On March 22, the Chongqing International Marathon started along Nanbin Road in Chongqing, attracting over 30,000 marathon runners and enthusiasts from 48 countries and regions. Among the participants, a group of energetic runners stood out—they were wearing orange shirts and colorful balloons, running gracefully on the track and becoming the most eye-catching sight at the Chongqing Marathon. They were the “Leading Team” from Garmin.
Established in 2013, the Garmin Leading Team is a fitness-oriented public welfare organization initiated by Garmin, the globally renowned GPS brand. Upholding the philosophy of “Get Moving with Garmin,” the team aims to encourage fitness for all. It organizes local runners in major Chinese cities to exercise together and invites some of China’s most well-known running experts to share knowledge about running—teaching how to run, how to train, and how to improve performance, all in pursuit of achieving fitness goals. The launch of the Leading Team marks Garmin’s move as a global GPS leader to engage closely with Chinese runners in a professional capacity.
The Chongqing Marathon is the second international marathon event participated in by the Garmin Leading Team after the Xiamen Marathon, drawing many running enthusiasts and Garmin fans to sign up. Garmin provided the team members with official race shirts and leading balloons, along with thoughtful services such as photography, cheering, and hydration support. To encourage runners to achieve faster and more accurate results, Garmin also offered attractive prizes such as the Forerunner 10 and Forerunner 620 to top-performing participants.
As the most professional brand in the sports watch category, Garmin had a high visibility at this year’s Chongqing Marathon. On-site, it was common to see runners wearing Garmin running watches, including the brand’s latest models, the Forerunner 220 and Forerunner 620. This highlights just how popular Garmin watches are among the running community.
In 2014, the Garmin Leading Team will expand to more cities, bringing together local runners for group activities. The team plans to establish a dynamic “Most Accurate Pace Leaderboard” to recognize and award the most precise pace-setters throughout the year. This initiative serves as an ongoing motivational and consolidation tool, focusing on promoting standout pacing groups to create differentiation in races and build unique word-of-mouth within the running circle. Garmin will also provide its sports navigation products as rewards to encourage runners to keep pushing their limits.