Beijing, China – A video recorded by X user Daniel Bovensiepen shows a roadside view of the Beijing E-Town Humanoid Robot Half Marathon, with the caption: “The humans are even slower”.

The shaky handheld footage pans across a wide multi-lane road lined with young trees, green bushes, grassy verges, and overhead power lines under an overcast sky. Spectators stand behind low hedges and barriers, with purple umbrellas and white and blue tents visible among the greenery, while blue Chinese road signs mark the route.

The clip is part of the second Beijing E-Town Humanoid Robot Half Marathon held on April 19, 2026, where over 100 Chinese-made humanoid robots raced a full 21 km course alongside thousands of human runners in separate categories. The focus highlights the contrast between human participants and the far faster machines.

The standout robot “Lightning,” developed by smartphone maker Honor, completed the distance in a record 50 minutes 26 seconds, finishing well ahead of any human competitor and even surpassing the men’s world record time. The moment underscores rapid advances in bipedal robotics and artificial intelligence.

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