Former Chinese nurse earns $750,000 in 10 months by running marathons

After leaving her nursing career to pursue professional marathon running full-time, Zhang Shuihua has secured a string of race victories and endorsement deals, earning approximately 5 million yuan (US$748,700) in just 10 months.

Zhang's victory at the Xi'an Marathon on Oct. 18 has once again placed her at the center of attention in the Chinese running community. She finished first in the women’s category with a personal best of 2 hours, 29 minutes and 7 seconds, setting a new course record that surpassed the previous mark established by Ethiopian athlete Derartu Hailu Gerefa in 2024, clocking 2 hours, 29 minutes and 37 seconds.

The win earned Zhang nearly $15,000, including around $12,000 for her first-place finish and a $3,000 bonus for breaking the record. This achievement marks the latest triumph in her transition from a shift-working hospital nurse to a professional marathon athlete.

Zhang worked as a nurse at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Lacking the benefit of early training within the professional sports system, she took up running as an adult, squeezing training sessions around her hospital shifts.

A turning point in her running career arrived at the Harbin Marathon in August 2025. Zhang finished as the top-ranked Chinese female athlete after running 42 km in 2 hours, 35 minutes and 27 seconds, but it was her post-race interview that went viral.

Speaking to the press, she broke down in tears while describing the difficulties she faced in negotiating shift swaps with colleagues to participate in weekend races.

These remarks quickly sparked debate on Chinese social media. Some expressed sympathy for the pressure of working as a nurse, while others argued that Zhang should not seek special treatment for hobbies if it interferes with her work.

In an interview with Hongxing News, Zhang explained that her tears in Harbin were a way to release her emotions and were not intended to attack her superiors or pressure the hospital into adjusting the shift schedule to her preference.

In December 2025, Zhang found herself in controversy when the hospital confirmed it had taken disciplinary action against her for accepting payment from commercial promotional activities without obtaining required approval and had provided false reasons when requesting shift swaps.

According to Jimu News, Zhang signed an advertising contract with a sports brand without following the hospital’s permission procedures. She received a six-month warning.

On Jan. 2, 2026, Zhang announced her resignation in a video. The decision immediately sparked debate over whether an amateur-turned-athlete could really survive on marathon alone.

The following months answered that question. She rattled off a string of podium finishes, including a runner-up spot at the Nanjing Beian Marathon and a record-breaking win at the Lishui and Liuzhou marathons. In Liuzhou alone, she walked away with $4,500 in cash and a new car valued at $15,000. Notably, Zhang signed up for the marathon as a normal participant and was not invited by the organizers.

Her success on the track opened up commercial opportunities. In just a week in February, she signed deals with three eyewear brands and used social media to diversify her income. In three months, she hosted 34 live streams, promoting sports accessories and nutritional supplements. Her follower count also doubled from 90,000 to over 180,000.

According to Sohu, Zhang's total pre-tax earnings over the past 10 months, including marathon prize money, appearance fees, endorsements and social media revenue, reached $700,000.

Zhang also excels in competitions. In just over six months, she successfully broke the 2.5-hour mark. Her time at the Xi'an Marathon was close to the mark of 2 hours, 27 minutes and 56 seconds set by Japan’s Mikuni Yada, who won the bronze medal at the Asian Games, leading fans to debate about Zhang's national team potential had she turned pro earlier.

A career in professional marathon running was not without challenges. Zhang had to overcome a bone fracture earlier in 2026 that tested her resilience as she cried alone and was unable to come to terms with the injury. Thanks to the encouragement of family and friends, she gradually adjusted her mindset, placing focus on nutrition, rest and recovery.

Ahead of the Xi’an Marathon, when asked if she regretted her decision to leave nursing for marathon running, Zhang affirmed that what matters most is looking ahead and living her best in the present.