On the Run
XINHUAThe start of the Xiamen International Marathon
COURTESY PHOTOIn China, Marathon races have set off a nationwide craze
Listen closely. Can you hear that? It’s the sound of millions of running feet pounding on roads in China, and it’s getting louder with every step. Marathon fever is sweeping across the country.
Looking back to when the staging of marathons was just beginning in China, Huang Weikang, former Editor-in-Chief of Track and Field magazine, said 10 years ago, despite the bustle on the streets, most citizens were mere onlookers on the opening day of the Beijing Marathon.
“At that time, marathon was simply an ornamental event in China, like a ballet or an opera performance. The public’s participation and passion was not high. But now, it seems the running craze is gradually reaching fever pitch,” Huang said.
In China, large-scale road races such as the Beijing International Marathon, Shanghai International Marathon, Guangzhou International Marathon and so on are attracting high demand for entry tickets the minute registration is announced. Hundreds of thousands of applicants compete - not only for the top prize, but to win a place in the event. Running enthusiasts across the country go out of their way and spend large sums of money, even on airfares, in order to participate and compete in running.
Statistics from the Chinese Athletic Association (CAA) show that in 2017, a total of 1,100 marathon events (with a size of 800 competitors or up) spreading across 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China were recorded. Nearly 5 million runners registered as participants in the races, an increase of close to 2.2 million compared with the previous year.
Government support, social participation and strong marketing from the sporting industry have gradually increased in the country and led to the rapid development of the marathon industry, valuing the races at 70 billion yuan ($10.77 billion). To date, the marathon industry in China has created an estimated 720,000 jobs nationwide, according to CAA official website.
More than fitness
In recent years, China’s ever-growing fascination with marathons has been triggered by its economic development and health-conscious middle class. According to the 2016 China Sports Consumption Ecology Report released by the 21st Century Economic Research Institute and e-commerce platform JD.com, a large proportion of the marathon runners are from the middle class, namely the white-collar workers, civil servants and businesspeople who are keen on leading a healthy lifestyle.
“No other sport requires simpler entry to participate. All you need is a good pair of running shoes, and you are ready to hit the road, regardless of age or gender,” said Lu Jin, a marathon enthusiast. As a 45-year-old surgeon in Beijing, Lu started with half-marathons three years ago for a simple purpose – maintaining fitness. Now, he is an old hand at the sport who has participated in many international marathons.
“Running a marathon gives you a stronger heart and lung, more defined leg, glute and stomach muscles, better posture, possible weight loss and increased strength and endurance,” Lu told ChinAfrica.
However, the benefits of a marathon are far more than physical effects. “Many people find that as they train, it’s a catalyst for reducing or eliminating unhealthy practices such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and overeating junk food. You might add a few years to your life, but you’ll most certainly add more life to your years,” he said. As a seemingly pressured IT engineer, Wu You became a marathon addict upon realizing the amount of relaxation it offered after a hard day. “Running long distances, increases resilience and improves mental clarity,” Wu said. “It can be a place where you find peace and solitude, have time to think, and are able to work through negative emotions. When you are upset and running, you will find that the world is really simple, just under your feet.”
A lifestyle choice
For many runners, marathons are a way of life.
“As we get older, the places and opportunities to meet new people become less. I find that participating in marathons is a simple way to make friends,” said Wu, who made a lot of friends in the Xstop Running Community, a running club with 48,000 members established by Xtep, one of the leading distributors in sporting merchandise in China.
“The sense of belonging and the mutual encouragement that exists within the running community are very warm for many. We easily befriend one another as we have the same belief - to keep running and never stop,” Wu told ChinAfrica. Besides, a marathon can be a great way to explore new places. For a runner who also loves traveling, marathons are a solid choice. “Competing in an international marathon is a chance to experience a city or a country you’ve never visited before,” said Meng Xiangkun, an experienced runner from Tianjin who often runs in London, New York and Melbourne.
According to him, there’s a unique perspective that people get running through the streets of a city, unique ancient buildings or amazing natural settings. Somehow this just cannot be seen by whizzing in a car. Plus, during a race, the streets are often closed down so you don’t have to battle traffic. 
XINHUA2018 ZhengzhouKaifeng International Marathon starts in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province on March 25 Marathons market cities
In an effort to increase popularity, many cities in China have been scrambling to host marathon races as they are a boost toward the local catering and tourism industries. According to Zhang Xin, Deputy Director of Chongqing Sports Bureau, most of the marathons in China are held under the auspices of local governments, even as far as Lanzhou in the northwest China’s Gansu Province.
“As China is in the process of speeding up its urbanization in recent years, the municipal authorities are keen on accommodating similar sports event to further display and promote their cities,” said Zhang.
Due to its large participation and nationwide media coverage, local governments consider marathons to be an important part of marketing their cities. Thus, many cities single out their unique routes across scenic spots and historical attractions, not only to boost the fitness of the people, but also to promote their local tourism.
For example, on April 21, the Fanwan Lake Wetland International Marathon was held in Qianjiang, central China’s Hubei Province. A televised broadcast of the event presented the city’s beautiful and natural scenery to the world. After the hosting of the event, on May Day holiday on May 1-3, approximately 130,000 tourists arrived in Qianjiang, a growth of 7.8 percent year on year, generating a total tourism output value of 30 million yuan ($4.62 million).
Challenges
Though China is in the grip of a sporting boom, the marathon is still a new sport on the block, thus a lot of challenges occur in terms of race operation and marketing. For example, cheating to enter a race has become a problem in some marathon competitions. In the 2017 Beijing International Marathon, three runners used the same ID number, exposing long-existing issues of contestants fabricating bib numbers or trading entry spots illegally to run without registration. In order to curb such problems, in October 2017, the CAA imposed new rules which include banning runners from the races they cheated in, and any second offence resulting in total disqualification from all CAA authorized races.
In addition to eliminating cheating in the sport, the CAA has also issued guidelines with regard to race management, runners training, medical treatment and emergency aid to ensure the runners’ safety and well-being.
** Comments to [email protected]