Beijing, May 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --May 17, to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Capital Airlines and support the national healthy running movement, the "5 Love Capital Airlines" Guangming Fun Run Half-Marathon Relay Race was successfully held at Beijing Olympic Forest Park.
On the occasion of its fifth anniversary, Capital Airlines, in collaboration with Guangming Fun Run, organized the "5 Love Capital Airlines" half-marathon relay race to encourage employees, advocate a healthy, sunny, and harmonious lifestyle, promote the public welfare concepts of low-carbon environmental protection and mutual assistance, and repay all students, adult consumers, and media friends who have supported and cared for Capital Airlines over the past five years with action. In particular, the healthy running event was held to cheer for Beijing's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.
At 2:00 p.m. on May 17, the "5 Love Capital Airlines" Guangming Fun Run Half-Marathon Relay Race kicked off at Beijing Olympic Forest Park. Bai Minjie, Vice President of Capital Airlines, delivered a speech for the race, wishing it a complete success and Beijing a successful Olympic bid. The flight attendants of Capital Airlines energized all participants with their energetic dance, drawing cheers from the audience and igniting the atmosphere of the race.
"Bang bang bang," at 2:15 p.m., Hou Yunhao, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Bid Committee, Bai Minjie, Vice President of Capital Airlines Co., Ltd., and Yang Gu, President of Guangming Net, jointly fired the starting gun for the race.
Hou Yunhao, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Bid Committee, Bai Minjie, Vice President of Capital Airlines Co., Ltd., and Yang Gu, President of Guangming Net, jointly fired the starting gun for the race
The race covered a distance of 21.0975 kilometers, completed in a relay format by teams of four members. To encourage mass participation, the race rules required that the first leg of all competing teams be run by a female athlete. As the race began, the weather turned unpredictable, with heavy rain suddenly pouring down. Undaunted, the female athletes tore through the rain curtain, gripping the batons tightly and sprinting off the starting line like arrows shot from a bow.
A total of 1,340 marathon enthusiasts across 335 teams competed in the rain, including the public group formed by running enthusiasts recruited nationwide by Capital Airlines and Guangming Net, the university group consisting of students from 15 universities in Beijing, the media group made up of media friends from Xinhua News Agency, Sina Net, Baidu, Phoenix Net, Beijing TV Station, China Sports Daily, and China Net, as well as the Capital Airlines employee group. They ran for team glory, experiencing the unique thrills of relay racing — excitement, anticipation, and euphoria — with their enthusiasm undampened by the weather.
In just 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 56 seconds, the "Guangming Fun Run Team One" completed the 21.0975-kilometer half-marathon relay and claimed first place in the public group. Bai Zhongyi, Vice President of Capital Airlines, awarded prizes to the top three teams in the public group.
Peking University’s "Weiming Running Group" bravely won first place in the university group with a time of 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 12 seconds; among the 20-plus Beijing-based media teams, the "Zhanlu Love Running Group" took the top spot with a time of 1 hour, 29 minutes, and 10 seconds.
Yang Gu, President of Guangming Net, awards a prize to the Capital Airlines team
The Capital Airlines employee team, which had only prepared for a week from registration to competition, also demonstrated the fighting spirit they exhibit in their work — unafraid of hardship or fatigue. With extraordinary perseverance, they completed the race. The "No. 1 Team" secured first place in the Capital Airlines group with a time of 1 hour, 27 minutes, and 29 seconds. Yang Gu, President of Guangming Net, presented trophies to the Capital Airlines participants.
Many participants noted after the race that the rain did not hinder their performance — in fact, some even set new personal bests in the 5-kilometer segment. Participants from Capital Airlines said they were inspired by the sweat of running and the determination of their teammates, and pledged to bring a healthy and positive attitude to both their work and lives, striving in their jobs, uplifting their spirits, and cheering for Beijing’s bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.