On November 24 at 7:30 a.m., the 2024 Humen Half Marathon officially kicked off at the East Gate of Humen Park in Dongguan. This year, 14,000 runners from seven countries joined together for this eagerly awaited event.
After an intense competition, Wang Peilin from Qingdao, Shandong, clinched the men's championship with a remarkable time of 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 28 seconds. In the women's category, Chen Liqin from Guangzhou, Guangdong, took the top spot with a time of 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 14 seconds.
Following the successful conclusion of last year's event, this year's Humen Half Marathon attracted even more participants, with over 33,000 individuals registering. The selection rate was competitive, at 1 in 2.35. Among the participants, 9,000 competed in the half-marathon, while 5,000 joined the fun run. Notably, 104 runners celebrated their birthdays during the marathon.
Participants hailed from 33 provincial-level administrative regions across China, with some traveling as far as from Heihe City in Heilongjiang Province, located 3,915.2 kilometers away, and Urumqi City in Xinjiang, 4,266.3 kilometers from Dongguan's Humen. These long-distance guests came to Humen for a vibrant celebration of sport and community.
The race course began at Humen Park and took runners along Liansheng Middle Road and Taisha Road, showcasing Humen's modern urban development. Participants crossed the Zhenyuan Bridge at Humen Square, ventured to Weiyuan Island for views of the Humen Pearl River Bridge, and explored historical sites like the Maritime Museum and the Weiyuan Fort. The route continued along the coastal road, offering stunning vistas of the Pearl River estuary, before returning to the finish line on Humen Avenue, a vital artery connecting past and present.
This event was technically certified by the Chinese Athletics Association and was guided by the Guangdong Provincial Athletics Association and the Dongguan Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism, and Sports. The Humen Town People's Government hosted the marathon.
In addition to the race, a commercial and cultural promotion event was held concurrently, featuring creative products, sports gear, and food zones, as well as photo spots. Local sports brands organized fun sports activities, heritage experiences, and live performances, creating a vibrant atmosphere that attracted both runners and local residents to participate and enjoy the festivities.
Reporter: Xie Maishi, He Mingqiang
Photo: Nanfang Plus
Editor: Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
