Marathon Running on The Great Wall
Experience Beijing Tianjin Province in Runner’s Vacation to China
In 2008 The Great Wall of China has footfall from walkers, travellers and runners. Olivia Newton John and other walkers arrived on April 28-29 in the final stage of The Great Walk to Beijing 2008: A Million Steps in the Fight Against Cancer. Athletes arriving in advance of the start of the Olympic Games in August, are sure to make a visit to The Great Wall in Tianjin Province.
On Saturday May 17, 2008, The Great Wall Marathon® supported over 1700 runners from 49 countries in the nineth presentation of this outstanding international running event which includes a full marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K.
Training for The Great Wall Marathon®
The race organisers say that “The Great Wall Marathon® is a tough, beautiful and definitely extraordinary experience. The 5164 steps of The Great Wall will put your physique to the test, and the breathtaking surroundings of Tianjin Province will compete with your tired muscles for attention… an unusual running event” (The Great Wall Marathon®).
With 6 to 10 months of running training building core strength and stamina, essential racing kit for hilly terrain and a desire to visit China, anyone could sign up for a place in The Great Wall Marathon®. The marathon includes stretches of 45 degrees gradient on The Great Wall. Such a demanding course will add at least one hour onto personal records for running marathons.
About the 2008 International Field of The Great Wall Marathon®
Over twice as many men as women completed The Great Wall Marathon® in 2008. The first of the 173 women was South African runner Leanne Juul (4:09:10) and the first placed man of 409 runners was Romualdo Sanchez Garita (Mexican) set a new course record of 3:18:48.
Canadian, American, British and Australian runners interested in visiting China and running The Great Wall Marathon® can consider the top places of their country’s runners in 2008 and the times of the back-of-pack finishers who spent nearly eight hours running and walking the challenging marathon in high temperatures from the 7.30am start. Results from The Great Wall Marathon® in 2008 included:
Women
- First Canadian runner was Joslynn Spreadbury 5:01:23 (32nd woman)
- First American runner was Tracy Ljone 4:31:38 (9th woman)
- First British runner was Marion Wood from Arbroath Fouters 4:14:24 (2nd woman)
- First Australian runner was Victoria Boyd 4:50:57 (20th woman)
Men
- First Canadian runner was Maurice Duteau 4:34:24 (45th man)
- First American runner was Steven Dodson 3:59:28 (6th man)
- First British runner was Peter Anderson 3:47:41 (4th man)
- First Australian runner was Daniel Phillips 3:57:27 (5th man)
Back-of-the-pack Finishing Times for The Great Wall Marathon® 2008
In estimating a finishing time a runner can add at least 1 hour onto a previous marathon time to calculate the terrain and environmental challenges. Unlike running some West European marathons as part of a vacation, there is no time limit for completion with runners fully supported until all have crossed the finish line.
All runners had finished The Great Wall Marathon® in 2008 within 8 hours. American runners John Thomas (7:50:07) and Sean Cauffiel (7:55:41) were in the last three men to cross the finishing line. Canadian women Elena Mihu and Cornelia Gluck both finished running the marathon after 7:56:44. American runner Jessica Distad and William Distad finished with equal chip times of 7:58:42.
Planning a Vacation to Run The Great Wall Marathon® in 2009
Running on The Great Wall of China on 16 May 2009 offers four race distances – 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and the full 26.2 miles of The Great Wall Marathon®.
All runners planning a vacation to run in the races organised by The Great Wall Marathon® are required to obtain entry into their chosen event within one of the travel packages offered by Official Agents.
