2012 Reports
Last updated: Wednesday, 28 November, 2012Running In Asia
Event: Beijing Half Marathon
Date: Sunday, 25 November, 2012
Venue: Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China
One of the things I thought I would miss when I moved to Beijing, was the opportunity to run. I had done some research before leaving the UK, and found that they have a Hash running club, which describes itself as “a drinking club with a running problem”, didn’t sound quite my thing, but I thought I’d give it a go.
When I got here, I tried to find more information, but the Chinese Internet police don’t seem to like their website – sometimes I can access it, sometimes I can’t! I was beginning to think running with a group might not be so easy. I had found an apartment, my main criteria was walking distance from work, and I was lucky enough to find somewhere just 2.5km from work, and with the advantage of being just 200m from Choayong Park, one of the bigger parks in Beijing (about 1km x 2.5km), so somewhere traffic free to run right on my doorstep!
I also picked up a local What’s On magazine, only to find a running group meets Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings in my Park :-)). This HeyRunning! group has been an excellent find, it’s perfect for me. It is a business (– part of Heyrobics with does a range of exercise classes) rather than a running club as we know it, and you pay to join, but it’s not bad value, and it has a really friendly atmosphere. The sessions all involve training, rather than simply going for a run, but having a big park area makes it easy for a wide range of abilities to train very effectively together.
The first weekend in November there was a “Nike Run” arranged, arranged by HeyRunning! and sponsored by Nike and China–mobile. It was a “race” in Olympic Park. You could choose to do 5k, 10k, or 15k (– laps of a 5k circuit), but you couldn’t call it a race. Competitive events were banned in the run up to National Congress (– and even at normal times there is a lot of red tape and money involved in organising races – so they don’t generally happen).
Nike were encouraging you to use their app and then upload your times afterwards. 300 people had registered. No cost and free T–shirt, advertised on Weibo the Chinese equivalent of Facebook, so maximum numbers were quickly reached. But this happened to be the first time in 60 years the it snowed in Beijing at the beginning of November, so the sponsors cancelled. However 30ish mad westerners still turned up! It was beautiful, almost deserted, apart from a lot of Chinese workers busy clearing paths with snow shovels, and the combination of snow and autumn colours was breathtaking. Despite the weather I completed my 3 laps, including the 100m stretch on each lap where there was an ankle deep puddle with ice floating in it. Definitely my favourite run since I’ve been here, I loved it!
The leaders at HeyRunning! seem to have good connections, the following week 30 of the group had places at a 3–day running festival in Ghanzhou. A different event each day, with a total running distance of 100km, if you wanted you could go along and just do a 10k, or any combination of events. Free flights, free transport, free entry, free food! This is because they have a program in the area to promote running, and wanted “International Athletes” – whatever the standard. The same event had taken place in 2011 for the first time, that year everyone in the area was given the day off work to go and support the runners. Apparently it was an amazing experience, but unfortunately I couldn’t make it as I had work commitments. I’m hoping there maybe some more similar opportunities.
Whilst the HeyRunners were enjoying Ghanzhou, I was in Japan for a business meeting – all the Asia technologists from my company get together for a team meeting once a year. The hotel we stayed at was in an amazing location, a place called Hakone that reminded me a little of the English Lake District; Lakes with woodland in gorgeous autumn colours, and a snow capped Mount Fuji visible in the distance. The hotel we stayed at had no gym, so it was easy to persuade a few of my colleagues who had brought their gym kit, that we should go for a 5k run together! I got the impression that running is quite popular in Japan. There are a lot of races. I hope I’ll get the chance to return and enter one in the future.
I ran the Beijing Half Marathon today. The marathon, half marathon and mini marathon (5k) are a combined event. Originally this was due to take place in late October, but it was announced that it would be postponed due to the Chinese Congress. It was only in early November that the date was announced for 25th November, but despite the late arrangements official figures showed the maximum of 30,000 entrants registered. My running group (HeyRunning!) was able to secure about 100 places, so I entered through them which made the admin side very easy, and rather than having to go to the expo to collect numbers – which apparently involved lots of queuing, paper stamping, and no expo – I just needed to meet one of the HeyRunning! people in a local Starbucks the day before!
The “goody” bag provided at number collection was disappointing – your number, some basic info about getting to the start, drinks stations etc, a certificate (– for the full marathon even though my entry/number was for the half) for you to fill in yourself, and a marathon T–shirt (– same T–shirt whatever event you’d entered).
Although there was quite a few runners on the trains, it was nothing like London (– were there really 30,000?). The HeyRunners! met just outside one of the Tiananmen Square subway exits and did most of one of our normal warm ups, until a security man decided he disliked us, or the music, or the crowd who were watching us!! We turned the music off, quickly did a few final stretches and then made our way to the official start area. Getting in was very slow, but once in, there was just one big start area, no start pens depending on pace like other big marathons; just one marker for “marathon” one for “half” and one for “mini”. Not that anyone took any notice.
Surprisingly given the number of people, and lack of organisation, I crossed the start line within 4 minutes of the gun, and was able to run as freely as in any other big races. I think this was helped by the first couple of kilometres being across the BIG square, and the very wide road. As well as the fact I had taken advice of others regarding lack of start pens and got myself fairly far forward.
But having left Tiananmen Square, it was incredibly dull. No sights to see, no crowds supporting, no fancy dress to watch, no charity T–shirts to read. It was reasonably well organised, regular water/drinks stations, markers every kilometre, but low down and only at one side of road so very easy to miss. Luckily I didn’t need the loo, as although I did see a couple of signs for toilets, I think this must have meant there were public ones somewhere nearby as I saw no port–a–loos!
Although they had made it clear in advance that there was no–chip timing for the Half Marathon, actually there was NO timing for the half marathon! There was a clock at the finish, but unless you were in the top 10 it was down to you to make a note of your own time! The Half Marathon finish was a real let–down. Just before the 21k point, there were 2 people shouting “half marathon runners to the right” in Chinese, and you were filtered into what would normally be the bike lane. You ran over the line and there was a clock. That was it! No water, no food, no medal, no–one to say well done, nothing!! It felt a bit as if you were quitting half–way through a marathon, rather than successfully completing a half!
One of our HeyRunning! coaches, came 6th (1’14). Being in the top 10, he had to go on a bus to the full marathon finish for the awards ceremony. No chance for a post–race stretch or warm down. 45 minutes sitting freezing on the bus before it left, 45 minutes waiting in the finish area, to eventually be told only the first 3 would get their prizes that day and they would need to collect their’s from somewhere else later in the week.
Despite all of the above, and only doing an average time for me (1’58) I was very pleased to have done it. It was good to experience a big event “Chinese style” and all the other runners were very friendly. They seemed to make a point of acknowledging a westerner – there weren’t many of us.
Just as I entered the filter lane for the Half Marathon finish with a few hundred meters to go, a Chinese guy turned to me and said “run?” in a friendly way. I smiled back and we both upped the pace, just keeping up with each other and patted each other on the back as we crossed the finish line together. A good way to end the race! Most of the HeyRunners! all met up at a great Mexican restaurant in the afternoon to replenish our energy and exchange tales!
Next weekend I’m in Singapore with work. It coincides with the Singapore marathon, but by the time I knew I was going it was far too late to get a place. So hopefully I will be involved as one of the volunteer helpers, but if not I will still get up in advance of the 5:00am start, to watch and support. A couple of the girls I know from running here in China are taking part, so I will look out for them and shout support, before meeting up with them for a post race meal.
I’m not sure what will be next. It is starting to get colder – currently about 7°C in the day and going to -5°C overnight. The HeyRunning! camp was only due to continue until the Beijing Half Marathon, but there is lots of enthusiasm from the members to keep going, and I’m sure as long as there is money in it the organisers are interested. So it looks as if it will take a break over Xmas/New Year and then start again.
At the moment, I’m really excited about coming back home for Xmas and catching up with the Harriers and doing a little running in the UK, and then looking forward to continuing to enjoy the Asia running experience.
Jan McCabe