Runners hit the road for 2019 marathon

Runners set off from the starting line at the Civic Center in Futian District at 8 a.m. yesterday when the 2019 Shenzhen International Marathon began. Some 30,000 registered runners from 48 countries and regions took part in the race.

Some 30,000 registered runners from 48 countries and regions showed up in stride for the 2019 Shenzhen International Marathon yesterday, setting off from the Civic Center starting line at 8 a.m. on a clear sunny morning.

The 2019 edition of the Shenzhen marathon saw 15,000 runners embark on the 42.195-kilometer journey of the full-length event to push the limits of their endurance, while another 15,000 participants ran the 21.098-kilometer half marathon.

The first two places in the men’s marathon were claimed by Ethiopian contestants. Tadese Tola Woldegeberel crossed the finish line with an overall time of 2 hours 10 minutes and 13 seconds, only two seconds faster than runner-up Terefa Debela Delesa.

Third place was taken by Julius Kipkorir Tuwei from Kenya, who finished the race in 2 hours 10 minutes and 50 seconds.

Woldegeberel took home a prize of US$20,000, while the runner-up and second runner-up were awarded US$15,000 and US$10,000, respectively.

Tie Liang was the first Chinese runner, and eighth runner overall, to finish the men’s marathon. Tie took 2 hours 21 minutes and 17 seconds to complete the distance, approximately 11 minutes longer than the winner.

The top three places in the women’s marathon were all snatched by Ethiopian runners. Belainesh Yami Gurmu finished in 2 hours 27 minutes and 42 seconds. Medhin Gebreslassie Beyene and Tsehay Desalegn Adhana earned the second and third places, respectively.

According to Woldegeberel, it was his first time in Shenzhen, and he was very happy with the result. He told reporters at a press conference that although the weather was a bit humid, he was very satisfied with the whole route and was overwhelmed by the audience’s enthusiasm.

After crossing the finish line, Woldegeberel and Delesa hugged each other. Woldegeberel disclosed that he had been training with Delesa every day and that they are good friends in private. “Competition won’t affect our friendship,” he said.

The annual race also attracted many amateur runners. Shree Ram is a marathon enthusiast from India and is keen on participating in marathons around the globe. “This is the first time I have participated in the Shenzhen marathon. I think it’s well-organized and fantastic,” he told Shenzhen Daily.

For Valentina Smarandescu, an Italian who works for a company in Dongguan, this was her second time at the Shenzhen marathon. “I didn’t do very well today. But anyway I enjoyed the run because the marathon was organized very well and there was a lot of help along the way.”

According to Smarandescu, she has finished six marathons so far this year and she still has three marathons to run by the end of this year. “I definitely want to participate in the Shenzhen marathon next year. I love Shenzhen. It’s a beautiful city. It’s very clean and civilized, and the people are very nice.”

This year marks the seventh edition of the Shenzhen International Marathon. The marathon is a gold-label road race hosted by the China Athletics Association and the Shenzhen Municipal Government.