Yan runs a massage parlor in his hometown, Gaomi in Shandong province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

As for Yan, instead of trying to prove himself every time he runs, he has now moved to enjoy the process. He now smiles more often as he enjoys the process of running and this is reflected in the media coverage he receives.

In September, Yan completed his third Beijing Marathon in 3 hours 40 minutes despite being tripped up during the race.

Yan thought he could have done better, but admitted that he had eaten too much the night before and was also suffering from gastrointestinal discomfort.

As for breaking boundaries, Yan is now finding ways to make it more comfortable for him when it comes to running while ignoring conventional norms followed by visually-impaired runners.

Speaking about Yan's other strengths, Shu says that he is impressed not only by his confidence and determination to train, but also the proficiency with which Yan operates his mobile phone.

The internet is a key channel for Yan to learn about the world and the new technologies he uses greatly facilitate his daily life.

For now, Yan has installed screen readers on his phone and computer. And with the devices he can "read" at least three times faster than typical radio and television announcers.

He also shops online and buys most of his running gear on the e-commerce platform Taobao. Yan also takes screen-shots of his race and training data and sends them to his friends.

Besides, he is able to fix most of the problems that occur on his computer.