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China in leading pack of marathon hosts

Xinhua, March 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

China is increasingly keeping pace with other major countries in the number of marathons it is hosting.

Over 35,000 runners participated in two separate races that went on concurrently in the two Chinese cities of Kunming and Sanya on Sunday.

Four municipalities and 79 cities in 23 Chinese provinces or autonomous regions hosted marathons in 2015, 34 more than in 2014.

In 2015, the Chinese Athletics Association registered 134 marathons, 83 more than the previous year. Nearly 1.5 million runners from about 90 countries competed in last year's events.

"China began hosting marathons with 1981 Beijing Marathon, and their number has surged ever since, especially in recent years," said Tao Shaoming, former coach of the national women's marathon team.

"At least 200 marathons will be held in China this year," said Huang Yi, manager of Chinese marathon organizer Wisdom Sports Group. Endi