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Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon should be easier next year
A flatter, less-demanding route should ensure that no one gets left behind at the biggest running event of the year
An HK$50,000 prize awaits the overall winners of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2012.
Registration opens today for the Standard Chartered Marathon, Hong Kong's most popular running event.
The races will take place on February 5, 2012 and runners can enter on payment of a HK$300 registration fee.
This year, a record sign-up of 70,000 participants is expected -- probably because the race is said to be slightly easier.
Previous routes took runners up and down slopes along the scenic but gruelling Stonecutters, Tsing Ma and Ting Kau bridges.
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But runners in next year's Standard Chartered Marathon will take an equally scenic but considerably more forgiving route: starting in Tsim Sha Tsui, through the Western Cross-Harbour Tunnel to Central, then along the waterfront in Central to Wanchai's Fenwick Pier and finally Victoria Park.
The new route is flatter and will hopefully mean that all participants can finish within the time limit.
As well as the usual full marathon, half marathon and 10-kilometer race, organisers hope the wheelchair events will take off this year.
Last year was the first time that wheelchair events were organized, but they had to be cancelled due to a low turnout.
The full marathon and three-kilometer wheelchair events are open to all qualifying participants. Check the website for details.
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