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November 13, 2013

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BMW leader of pack at marathon

By Richard Fu | November 13, 2013, Wednesday | Print Edition

BMW never gets tired of loving sports.

This time, the German luxury car manufacturer is to lead the Shanghai International Marathon next month with its new 316i as the event’s official timekeeping guided vehicle.

A new model from the BMW 3 Series family with classical power and sporty feeling, the BMW 316i provides high-speed capability and outstanding handling with its TwinPower Turbo engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s also safe, with an active protection system that offers all-around security.

The BMW 316i made its China debut at the 2013 Chengdu International Motor Show in late August. On December 1, it will lead marathoners in the Shanghai International Marathon.

Starting from the Bund, this year’s race will progress through the heart of Shanghai before finishing at Shanghai Stadium in a redesigned route that presents both the modern side and historic look of the city.

BMW phalanx

Meanwhile, a BMW phalanx is ready for the Shanghai race. The company will offer special gear, a starting area, parking spaces, a rehydration station for runners and massages after the marathon for every participant in the phalanx.

As the most dynamic and sporting-spirit-driven luxury carmaker, BMW is not unfamiliar to China’s sports fans, who know of its history of sponsorship of China’s Olympics team.

But there also are well-established ties between marathons and BMW that date back to 1972, when BMW 1602, the company’s first electric prototype, was a marathon guide vehicle at the Munich Olympics.

Just like a marathoner who will always run to the end, BMW has never compromised on a perfect driving experience and dynamic spirit, as it stays ahead of the race to create ideal cars.

That’s echoed by Arthur Li, who drives a BMW 320Li and believes he has chosen an ideal car.

“For me, the priority in choosing a car is safety, followed by comfort, efficiency and dynamics,” said Li, 33, who returned to Shanghai in July after spending one year in Paris for work. “BMW is much better than many others that I have tried in this regard.”

Li, who has signed up for this year’s Shanghai International Marathon, said the long wheelbase 3 Series is a perfect choice for running lovers like him.

“I’m a bit tall and found it difficult for me to stretch out in the driver’s seat in many cars,” he said. “Also, as I run often, I pay extreme attention to knee protection. Now with the new 320Li, I can just stretch out while still ensuring enough rear passenger space. The user-friendly design just makes it my car.”

Li became a lover of long-distance running when he was young. This will be his first time challenging himself with a full-length marathon. Li participated in the Taipei International Marathon with a 10km run in 2009 and completed a half marathon at the Marathon de Paris in March.

“You just become addicted to it. I ran every day during the noon break and after work when I was in Paris,” Li said.

He also got his family involved. Li said he has encouraged his wife to participate in the 5km mini marathon in the Shanghai International Marathon this time and plans to let his 7-year-old daughter also do so later.

“It’s good not only for health, but also for willpower,” he said, adding that running also helped enhance his sense of gratitude in work and life.

Marathon spirit

“My knees hurt terribly when there was 2 kilometers to go in the half marathon in Paris and I almost decided to give up,” he recalled. “But when I saw the spectators cheering me on along the road, I started to run again and finally made it to the finish line.

“The experience told me that even a very little encouragement is important in a marathon and also made me more grateful in work and in life.”

Li also shared the secret of reducing pain in running.

“You are alone when you are running a marathon because you have nobody to talk to,” he explained.

“So you will have plenty of time to think about others things, such as the book you read yesterday, work and future career plans, and also where to go on your next family trip.

“If you can shift your attention to these things, you can enjoy the process of running and forget about aches and pains in your body.”

To help participants better prepare for the event, BMW has arranged for a pre-season training camp on every weekend through November. The training camp provides participants with professional training for running, test-drive opportunities and also wonderful prizes.

Dozens of people joined the first pre-season training camp on November 2, held at Xuhui District’s riverside avenue. Led by trainer Linus, they learned to do warm-up and relaxation exercises like a pro, against the backdrop of dynamic music along the Huangpu River.

Some of the participants had the chance to test drive the BMW 316i along the marathon route after the training session.

The Shanghai International Marathon, awarded the Gold Label by the International Association of Athletics Federations and the Gold Medal by the Chinese Athletic Association, has become a city brand.

BMW is the honorary sponsor of this year’s event.

 

Autotalk Special


 

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