Moments, and it’s over.
These two experiences aren’t comparable — one is a champion, the other an everyday runner. But look closer: the difference isn’t in the results, it’s in being “recognized” versus being “seen.”
Being recognized pulls you into a bigger community narrative — even a loss keeps you inside it. Being seen means someone noticed you as an individual out there running, whether you’re fast or not.
Running is a simple thing, and that “unharvested” quality is exactly what’s rarest. We’ll keep watching. And we’d love to hear your take in the comments after you listen!