January 26, 200719 yr Is this the pushiest parent of them all? By PETER SIMPSON - More by this author » Last updated at 22:15pm on 25th January 2007 Zhang, the eight-year-old marathon girl She is only eight, but Zhang Huimin's father has high hopes for her. However, as he trains the schoolgirl for the 2016 Olympics, many fear for her health. As part of Huimin's training, she must run 33 miles - more than a marathon - every day for 15 days. On Thursday, with her father Jianmin shouting motivation from a bicycle, she began the first run. They plan to circumnavigate their home island province of Hainan, off the southern coast of China. "I believe to be successful you have to practise from an early age," said Mr Zhang. Huimin begins between 3am and 6am, stops for meals and continues into the evening. But Li Kequan, director of the Ultimate Running Club of China, said: 'Her father should ask if his daughter's health is up to such a tough task.'
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