Runners in Beijing hit streets for marathon
- Source: Global Times
- [02:31 October 19 2009]
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By Zhou Yongjing
Nearly 30,000 people joined the Beijing International Marathon Sunday, one of the top 11 marathon events in the world and the biggest in China, but some criticize the small prize amounts as unable to attract big names.
The annual race wrapped up with the men and women's top three positions racked up by Kenyan and Chinese competitors. Samuel Mugo of Kenya won the men's race. Bai Xue of China grabbed the women's. Both winners received a prize of $20,000.
The 42.195 kilometer race began at 8 am at Tiananmen Square, winding west and north through the Dongcheng, Xicheng, and Haidian districts and finished at the Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Chaoyang district.
The 29-year-old event is growing a rather large fan base. Despite the registration fees, 150 yuan ($22) for domestic runners and $100 for foreigners, this year's event attracted more than 28,000 participants.
Besides 30 world famous runners invited by the Chinese Athletic Association and contestants from the 11th National Games and the 10th University Marathon Competition, the majority of participants were amateurs from companies or individual marathoners in all four levels of competition.
Many joined the marathon to challenge themselves, and others took the opportunity to support charities.
Alpha Communities, a charity organization working in China and Mongolia, paid the registration fee for six runners, four from Canada and two from the US, on the condition that they ask friends, relatives and colleagues to sponsor their completion of the race.
"It's exciting to see how the international community is joining with the Chinese people to make a difference," said Chris Turner, Executive Officer of Alpha Communities, after raising more than 10,000 yuan ($1,465) for Sichuan earthquake victims and migrant workers in Beijing.
"Running races like this for sponsorship is novel idea here. It gives us an chance to raise our profile both in China and internationally," said Turner.
It was the fourth marathon for Australian David McLellan, who had joined marathons in New York, Zurich, and Melbourne. "The four marathon events are on different continents, which is quite amazing," McLellan said. "I hope the next stop will be in Africa."
The Beijing Marathon was first labeled a Gold Road Race event by the Association of Athletics Federations last year for its improved organization.
However, the prizes were still comparably low. Some cities offer bigger prizes than Beijing, possibly holding back some prospective professionals. London boasted a prize of $255,000 in 2008, while the total prize purse for the New York City marathon this year is $800,000.
