Distance running is serious business but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun too. At least, that was the attitude of some of those taking part in yesterday’s marathon.
The event included the full 42-kilometer marathon, a half-marathon and a 10-kilometer race. Ethiopian runners claimed victory in both the men’s and women’s marathon. Dereje Ali finished in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 27 seconds to take the men’s title, while Misiker Demissie won the women’s in 2 hours, 30 minutes and 12 seconds.
Behind them came 70,000 runners and a whole host of colorful characters – including the 100-year-old “Turbaned Torpedo.” Fauja Singh – who was born in 1911 in India and claims to be the world’s oldest marathon runner – finished the 10km race in 1 hour, 34 minutes.
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Briton Singh, who ran to raise HK$200,000 for the charity Seeing Is Believing, said: “The weather was very pleasant, I enjoyed the race very much.”
Some runners wore costumes for fun – animal oufits were popular – but others had a point to make. Activist Philippe Flamand from “Running for rhinos” sported a massive rhino costume – and still managed a full marathon in about six hours.
“I come from South Africa and would like to raise awareness on saving rhinos by running in a world event. A great number are hunted down for use in traditional Chinese medicine.”
A Mr Chan, in a shark costume with friends from Hong Kong Shark Foundation, also had a message: “Say no to shark’s fin soup! Run for a reason!”
Local celebrities including Edison Chen Koon-hei, Steven from Cantopop group Boyz and actresses Prudence Liew Mei-kwan and Lau Sum-yau also took part. Local runners took top spots in the half-marathon and 10km races, while Masayuki Higuchi of Japan won the wheelchair marathon in 1 hour, 43 minutes and 14 seconds.
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