If you’ve ever had the misfortune of breathing in Beijing, it would probably never occur to you to take up an activity, like long-distance running, that forces you to really inhale that Beijing brew long and hard for three to five hours. According to The Guardian, Beijing has the world’s worst air (see “Satellite data reveals Beijing as air pollution capital of world” ).
Which is what makes the Beijing marathon such a unique event. Why, in a city with nearly 3 million cars on the road and 1000 more coming in every day, would 25,000 presumably healthy people choose, choose, to run 26 miles? Why hold one of Asia’s premier marathons, and this year the 10th Asian Championship marathon, in a city whose health clubs have taken to installing indoor running tracks?
But you know what they say – 25,000 Chinese can’t be wrong. So, at 8 am sharp on October 15, the starter’s gun fired and the ANA Beijing International Marathon was underway.
Me first! No, me! The starting line at Tiananmen Square
The elite pool of marathoners looked to number about 30 or so, the other many thousands of runners were just ordinary Beijingers and out-of-towners looking for a good time and a fun jog through the city that is to host the next Olympics. Starting at Tiananmen Square, the marathoners made their way through the north part of the city and finished at the future National Olympic Sports Centre. The first man across the line was Kenya’s James Kwambei with a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes and 36 seconds, while the first woman was China’s Sun Weiwei in 2 hours, 34 minutes and 41 seconds.
As in any marathon, the participants came in a variety of shapes and sizes – the young, the old, the insanely fit, the merely insane. But unlike any other marathon, this one had, pardon the stereotyping, a unique Chinese feel to it. In the ultimate loner’s sport, huge groups ran together. Some runners were clad in the highest tech, most outrageously expensive shoes and gear one could imagine; others wore pyjamas. Well after the race had begun, hundreds of runners were dodging through the crowd of spectators trying get to the starting line. The whole event had an atmosphere of happy chaos.
“Now young man, don’t go doing any fancy stuff”
And what Chinese event would be complete without some people dashing about in utterly inexplicable costumes? Meet the running red gum-drops . . .
“My mum said I should wear a face mask. Do you think this will do?”
It wouldn’t be a REAL Chinese marathon unless someone was running in pjs, so I’m not surprised. I wouldn’t be shocked either if a couple participants ran with cigs hanging outta their mouths as well!
WOW what an experience to see – thanks for sharing it – we have no idea how the other side of the world lives unless folk like you take the time to tell us – enjoy your trip and stay safe.