The annual Standard Chartered Marathon is just around the corner. Have you signed up yet? Beyond this flagship event, an increasing number of Hong Kong people are taking part in overseas marathons in recent years. There are over a thousand marathon events globally each year, with popular destinations among Hongkongers such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan hosting about 40 major marathons annually. Would you be interested in experiencing the thrill of running a marathon abroad?
Online travel agency Expedia (formerly known as 智游网) recently held a press conference, inviting Hong Kong’s half-marathon record holder Mr. Gary Kwan, millennial runner Nick who has raced across Europe, America, Japan, Taiwan, and Australia, as well as banking professional and marathon enthusiast Stephanie to share their experiences running overseas marathons.
Ms. Angie So, General Manager of Expedia Northeast Asia (second from the right), shared relevant insights alongside fellow marathon enthusiasts.
One of the biggest differences between overseas marathons and those in Hong Kong lies in the atmosphere. Stephanie, who has run in places such as Kyoto, Singapore, Taiwan’s Tanzhong, South Korea’s Chuncheon, Taipei, and Nanjing, used Kyoto as an example—its course passes many tourist attractions, and locals even put on impromptu performances of traditional Kyoto arts to cheer on runners. In Taiwan’s Tanzhong, residents go even furtherby lining the streets to welcome runners and offering them local delicacies and cooling herbal tea to help beat the heat.
The marathon in Tanzhong, Taichung
Fancy giving it a try? Currently, the dates and official websites for major global marathons are available, with some popular events requiring registration up to a year in advance. Meanwhile,
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