Marathoners defy heat to push it to the limit
Thirty-eight thousand runners from 85 countries and regions pushed their physical limits in the 2019 Shanghai International Marathon that began at the Bund yesterday.
About 25,000 took part in the 42.2-kilometer full marathon, while 6,000 ran 10km and another 7,000 covered 5.5km.
Paul Kipchumba Lonyangata from Kenya won the men’s marathon, crossing the finish line at the Shanghai Stadium, clocking 2:08:11.
Lonyangata also won the event back in 2015.
He was followed by Bahrain’s El Hassan El Abbassi (2:08:58) and Ethiopia’s Limenih Getachew Yizengaw (2:09:14).
The top three women finishers were all from Ethiopia: Yebrgual Melese Arage (2:23:19), Waganesh Mekasha Amare (2:25:37) and Obse Abdeta Deme (2:27:47).
Arage set the women’s record of 2:20:37 for Shanghai International Marathon last year in comparatively more pleasant weather last November.
“The weather today is quite hot,” said Yang Dinghong, the first Chinese man to finish the full marathon, in 2 hours, 15 minutes and 21 seconds.
“But the support by the organizers was quite good. It was not be a problem (to finish the race) as long as you adjusted your mentality and adapt to the conditions.” Li Zhixuan was the first Chinese female runner to complete the full marathon in 2 hours, 33 minutes and 5 seconds.
Sunday’s highest temperature reached 25 degrees Celsius, and was even hotter under the sun. There were eight water spraying points along the route, four ice stations, and water and food every 5km.
Due to the heat, some runners suffered discomfort and were attended immediately by medical staff. The organizers didn’t give the percentage of runners who managed to complete the race, although it would hardly be able to match last year’s 96 percent in more pleasant weather.
The races also involved visually impaired runners who ran with guides, as well as a 20-member wheelchair team.
Some 5,000 volunteers and 310 officials helped out.
On Saturday, a KFC Family Run was held at Shanghai Luwan Stadium as a warm-up for the Sunday races, attracting over 500 hundred families.
“A marathon is more than a one-day event,” said Zhou Jin, general manager of organizer, Shanghai Donghao Lansheng Event Management Company. “We organized other activities like the family run to create a sporty atmosphere for the city over weekend.”
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