In the “Drifting Legend” program titled “Hong Kong Dad Turns New Yorker: The Blood, Sweat, and Tears of a New Immigrant,” Huang Jiabao, an immigrant to New York, was invited to share his immigration story. During his time in Hong Kong, he was a marathon coach. Originally working in multimedia design, he later transitioned to a full-time sports coach, having helped over 2,000 students. His Instagram page has amassed over 50,000 followers.
Huang Jiabao had suffered a football training injury that led doctors to diagnose him as unable to run long distances. However, he did not give up on long-distance running and instead sought recovery methods persistently. Through his determination, he eventually became a marathon coach, even completing the world’s top six marathons. What miracles unfolded during his running journey?
The Boston Marathon, which began in 1897, is considered the top event in the world of long-distance running. It is the oldest marathon race globally, with a history of 128 years. The Boston Marathon is one of the most difficult marathons to qualify for due to its strict entry requirements and challenging course, making it a major goal for long-distance runners. The entrance standard for the Boston Marathon is known as BQ (Boston Qualification), which has been in place since 1970. For example, in the 2024 registration, runners needed to be 5 minutes and 29 seconds faster than the BQ standard to be selected. In 2025, the “BQ” time was increased to 6 minutes and 51 seconds, resulting in over 12,000 applicants being rejected.
Huang Jiabao explained, “The registration for this marathon has only one rule: if you run fast enough, you can register. If you’re slow, you won’t make it. Each age group has a qualifying time, and you must meet that time to be eligible to register. If the number of registrants exceeds the quota, those who run faster can register. When I first heard about it, I felt like the distance of this race was like the distance between Mars and Earth. It seemed impossible for me to get there, so I never thought about registering.”
Ten years ago, Huang Jiabao never imagined he would one day step onto the Boston Marathon track. At that time, he was just a novice in marathons. When he learned about the requirements for the Boston Marathon, he felt it was impossible for him to qualify. However, in April 2024, ten years later he ran in the event as a Hong Kong citizen, wearing a striking red “battle suit.” To qualify for entry, he not only had to complete the full marathon in 3 hours and 25 minutes but also meet a nearly 6-minute “Cut-Off Time.” This stemmed from his performance in a marathon event in Seoul, where he finished in 3 hours, 18 minutes, and 59 seconds, allowing him to qualify.
He shared, “For beginners in running a full marathon, the Boston Marathon is a level that seems unattainable. But I want to tell everyone that as long as you’re willing to put in effort, plan your life, and move in the right direction, one day, with enough accumulation, you can run the Boston Marathon!”
Huang Jiabao’s ability to complete the world’s top six marathons is truly a miracle. Before becoming a marathon coach, he suffered an injury during football training at the age of 30, with ruptured anterior cruciate…