Beijing Marathon

The Beijing Marathon (Chinese: 北京马拉松) is an annual marathon race held around October in Beijing, People's Republic of China, since 1981. It is a special event that brings together runners from all over the world to enjoy running through the beautiful streets of Beijing.

The race begins at Tiananmen Square and finishes in Celebration Square in Olympic Green. Participants get to see many famous landmarks while they run. The full marathon is the only distance offered, so everyone who joins is aiming to run the full 42.195 kilometers.

The Beijing Marathon is very important because it was the first international sport event ever to be held in China. It made history again by being the first marathon race to use a lottery system to decide who gets to enter. It was also the first full marathon race to take place only in China, making it a unique and exciting event for runners everywhere. The course is officially certified by AIMS and is categorized as a Gold Label Road Race by World Athletics.

History

The Beijing International Marathon has been organized by the Chinese Athletics Association every year since 1981. It started as part of China's effort to open up to the world under leader Deng Xiaoping.

The marathon has hosted important national and international events over the years. In 1997, it featured the Chinese men's national marathon championships. In 2005, it served as the marathon for the National Games of China. The race has also hosted the Asian Marathon Championship races, as in 2006.

Due to air quality issues, the 2014 race happened under intense smog. The 2020 race was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, the race was postponed because of a virus outbreak. The 2022 race welcomed around 30,000 runners, the first big gathering since 2019.

Course

The Beijing Marathon starts in Tiananmen Square, located between the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the National Museum of China. Runners finish in Celebration Square, which is in the Olympic Green. This area is near the Beijing National Stadium and the Beijing National Aquatics Center.

Winners

The Beijing Marathon has had many champions over the years. Some races are also important events for national championships or international competitions, like the Asian Marathon Championship. The fastest times ever run on this course are marked in bold.