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Join 6K fun run tomorrow
September 18, 2009, Friday
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YOUNG people are joining private running clubs to stay fit, get professional coaching and make new friends. There's a big run tomorrow, reports Xu Wenwen. The Hangzhou marathon is on November 8 and runners are getting in training. Many are joining a run tomorrow, the "Love Your Feet - New Balance 6K Challenge" Hangzhou stop.
It starts at 6:30am and runs through noon. Anyone 16 years of age and older can run.
More and more young people are joining jogging clubs and running around the West Lake - in nearby hills and valleys and along Qiantang River. Scenic Hangzhou is full of great jogging spots.
Many young runners are from running clubs, which also provide opportunities to socialize. Running or jogging in a group can be more fun than running alone. Others give encouragement to flagging runners to keep going.
Friends, colleges and Net acquaintances make appointments to run together on weekends or in the evening.
New Balance Running Club, which started in June, has more than 150 members, one-third of them under 40 years old. It aims to attract more runners, promote running culture and fitness and teach people how to run safely and effectively.
A New Balance report in spring said running is the third most popular sport on the Chinese mainland, after badminton and cycling. People in large and medium cities are putting on their running shoes.
The number of runners in China has increased 35 to 45 percent since 2007 and runners are getting younger, according to New Balance.
The club organizes runs every Saturday from 7am to 9am. Members can register by logging on to the Website (www.newbalance.com.cn/run.aspx). The organizer sends e-mail or SMS to advise on the place and time.
New Balance members usually make one 10-kilometer lap; it's okay not to finish. Coaches are on hand to instruct beginner runners at the starting line.
Liu Jun, 37, started running in a group around West Lake last year when he saw others doing it. He has been attending New Balance Club runs since June.
"Running on my own is kind of tedious and it's easy to give up, but when I run with a group I stick with it and get a better workout," he says.
Liu now trains every day. He plans to run in the Beijing International Marathon in October and the Hangzhou and Shanghai marathons in November.
Running clubs not only give professional advice on fitness but also provide a way for runners to socialize.
Run Bar Forum, China's biggest Internet forum for marathon runners, has about 9,000 members.
Fei Ming, moderator of its Zhejiang branch for more than two years, has watched it grow. "There were only a few at first, but it has grown rapidly in two years," he says.
People come from all walks of life but share the same interest in health and fitness.
Some people even became lovers through the running club.
"Running improves health, strength and stamina so now we also organize swimming, cycling and mountain climbing," says Fei.
Chinese government has been emphasizing health and fitness, creating a positive social environment for sports.
The Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, Formula One Chinese Grand Prix and Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai have raised sports awareness.
More public sports facilities and gymnasiums are being constructed and there's more public advertising about the importance of health and physical exercise.
Saturday Run
Date: Today, 6:30am-12pm
Start: Qiantang River Ave
Finish: Qiantang River Dragon Square
Gathering Place: Intersection of Binjiang Liuhe Road and Wentao Road in front of UT Starcom
How to get there: K402 to Liuhe Bridge stop
Registration: New Balance outlets and Weider-Tera Gym International outlets
Admission: 30 yuan per person
Tel: (0571) 5228-6215,800-988-1225
It starts at 6:30am and runs through noon. Anyone 16 years of age and older can run.
More and more young people are joining jogging clubs and running around the West Lake - in nearby hills and valleys and along Qiantang River. Scenic Hangzhou is full of great jogging spots.
Many young runners are from running clubs, which also provide opportunities to socialize. Running or jogging in a group can be more fun than running alone. Others give encouragement to flagging runners to keep going.
Friends, colleges and Net acquaintances make appointments to run together on weekends or in the evening.
New Balance Running Club, which started in June, has more than 150 members, one-third of them under 40 years old. It aims to attract more runners, promote running culture and fitness and teach people how to run safely and effectively.
A New Balance report in spring said running is the third most popular sport on the Chinese mainland, after badminton and cycling. People in large and medium cities are putting on their running shoes.
The number of runners in China has increased 35 to 45 percent since 2007 and runners are getting younger, according to New Balance.
The club organizes runs every Saturday from 7am to 9am. Members can register by logging on to the Website (www.newbalance.com.cn/run.aspx). The organizer sends e-mail or SMS to advise on the place and time.
New Balance members usually make one 10-kilometer lap; it's okay not to finish. Coaches are on hand to instruct beginner runners at the starting line.
Liu Jun, 37, started running in a group around West Lake last year when he saw others doing it. He has been attending New Balance Club runs since June.
"Running on my own is kind of tedious and it's easy to give up, but when I run with a group I stick with it and get a better workout," he says.
Liu now trains every day. He plans to run in the Beijing International Marathon in October and the Hangzhou and Shanghai marathons in November.
Running clubs not only give professional advice on fitness but also provide a way for runners to socialize.
Run Bar Forum, China's biggest Internet forum for marathon runners, has about 9,000 members.
Fei Ming, moderator of its Zhejiang branch for more than two years, has watched it grow. "There were only a few at first, but it has grown rapidly in two years," he says.
People come from all walks of life but share the same interest in health and fitness.
Some people even became lovers through the running club.
"Running improves health, strength and stamina so now we also organize swimming, cycling and mountain climbing," says Fei.
Chinese government has been emphasizing health and fitness, creating a positive social environment for sports.
The Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, Formula One Chinese Grand Prix and Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai have raised sports awareness.
More public sports facilities and gymnasiums are being constructed and there's more public advertising about the importance of health and physical exercise.
Saturday Run
Date: Today, 6:30am-12pm
Start: Qiantang River Ave
Finish: Qiantang River Dragon Square
Gathering Place: Intersection of Binjiang Liuhe Road and Wentao Road in front of UT Starcom
How to get there: K402 to Liuhe Bridge stop
Registration: New Balance outlets and Weider-Tera Gym International outlets
Admission: 30 yuan per person
Tel: (0571) 5228-6215,800-988-1225
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