Nanjing’s annual marathon took place yesterday, 10 November, 2019, with competitors taking part from not only our fair city of Nanjing itself, but also from all over China, and far, far further afield as well. Indeed, it was to be one of the latter who went on to become the race’s overall winner.
This year’s event comprised three different disciplines; the full marathon, half marathon and a mini 5-kilometre, family-fitness run.
The starting pistol was fired at 7am yesterday, whereupon runners departed Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre to go on to pass many of Nanjing’s famous historical and cultural attractions, places such as Dabao’en Temple, Zhonghua Men, Fuzi Miao, Xinjiekou, the Presidential Palace and Xuanwu Lake.
Of particular note is the section of the run from Zhongshan Men to Baima Park that takes in the lower slopes of Purple Mountain. “That part is really the most beautiful trail which no other city has on their marathon”, Julia Wang, a Nanjing local who took part in the half marathon, told The Nanjinger.
However, the Nanjing Marathon was this year also unique for another reason; odd organisation. While the route for the race deliberately took in many of Nanjing’s most famous sights, in many places following the city wall, runners remained perplexed at the portion at Zhonghua Men. While that which is the world’s biggest city gate had its central archway opened up for the occasion, the passageways on either side remained closed, forcing the thousands of runners through a cramped space that could have resulted in significant injury.
The China Athletics Association awarded the Nanjing Marathon the title of “Bronze Event” in 2015, “Silver Event” in 2016 and the ultimate title of “Gold Event” just last year. No wonder such a large proportion of runners were out-of-towners.
A total of 55,348 thousand people registered for this year’s marathon, for an available 30 thousand places. Runners from Nanjing itself accounted for 57.1 percent of the turnout, with the remaining 42.9 percent coming from elsewhere in China and other countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the Netherlands, as well as the two other countries that would go on to be first across the finish line.
Victorious for the women was the Mongolian runner, Bayartsogt Munkhzaya, with a time of 2:35:40. After struggling in the initial stages, it was Kenyan competitor, Moses Kiptoo Kurgat who took the men’s title, crossing the finish line with a time of 2:13:04.
Given that the Nanjing Marathon this year celebrated its 5th anniversary, by way of a thank you, all those who participated in the five marathons to date were awarded lifetime entry to the event.
