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Marathons

Marathons
More than 800 marathons and countless other half marathons take place around the world every year, but only six are classed as world title events - Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Amber (right) and Zach Williams after running the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in April 2023. Photo: American Heart Association News
Wellness

How a marathon runner survived after tearing her body’s largest artery

Things could have turned out very different for Amber Williams, who was diagnosed with aortic dissection days after running a marathon.

‘We all can do it’: 88-year-old completes 12th marathon at Athens’ The Authentic

Fame and celebrity

8 celebrities who run marathons, from Oprah and Diplo to Pippa Middleton

Nervous excitement as Sydney closes in on attaining World Marathon Majors status

City’s 42km race will join New York, London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and Tokyo if it passes the assessment criteria for second straight year.

The 25,000 competitors in the Sydney Marathon will cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge (left) on their way to finishing at the Sydney Opera House (right).
Wellness

Why runners need to be aware of raised heatstroke risk amid global warming

Experts say race organisers need to be prepared to deal with the risk of a condition that can damage runners’ organs and even kill them.

Icons and Influencers

US Justice Richard Bernstein on the realities of living with blindness

The Michigan Supreme Court judge fought to attend law school, run marathons, overcome a debilitating accident, and champion the disabled and disadvantaged

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Job hunting

What are ‘mad skills’ and why do they matter on a CV? Experts explain

Why should you put ‘mad skills’ on your CV? These attributes, such as a passion for theatre, being a rescue diver, or learning an obscure language, can make the difference when applying for a job.

Having a passion for theatre or learning a foreign language are examples of unusual soft skills, also called “mad skills”, that can make the difference when applying for a job. Photo: Shutterstock
Extreme fitness

Hong Kong bridge half-marathon returns, bosses address food, water, delay issues

Second edition to be held in January, and race chief says improvements have been made since the first race.

Trending in China

China ‘fastest delivery man’ qualifies for Paris ‘people’s’ marathon in Olympics

A delivery worker from China will travel to Paris to take part in a public marathon event in Paris alongside the city’s Olympic Games later this year.

Sydney Marathon’s bid to join majors list boosted by record 24,000 entries

Race is in the second year of an appraisal process that would lead to it joining the Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York marathons.

Competitors run across the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the Sydney marathon. Photo: Reuters
Trail running and hiking

Ditch that big marathon warm-up – a light jog is more effective, research shows

Having a gentle jog before may be just as effective as a plyometric workout and may help athletes retain vital glyocen stores for longer.

New research shows high-intensity warm up before a run may not be an advantage. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong Sports Institute

Muteti sympathises with fellow Kenyans tangled in Beijing Half Marathon mess

Kenyan marathon specialist Lukas Wambua Muteti understands why two of his compatriots might have allowed a Chinese rival to win the Beijing Half Marathon.

Ethiopia

Record-setting Jepchirchir, Munyao make it a Kenyan double at London Marathon

Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir sets a new women’s-only mark of 2 hrs, 16 mins and 16 secs, while Alexander Mutiso Munyao pulls away to beat Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele.

Ethiopia

Beijing Half Marathon chiefs strip winner He, 3 others of medals, prizes

He Jie won after Kenyans Willy Mnangat and Robert Keter, plus Ethiopia’s Dejene Hailu Bikila, moved aside within sight of the finish line.

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He Jie (fifth from left) crossed the line first at the Beijing Half Marathon last Sunday. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong Marathon

Was 2019 Beijing Half Marathon also fixed? Video raises questions over finish

A video of the 2019 race shows two Kenyan runners allowing China’s Liu Hongliang to overtake them in a finish similar to Sunday’s race.

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China’s He Jie winning the Beijing Half Marathon on Sunday ahead of Kenyans Willy Mnangat and Robert Keter, and Ethiopia’s Dejene Hailu Bikila. Photo: Handout
Ethiopia

Beijing Half Marathon runner insists he was hired as pacer, agent denies any role

Kenya’s Willy Mnangat claims he was employed to help winner He Jie break Chinese record, but there is no record of his name among official pacers and agent Karen Lin angrily denies involvement.

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Ethiopia

Kenyan says he let China runner win Beijing Half Marathon amid uproar over finish

Organisers investigate as footage, showing Willy Mnangat beckoning his Chinese opponent to overtake him and two others, attracts widespread ridicule.

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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum killed in car crash in Kenya

Coach Gervais Hakizimana also killed after car 24-year-old Kiptum was driving rolls on journey from Kaptagat to Eldoret, police chief says.

Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum celebrates winning the 2023 Chicago Marathon in a world record time of two hours and 35 seconds. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong society

Opinion | Hong Kong can put its best foot forward with a revamped marathon

If Hong Kong encourages every resident to attempt a full marathon at least once in their life, the health benefits would be tremendous. To facilitate this, marathon planners must revisit two aspects – the time limit and route.

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Accidents and personal safety

Runner who died after Hong Kong marathon ‘was mainland Chinese engineer’

Source says man who collapsed near platform escalator at Tin Hau MTR station near finish line in Causeway Bay identified as Zhang Zhichong.

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Hong Kong society

Marathon runners should get heart checks before races, Hong Kong experts say

Post learns Zhang Zhichong’s collapsed body was found at around noon after competing in Hong Kong’s biggest annual marathon and certified dead before 1pm.

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One sports expert has warned that introducing mandatory heart checks for marathon runners may trigger a large-scale debate. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong sports

Hong Kong marathon returns to pre-pandemic size, runner dies after taking part

Authorities say a 30-year-old participant who collapsed after race died despite immediate first aid and resuscitation efforts.

Runners take part in the the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, which marked a return to its full pre-pandemic quota of 74,000. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong Marathon

Anderson Seroi claims ‘tough’ Hong Kong Marathon gold, Armino wins women’s race

Kenya’s Anderson Seroi seals victory in a time of two hours, 12 minutes and 50 seconds, with Ethiopia’s Medina Armino claiming women’s title in 2:28:47.

Wellness

100 half-marathons in 100 days, an impromptu 100km: look at Sundeep Singh go

Taking up distance running has been life-changing for executive Sundeep Singh. He is 22kg lighter, he ran 100 half marathons in 100 days in 2019, and recently did an impromptu 100km overnight run.

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Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong Marathon 2024: mercury to dip to 15 degrees for annual event

Lobo Louie from the Education University of Hong Kong says cooler weather is welcome, tells runners to get at least seven hours of quality sleep before event.

Runners at the 2023 Hong Kong Marathon. Participants this year can expect the mercury to reach about 15 degrees. Photo: Dickson Lee
Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Will shoe tech advances see first official sub-2 hour marathon at Paris Olympics?

The winning marathon time at the 1924 Paris Olympics was more than 40 minutes slower than the two hours and 35 seconds run by Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023.

Eliud Kipchoge runs behind his pacemakers during the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria, 12 October 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE
Trail running and hiking

Opinion | Streetathon’s U-turns tested us, then they sent us to McDonald’s to refuel

Marathon takes in Cross-Harbour Tunnel on way to Kai Tak, but not all its promised Christmases come at once, with runners hitting traffic and finishers sent to McDonald’s to refuel.

Trail running and hiking

Thousands take to Hong Kong’s roads as Streetathon races return

More than 15,000 runners compete in marathon, half-marathon and 10km races, as event returns for first time in three years.

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