Participation in premier running event reflects sport's appeal in China

The 224 Chinese runners who flew across the Pacific to leave their footprints on the five boroughs of New York City also represent a booming interest in marathon running in their home country.

For Tian Tongsheng, it was his third trip to New York for the marathon, which unfurled across the city on Sunday.

"The first time, I didn't even see the starting line," said Tian. That was in 2012, when the race was canceled after the city was battered by Tropical Storm Sandy.

"In 2013, I came again, after experiencing the Boston Marathon bombing at 700 meters from the finish line," he said. "I finished it alone. This time, I brought a group."

At 63, Tian looked trim in a fitted running shirt as he offered his observations from the lounge of the Grand Hyatt hotel in midtown Manhattan on Oct 29.

Tian is the co-founder of Runnar, an international travel partner of the TCS New York City Marathon. He took about 100 runners and their relatives with him for the 26-mile course.

Palace Travel, another travel agency, brought another 100. Palace offers a $2,000 New York Marathon package on its website, which includes registration for the race and three nights at the Excelsior Hotel.

People can also choose to participate in a seven-day East Coast tour after the race.

Wang Qi, CEO of Palace Travel US Inc, said that as the marathon becomes more popular in China, marathon travel becomes a hip thing to do.

Marathon-running took off in China in 2013, after years of a rapidly growing economy.

"Many people had worked very hard for a decade, and they realized that their health was deteriorating," said Tian. The prosperous economy allowed people to rethink their lifestyles.

"The immigration officer used to ask many questions, but this time - so fast," Li Xiaobai, 58, chairman of the New Silk Road fashion organization and a marathon participant, said on Oct 29. Li told the officer at John F. Kennedy International Airport that he was here for the race and he got a thumbs-up.

Most of the runners, especially ones participating in international races, are business people. Li and many of his classmates from the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business started their running journey with the Gobi Desert challenge, during which they cross the Gobi Desert as part of an annual competition for executive MBA students of top global Chinese business schools. This year, more than 2,000 students participated in the 112-kilometer endurance challenge.

"The Gobi Desert race got us inspired," he said. "It's all about persistence. Now we have many WeChat groups. There are ones for marathon runners, for bikers, for mountain climbers."

Tian was hooked on running after years of mountain climbing, another trend among business professionals.

"Running is the sport with the lowest barrier of entry," he said. "All you need is a pair of shoes. You have no competitors. You are competing with yourself. The philosophy is very beneficial to businessmen."

Tian has published two books and has given speeches on running for years. Other business participation also has supported the trend across the country among the middle class, Tian said.

Since Li started running, he said that many of his colleagues have been more or less influenced.

The number of marathon races in China has been rapidly expanding. Last year, 56 were held across China, while this year so far there have been more than 100 races. There were 27 simultaneous marathon races across China on Oct 18, according to Sina.com.

Chang Chun, another co-founder of Runnar, recalled that in 2007 and 2008, when he was in college, his university had to convince the students to participate in the Beijing Marathon by telling them they would get a T-shirt afterward.

"This year, nearly 70,000 people registered for a race of 25,000," he said.

Running organizations also are sprouting up.

Sun Yingjie, one of China's most famous female long-distance runners, started her running club in 2014, returning to the public eye after retiring in 2009. Her ear-length hair now has grown to her waist.

"I teach people how to enjoy running," Sun said on Saturday at the Hilton. "The record used to be under my feet and now it's in my phone," she joked about herself taking selfies while running.

Her club has nearly 5,000 members across China, with the youngest 8 years old and the oldest 75. Each pays about $1,900 annually to take one class per week on how to run fast and safely.

Many business people also started non-profit organizations to promote the running. Ball of Yarn is a charity running group started by several top executives in finance and real estate.

Zhu Xianxu, chairman of Beijing Hong Yi Thermal Energy Corp and deputy secretary of Ball of Yarn, was passionate about the group. He said he started running to lose weight, and he now has run 26 full-length marathons.

So far they have about 50 core members who contribute about $1,600 a year to the organization. Also, each has to agree to run seven marathons annually. For each marathon one fails to run, he or she has to contribute an additional $315.

Zhou Wei, chairman of the Beijing Shichuang Shengye Elevator Co and a member of the organization, used to be a golf lover: "I didn't bring my golf bag here. I bring my running shoes wherever I go. I even put them in my carry-on bag to make sure they are protected."

Ball of Yarn donates the money to schools in poor rural area. So far they have helped 11 middle schools. With the money, the school can build tracks and other sports facilities.

There are also more local running groups. Hangzhou Marathon Running Club is a not-for-profit organization that helps locals learn about running and train for races.

To become a member, one has to provide proof of good health and agree to meet the required monthly running distance - 50 kilometers for men and 30 for women.

The club holds group running events regularly and training sessions before major marathon races. This year, 67,000 people applied to run at the Hangzhou marathon, which can accommodate 30,000 runners.

However, runners who can't get in have other opportunities. There have been about 40 marathon races in Zhejiang province alone this year.

"We are all volunteers," said Wu Zifu, the chairman of the running club and CEO of Dunan Holding Group. "We are equal at a platform like this, and volunteers can communicate with each other and make new friends while doing something very meaningful."

This time he came to New York to finish his last of the six world marathon majors. His daughter also was here to cheer for him.

"My dad drinks so much less often after he started running," said his daughter. Asking if her father has changed in other ways, she said, "He's better at shopping now. He can shop in a sports store for hours."

Running in a different country means more than just running, said Tian.

"I run for culture," he said. "When running at the Athens Marathon, I could feel the history of 2,500 years and tried to figure out what marathon really is. When running in Berlin, I knew we were crossing the Berlin Wall. We ran for peace. At New York, I learn about the relationship between the marathon and 9-11. We ran to honor the lost."

Wang Qi said many love the international marathons because they are better organized and have a better atmosphere.

"Chinese marathons have been improving, and there is still a long way to go," he said. "And at these major marathon events, the spectators cheer for everyone."

"When I ran, they shout, 'Go, China!' " said Xiaobai Li, who carries a national flag to every international race. "The whites, the blacks, everyone cheers for us."

While most non-professionals run for health and fun, Ma Hongliang, 47, runs for the result because they get no money just for "fun".

He started running in his small town of Chuxiong when he was 17. Every day, he gets up at 5 am and runs regardless of the weather. He just runs, like Forrest Gump.

At 38, he and his family went to Shenzhen because a coach whom he met while running told him that he had talent. It was his first marathon, his first time away from his small city. He finished 122nd.

"In Singapore, when I ran toward the finish line, the host said, 'This is the first Asian runner we are seeing. He is Chinese, from Yunnan Chuxiong, Liangwu Ma.' I cried," he said. "That's the first time I feel that I'm running for China," he said on Oct 31 at the Hyatt. Now, he drapes a flag on his back every time.

"Because I don't speak English, and the New York City Marathon is rather complicated, I bought the Marathon package," he said. "We don't have much money, but my wife said she will support me as long as we still have money to live a life. I keep thinking that every second I'm here is a lot of money. It makes me cherish it more."

"We want to show that not all Chinese come to gamble in Vegas. Not everyone come to buy bags. We are here to pursue a healthy life. We run. We carry our national flag," said Tian. "There used to be Ping Pong Diplomacy; now we want marathon communication. I hope soon we can have 1,000 Chinese runners participating in the New York City Marathon."

Everyone mentioned in the story finished the race.

Runners from Kenya took both the women's and men's competitions. Mary Keitany, 33, became the first woman to repeat in New York since 2008 while Stanley Biwott, 29, won his first major marathon title after finishing second in London last year.

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