According to a report by China Economic Net's "Business World" program, the 2013 Guangzhou Marathon concluded yesterday, with over 20,000 participants. Both public attention and participant enthusiasm were higher than last year. In fact, not just Guangzhou—many cities across China are showing growing interest in marathon events.
Du Zhaocai, director of the Chinese Athletics Administrative Center, described the recent marathon boom as “flourishing everywhere.” In 2010, there were 12 marathons; in 2011, 22; in 2012, 33, with over 500,000 participants. In 2013, China hosted 25 full marathons, plus events like the Beijing International Running Festival, totaling 46 races.
Mr. Wang, who runs a sports company that organizes marathons in China, said that marathon fever has taken hold in multiple cities.
Mr. Wang: Currently, about 32 marathons are registered in the early stages in China. Major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou all have their own professional international marathons, and around five or six are registered globally as gold-label events, such as Xiamen, Beijing, and Shanghai. These are all pre-registered gold-standard races. Nowadays, the running industry is booming, and the marathon, as a prominent form of running, is gaining recognition. More and more people are focusing on their health, and running—this simplest and most primal activity—is gradually being embraced. That’s why marathons are becoming popular in China.
Mr. Wang noted that a significant trend in marathons across Chinese cities in recent years is the increasing participation of amateur runners.
Mr. Wang: More and more ordinary runners are falling in love with the marathon. In the early years of the Beijing Marathon, the number of full marathon registrants was relatively small. But starting last year and this year, the number of full marathon entries has been gradually rising, which shows that our runners are constantly pushing their limits. The skill level of amateur runners in China is also improving.
Why are more and more cities keen on hosting marathons? Officials in charge of event sponsorship for the Xiamen, Hangzhou, and Lanzhou Marathons say that marathons can promote the city, foster civic unity, and bring commercial benefits.
Official: Each city has its unique characteristics and showcases different angles. Moreover, since the national fitness campaign began after 2008, large-scale public welfare single-sport events still attract good sponsorship. There are over 30 marathons in China, and almost every one has a title sponsor, which shows the market is still strong. Corporate support for both events and public welfare activities remains solid.
Marathon events in Chinese cities all aim to attract high-level athletes because having elite runners increases the chances of securing CCTV live broadcasts. As a result, many are focusing on prize money.
Official: Each city has its own unique appeal, and everyone wants more top athletes to participate. Actually, each city has different strengths—some haven’t changed their prize money in over a decade, while others now offer $80,000, $40,000, or $20,000. That’s roughly the situation, and it’s unlikely to go up much further.
Prize money for domestic city marathons varies widely. Some champions receive 20,000 RMB, others $40,000. The Xiamen Marathon even offers $1 million for breaking the world record. Mr. Wang, an experienced race organizer, revealed that for host cities, success is measured by two things: attracting high-level athletes with strong performances, and ensuring high public participation.
Mr. Wang: Marathon prize money in China isn’t particularly high. The world’s six major marathons—Tokyo, Boston, New York, London—offer much more than those in China. Of course, it’s not just the higher prize money; they also have higher qualification standards, which attract top global athletes. It’s a gradual process—the world’s best athletes only start recognizing and joining your event once it gains credibility.
Reporter: Take the Beijing Marathon or Hangzhou Marathon, for example. What counts as success? Is it two indicators: attracting many high-level athletes and seeing growth in non-professional participant numbers? Are these the criteria for success?
Mr. Wang: Exactly. For example, this year’s Beijing Marathon performed very well in both aspects. One, registration was extremely enthusiastic—spots filled up in just 13 hours. Two, the final race results saw the champion break a long-standing record. This proves that this year’s Beijing Marathon was relatively successful.
Mr. Wang said that participant numbers at marathons in various cities are rising. In the future, host cities and organizers hope not only to expand participation but also to improve the competitive level of runners. Currently, some internationally renowned marathons require registration by lottery, submission of past marathon results, and screening before allowing entry.
Mr. Wang: When organizing events, we must focus not just on increasing numbers but also on improving quality. A city’s capacity to host is limited. With the same capacity, we need to enhance quality. For instance, many marathons in Tokyo and other cities—like the Berlin Marathon—require participants to be selected via lottery. Only those who draw a number can register. I think either Boston or another marathon requires you to submit your personal best marathon time as a benchmark for selection. The lottery system will soon come to China—it’s just a matter of time, whether next year or the year after.
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Marathon
The marathon is a widely popular long-distance running event internationally, covering a total distance of 42.195 kilometers. It comes in three formats: full marathon, half marathon, and quarter marathon.
The origin of this race’s distance dates back to a battle on September 12, 490 BC. Fought near the town of Marathon, not far from Athens, between the Persians and Athenians, it was part of the Greco-Persian Wars, which ended in victory for the Athenians against invasion. To deliver the news of triumph quickly, the commander Miltiades sent a soldier named Pheidippides to Athens.
Pheidippides was a famous “fleet-footed” runner. To bring the good news quickly, he ran nonstop. By the time he reached Athens, he was gasping for breath and shouted excitedly, “Rejoice… O Athenians, we… have won!” Then he collapsed and died.
To commemorate this event, the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 included the marathon race, using the distance Pheidippides ran—42.193 kilometers—as the official race length.
Globally Famous Marathons
The Boston Marathon, starting on April 19, 1897, was the world’s first city marathon, with only 15 runners at the time. Since its inception, it has been held annually without interruption, usually in mid-April. The Boston Marathon preserves its historic traditions—scenic countryside, point-to-point fast courses, and unprecedented crowds—all showcasing the charm of this historic marathon. However, many runners are unable to participate due to its strict qualification requirements. Size: Over 10,000 runners. In 2013, the total prize purse exceeded $806,000, with the champion receiving about $150,000.
The New York Marathon was founded in 1970 and takes place every early November, attracting over 100,000 participants at its peak. The event is spectacular, causing the Brooklyn Bridge to vibrate as runners cross it. Few marathons can attract as many international runners as New York—its unique city charm, the event’s grand atmosphere, and the incredible crowds lining the route encourage more people to join. The champion’s prize money broke records at $80,000.
The Berlin Marathon is held every late September, drawing huge crowds and creating a lively, bustling atmosphere. The course offers a journey through 20th-century history—you’ll run past majestic historical buildings, the stern and orderly structures of former East Berlin, and the modern, high-tech, commercial architecture of West Berlin. Though recent years have emphasized world record attempts, Berlin’s proudest claim is being a truly mass-participation marathon, allowing 35,000 runners.
The London Marathon was established in 1981 and takes place every late April, with over 30,000 participants.
The Paris Marathon, held each season, undoubtedly attracts numerous long-distance running enthusiasts. On race day, roads around Paris are closed to reduce traffic, with over 20,000 participants.
The Stockholm Marathon starts at 2 p.m. on a Saturday in early June every year, with about one-third of the city's residents pouring into the streets to cheer, and more than 12,000 participants taking part.
The Amsterdam Marathon began in the late 1970s. In 1999, the organizers offered a total prize purse of $325,000. The event had 2,200 participants.
Domestic Marathon Events
Dandong Marathon: 30,000 RMB for men, 20,000 RMB for women
Dalian Marathon: 30,000 USD for men, 25,000 USD for women
Tianjin Marathon: 30,000 USD
Beijing Marathon: 40,000 USD
Taiyuan Marathon: 25,000 USD
Lanzhou Marathon: 40,000 USD
Hangzhou Marathon: 30,000 RMB for men, 20,000 RMB for women
Chongqing Marathon: 30,000 USD
Xiamen Marathon: 40,000 USD, with a bonus of 1 million USD for breaking the world best record
Guangzhou Marathon: 40,000 USD
Negative News About Domestic Marathons
In the 2012 Guangzhou Marathon, two people died—one aged 21 and the other 25—while over 1,500 participants experienced discomfort during the same race.
In the 2013 Beijing Marathon, due to the limited number of portable toilets and public restrooms provided by the organizers, many runners resorted to "solving the problem on the spot," resulting in streams of "water" flowing across the ground.