TOPIC

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.
The London half marathon, pictured here, took place in early April with the full marathon scheduled for the coming weekend. Photo: Reuters
Offbeat

Hindu monks, rare disabilities: the best stories ahead of London Marathon

According to its organisers, the London race is the most popular marathon in the world with a 43 per cent increase on last year.

videocam
Robotics

Can robots outrun humans? This Chinese half-marathon found out

North Korea

American’s ‘craziest experience’ at North Korea marathon, completes record task

videocam
North Korea

Video | North Korea’s first Pyongyang marathon in 6 years

Around 200 foreign athletes took part in the race, one of several events held to celebrate the April 15 birthday of North Korea’s founder Kim Il-sung

North Korea holds first Pyongyang marathon since closing borders during Covid pandemic
02:01
North Korea

North Korea holds first Pyongyang marathon since closing borders during pandemic

About 200 foreign athletes took part in the event, one of several held to celebrate April 15 birthday of Kim Il-sung, North Korea’s founder.

2025 National Games

Ex-triathlete Szeto leads Hong Kong runners across line in National Games test

Leanne Szeto takes third place in women’s race as Shenzhen-Hong Kong Marathon, and officials happy as everything goes smoothly.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
2025 National Games

Officials unveil Shenzhen-Hong Kong Marathon test event for National Games

Shenzhen Bay Port to be closed on morning of test race as Hong Kong prepares to co-host November’s Games alongside Guangdong and Macau.

The Shenzhen Bay Bridge, seen from Deep Bay, off Lau Fau Shan in Hong Kong. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong Marathon

Hong Kong Marathon issues warning after man pictured running with woman’s bib

Photos posted on social media suggest cheating in Sunday’s race. Four elite runners had already been disqualified for having the wrong bibs.

Hong Kong Marathon

Kenya men dominate Hong Kong Marathon, women’s No 1 rues failure to break record

Bethwell Kipkemboi says ‘challenging’ countrymen were a spur; Belarus’ Volha Mazuronak ‘happy with win’ despite failure to beat 2019 time.

4
Wellness

Hong Kong marathon runner who’s conquered the world now helps others

Hong Kong lawyer and marathon runner Catherine Lau has gone from chasing personal bests to helping others achieve theirs.

Catherine Lau (front row, second), a lawyer and avid runner who completed the Six World Marathon Majors, running at the Jockey Club Fit City fundraising programme. Photo: Edmond So
Fame and celebrity

Meet reformed Made in Chelsea bad boy Spencer Matthews – and his royal links

Made in Chelsea made a bad-boy star out of real-life rich kid Spencer Matthews; now a family man and charity fundraiser, he runs his own zero-alcohol spirits company

Spencer Matthews ditched his party boy lifestyle and is now better known for running marathons. Photo: @spencermatthews/Instagram
Rosanna Law Shuk-pui

Mengesha wins Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Half Marathon, runners praise race

Grace Nawowuna takes women’s title as second edition of race resolves problems experienced in the first.

Macau

‘Citizen Runner’ among top athletes in Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Half Marathon

Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi, one of 8,000 runners taking part on Sunday, gained fame by winning the 2018 Boston Marathon as an amateur runner.

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.

Amber (right) and Zach Williams after running the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in April 2023. Photo: American Heart Association News

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

Ploutarchos Pourliakas’ latest race took place at the site where a messenger ran to bring the news from Marathon battlefield 2,500 years ago.

Ploutarchos Pourliakas, 88, the oldest runner in the 41st Athens Authentic Marathon, after receiving his medal at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Fame and celebrity

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

From Kate Middleton’s sister Pippa to Ethan Hawke and ultrafit Gordon Ramsay, these are the celebs who committed to the cause and completed a full marathon …

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
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.

A volunteer holds out a cup of water for runners in the Falmouth Road Race in the US state of Massachusetts. Heatstroke among runners is becoming more of a risk as climate change increases the number of hot days. Photo: AP
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

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.

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.

Runners take part in the 2023 race on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Photo: Handout
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.

A delivery worker from China has qualified to take part in the first Olympic marathon for the public in Paris later this year. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sina/Weibo

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.

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.

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.

Lukas Wambua Muteti understands the dilemma encountered by two fellow Kenyans in the Beijing Half Marathon. Photo: May Tse
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.

Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir crosses the line to win the women’s race in a world record time. Photo: AFP
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.

videocam
4
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.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement