Honor "Flash" Robot Breaks Human Half-Marathon World Record at Beijing E-Town

On April 19, 2026, the 2026 Beijing E-Town Half-Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon kicked off at the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, with over 100 humanoid robot teams competing alongside 12,000 human runners.

The star of the event was Honor's "Flash" robot from the Qitiandasheng Team, which claimed victory in the autonomous navigation category with a stunning time of 50 minutes and 26 seconds—shattering the human world record of 57 minutes and 20 seconds set by Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo.

This year's race marked a dramatic improvement from the inaugural event in 2025, when the Tiangong Ultra won with a time of 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds.

The 2026 race featured significant rule changes to encourage genuine autonomy. Remote-controlled robots had their finishing times multiplied by 1.2, while the autonomous navigation category required robots to navigate the 21.1-kilometer course without human intervention.

The challenging course included over 10 terrain types with slopes reaching 8% incline, total elevation gain of 100 meters, 22 turns including near-90-degree angles, and narrowed paths simulating urban complexities.

The race serves as more than a spectacle—it's a proving ground for technologies that will power real-world applications including industrial inspection, emergency rescue, and elderly care.

The event showcased the maturing Chinese robotics ecosystem, with participants ranging from established companies like Honor, Unitree, and UBTECH to university research teams.