Han Ximin
MORE than 3,000 people including 32 expats from 13 countries have registered for the Run For Love charity marathon Dec. 19 in Yantian District.
This was three times the number of runners last year when the marathon was held for the first time, the organizer, the Shenzhen Mountaineering and Outdoor Activities Association, said Monday.
The Run for Love will be held separately in Yantian and Futian. The deadline for registration for the Yantian run is tomorrow. The deadline for Futian registration is Dec. 28 with the marathon to be held Jan. 2.
To encourage more people to participate and meet a demand, the organizer canceled the age limit for the 10-km run. Healthy senior citizens and children can participate as long as they are accompanied by adults. Participants are required to finish the run in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The mountain race in Futian will be divided into 23-km and 10-km distances. The marathon will be conducted with the cooperation with the Shenzhen 2011 Summer Universiade Executive Office and is regarded as the first competition of the Shenzhen Universiade.
Shenzhen mountaineers who had scaled Mt. Qomolangma, also known as Mt. Everest, would lead the runners and dozens of mountaineers who had climbed mountains above 8,000 meters would escort the runners, the organizer said.
The marathon would be in three sections: full marathon of 42.195 kilometers, a half marathon and a 10-km run. The 42-km marathon track runs from the mountains around Dameisha Beach Park to Maluanshan Suburban Park.
Donations will be collected on the basis of 1 yuan (US$0.15) per kilometer run by every participant in the Run for Love 2010 Shenzhen (Yantian) Mountain Marathon.
All proceeds will be used to pay for an education project providing outdoor activities, excursions and cultural exchange opportunities for people aged 14 to 25.
Intending runners can register online at www.smoa.org.cn/love, or call 0755-8258-1125.
