With my recent bronchitis problem and comments from different sides that running a lot here really is bad for your health, we all ask ourselves what to do. Running in pollution – worse, running the full marathon – makes all the micro particles go down deep in your lungs where they stay and slowly affect the bronchial tubes, making them more prone to infection through a banal cold.
So, running in Beijing is probably the worst idea. But still we are thinking about the Beijing Marathon (mid October). Maybe the Beijing Rotarians can form a team…
Otherwise, not much to look forward to. The Xiamen Marathon just took place and totally attracted 24,500 participants. Other official marathons are organized in Dalian and Shanghai.
The Great Wall Marathon is another story.
Finally our circle of local runners decided to pull out as the fees are exorbitant for us Beijing residents. In my case, I calculated that it would cost me over 3000 RMB to organize a car, stay overnight in a local hotel with my family & driver, plus all the fees: runner 1264 RMB; spectator 395 RMB; 290 RMB for the chip (Beijing marathon: free use!). All this to run a 10K on the Wall (the half and full marathon are a bit too much for me…). It is quite far from Beijing (said to be 120 Km from Beijing’s center).
I complained to the organizers and at least they were nice enough to reply and explain – too much overhead costs, probably too much extortion from local Chinese authorities, etc.
Anyway, if anybody is interested, visit their website: www.great-wall-marathon.com
It says: “The organization behind The Great Wall Marathon is a joint event between a group on international athletic associations in alliance with the Chinese Comfort Fujian International Travel Service and the authorities of the Tianjin province northeast of Beijing.
Date of the race is May 19. Please note that entries can only be bought as part of a tour package, combining the marathon with a number of different tour options. Residents of Beijing should contact the Great Wall Marathon for special details on how to enter.”
Well, the conditions you already know…
Rotarian John found something new and exciting:
“The Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset” – The World’s Most Beautiful 100 Km Run”.
http://www.ultramongolia.com/
There is actually a choice: the full marathon or the 100K run. Follows some of the info from their website:
Schedule:
Saturday 30 June 2007 – Arrival in Ulaanbaatar (UB) of participants traveling from Beijing. Departure of chartered flight to Khatgal/Moron on the Southern tip of Lake Hovsgol. Transfer via passenger boat or jeep to Camp Toilogt.
Sunday 1 July 2007 – Acclimatization day for participants already in Camp Toilogt.
Monday 2 July 2007 – Acclimatization day.
Tuesday 3 July 2007 – Acclimatization day
Wednesday 4 July 2007: RACE DAY.
Thursday 5 July 2007 – Rest day. Award Ceremony and party in the evening.
Friday 6 July 2007 – Return to UB via boat/jeep and aircraft. Transfer to hotel.
Saturday 7 July 2007 – Departure of participants traveling from UB to Beijing.
The Course (marathon)
The event course follows a lakeside single track north of Camp Toilogt through woods and over windblown lowlands for the first 12km. In the next 5 km, the course departs the lake and heads up over 700 meters into the mountains to spectacular views and 2,300 meter Chichee Pass. From this first pass, the route heads south along a ridge, descends steeply into a river valley, follows along the river bed through sometimes marshy sections, returns up another river valley, and climbs steeply through a mossy forest to Khirvesteg Pass. From the second pass, runner’s descend steeply again to another valley and return to the lakeshore to make their way back to Camp Toilogt and the 42km mark – the finish of the marathon and Aid-station No. 4 for 100 km runners. Cutoff time for the marathon: 8 hours.
The Setting
The central feature of the course is Lake Hovsgol National Park and its pristine alpine lake. At an elevation of 1,645 meters (5,400 ft) and with average depth of 245 meters (800 ft), it is one of the largest single bodies of drinkable fresh water in the world. In late June, the surrounding area is at its peak for wildflowers and wildlife.
The staging area for the Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset is Camp Toilogt. This rustic and comfortable facility provides guests the novelty of Mongolian-style living, with environmentally-friendly ‘western’ comforts also available, such as hot showers, solar electricity and a satellite phone for emergency calls. Locally-grown organic produce is a staple of meals served to visitors and a minimum of food is imported.
Cost (indication), departure from Beijing: US$ 1,680 plus some extras.
Well, we should give it some thought…
Rotarian Carl is looking a bit further: the Phuket marathon (Thailand) on 17th June. In September: Singapore hosts the first half Ironman.
We will have to make a plan now… Maybe a team…
