Shanghai International Marathon: A Three-Dimensional Urban Spectacle

Nothing resonates more with the pulse of a city’s development than the rhythm of running;

Nor does anything better showcase a city’s spirit than a mass sporting event.

30,020 participants experienced the joy of health through running;

And also felt the charm of Shanghai and its ever-forward-moving urban spirit.

Yesterday, the 2012 Shanghai International Marathon concluded successfully. 30,020 participants from 76 countries and regions enjoyed the health benefits of running while also experiencing the charm of Shanghai and its progressive spirit along the classic “Old Shanghai” race route.
It’s a race and a city promotional video

 

At 7:00 a.m. yesterday, the 17th Shanghai International Marathon started healthily at Chen Yi Square near the Bund. Duan Shijie, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China, Zhao Wen, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, Xue Chao, Director of the Organizing Committee and Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government, Xu Yibo, Secretary of the Huangpu District Committee and Director of the Organizing Committee, Shen Chunde, Deputy Director of the Athletics Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, jointly fired the starting gun. Li Yuyi, Director of the Organizing Committee and Director of the Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau, delivered a speech. Chen Yiping, Executive Director of the Organizing Committee and Inspector of the Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau, presided over the start ceremony.

The morning rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of tens of thousands of participants and supporters. Whether running or cheering, everyone embodied the theme “A City in Motion, A Festival for All.”

Kenyan runner Tameite won the men’s title with a time of 2:09:01, while Ethiopian female runner Boro claimed the women’s crown with 2:23:07. Both also set new course records for the Shanghai Marathon. “I love this beautiful city and everyone who cheered for me. Of course, these elements together made for a wonderful race,” said Tameite, who added that he can’t wait for next year’s Shanghai Marathon.

According to chip timing statistics, this year’s completion rates were: 97.9% for the half marathon and 94.1% for the full marathon (compared to 96.86% and 92.66% last year), setting a record high for national marathon completion rates in recent years.

The astonishing completion rate also proves that this event is not only for top-tier professional athletes with outstanding results, but also for ordinary participants of all ages and from different countries.

“I’ve run a marathon in London before. Only events like this bring together so many strangers, regardless of age or nationality. Everyone is like they’re celebrating a festival—that’s the magic of the marathon,” said Chantal from the UK, who ran the half marathon with her friend Kelly, while their husbands and children cheered from the sidelines. “We hope to run faster every year, but what matters most is that we feel the joy of life here.” At the finish line, Chantal’s daughter gave her a gift—a watercolor painting of her running.

Like Chantal, many others enjoyed not just the health benefits of running, but also the unique festive atmosphere of this massive gathering.

Spider-Man, robots, Godzilla, Winnie the Pooh—participants in a variety of eye-catching costumes also celebrated this special occasion in style, with several couples even proposing after the race. As Chantal put it, “Beyond the race, the show is an inseparable part of the marathon because it showcases the personality and vitality of both the city and its runners.”

[Details of the Marathon]

300,000 warm text messages sent out before the race regarding the event touched many participants. From major aspects such as food, clothing, accommodation, and transportation, to small details like where runners could store their clothes, the Shanghai Marathon organizing committee left nothing overlooked.

This year, over 5,000 staff members were involved in the event’s security, medical, logistics, and hydration support—2,000 fewer than last year. But it is precisely the years of experience and efficiency in organizing the event that enabled the committee to deliver more targeted services and support.

“This year I ran four marathons in China, but the Shanghai Marathon was the most considerate. They thought of everything possible for the safety and needs of the runners.” Yao Jindong from Shijiazhuang said bluntly that the Shanghai Marathon truly puts “people first.” “Take the placement of portable toilets, for example—there were volunteers along the route quickly guiding people, which saved me a lot of trouble. After finishing the race, my ankle was a bit sore and I was limping, but before I could even ask for help, the medical station staff started giving me some simple treatment.”

To ensure the safety of participants, the event set up a dedicated medical department, with 200 medical rescue personnel, 16 ambulances providing medical services, 12 medical aid stations, and 120 Fudan University nursing volunteers with medical expertise, forming a comprehensive medical safety net for the race.

Li Haode, a runner who came specially from Hong Kong, collapsed due to exhaustion. But just three minutes later, medical station staff had already provided him with initial treatment. “I have to say, the level of support at the Shanghai Marathon is no less than that of world-class marathons like Berlin or New York,” said Yang Ruixiang, captain of Hong Kong’s “World Road Running Team,” who brought 50 runners including Li Haode to Shanghai. He marveled that the Shanghai Marathon paid attention to many small details. “These little things are exactly what runners need the most.”

In fact, besides the professional medical staff, there were also several middle-aged volunteers at each medical station. They weren’t college students, but members of a motorcycle volunteer team. Whenever equipment needed to be transported or an injured athlete required evacuation, these motorcycle volunteers would arrive as quickly as possible. “We were all in position by 6 a.m., and many volunteers and medical staff arrived even earlier than we did.”

A marathon tests not only the runners’ willpower, but also the organizers of the event and the city’s volunteers. Starting last year, Yang Qian and her environmental volunteer alliance have been involved in the environmental management efforts of the marathon.

“The marathon is arguably the world’s most participated-in low-carbon sport, but because of the huge number of participants and the need to hydrate at various water stations, it can lead to waste accumulation in many areas.” Yang Qian revealed that according to her understanding, the Shanghai Marathon alone provided 110,000 paper drinking cups for participants, nearly 70,000 sponge blocks, and nearly 100,000 bottles of mineral water and beverages. Therefore, how to use these items more environmentally is an issue that needs attention.

“Compared to last year, whether it’s the volunteers at the water stations or those responsible for cleaning up after the race, everyone is paying more attention to environmental protection. Although runners can’t be expected to deliberately dispose of their drinking cups in trash bins during the race, we’re getting better and better at providing water in a reasonable way,” Yang Qian said. These details and the overall improvement of the event go hand in hand. “Of course, I’ve heard from our volunteers that quite a few disposable raincoats were discarded at the starting point, which does create some waste. But I also saw along the route that more participants threw their disposable raincoats in trash bins near the road. These details also prove that the pre-race text message reminders from the organizing committee really worked, and that our citizens’ environmental awareness is growing.”

The Marathon in the Details

“This is truly a wonderful race route. There aren’t too many ups and downs, and along the way there are all kinds of stylish and beautiful sights and buildings. Like all the world-renowned marathons, the Shanghai Marathon offers everyone a comprehensive racing experience.” In the eyes of Wendy, deputy director of the San Francisco Marathon organizing committee in the United States, this year’s Shanghai race route is world-class.

Indeed, this marathon not only included the historic Nanjing Road, the fashionable and modern Huaihai Road, but also the riverside landscape of Binjiang Road. But what moved participant Hu Chengfeng was not just the Shanghai Marathon, but also the people of the city. “Because it rained in the morning, I didn’t warm up properly, and in the last ten kilometers I felt some cramps. But the aunties and spectators by the roadside who I didn’t even know not only cheered me on, they also gave me drinks, chocolate, and bananas. Without what they did, I might not have made it to the finish line.” This was Hu Chengfeng’s third marathon and his first “Shanghai Marathon,” but the 23-year-old from Quanzhou said it was these small acts of kindness that made him want to come back to Shanghai every year—not just for the race.

As Shen Chunde, deputy director of the Athletics Administrative Center, put it, “The marathon not only combines the health and happiness of urban life for citizens, but also brings together people of different ages and social strata through the event, showcasing the image and spirit of a city.”

Auntie Xu Qindi, who lives on Changde Road, and her group of friends formed a gong and drum team and also volunteered early in the morning on West Nanjing Road to cheer on the marathon runners. In fact, three years ago, Auntie Xu didn’t understand why the marathon caused traffic disruptions. “At that time, I just thought, why do so many runners push themselves so hard, and why do residents have to take detours because of the race?” But in the past two years, Auntie Xu has become more and more enthusiastic about the Shanghai Marathon and more understanding of the runners. “My son-in-law once worked in Chicago. He told me that every time there’s a marathon, most citizens who don’t run will still cheer for the runners, because for a city’s event, everyone’s there not for the results, but for the joy.”

At the same time, seeing more and more young people joining the marathon has also made Auntie Xu feel heartened. “Even if we can’t run anymore, if we can give the runners some help, some applause, then they’ll be able to run more easily, and it will attract more young people to join in, pursue health, and those athletes from other cities and countries will also have a deeper impression of Shanghai.”

Ordinary citizens like Auntie Xu and the event organizers have, without even realizing it, become part of the Shanghai Marathon, serving as the most direct representation of the city’s spirit—and this has also become a microcosm of the Shanghai Marathon that attracts more international attention.

“The biggest feeling I got from this year’s Shanghai Marathon is the vitality of the city. The rain in the morning made me wonder if some people might drop out, but seeing so many people smiling as they crossed the finish line, I knew that this city is already forming a marathon atmosphere.” A staff member of the Gold Coast Marathon in Australia revealed that the Shanghai Marathon has become a bridge for exchange. “Our 2013 event will accept registrations from Chinese runners in Shanghai, and I believe more Chinese people will find joy through the marathon.”