Related stories

Biggest-ever Field for Beijing Spring Race

2001/03/01

Snow or rain, this year's annual 37th Beijing International Spring Race on the morning of March 25 is expected to attract an even higher turnout than last year's 10,000-plus contestants. The race, founded in 1956 as the Beijing Spring Festival Round-City Race, has been held annually since then, except for an eight-year gap during the Cultural Revolution.

Two distances will be run, five and 10 kilometers. The field for the five-meter run will be divided into age groups: Juniors aged 8-15; Seniors (men aged 56-80 and women 51-75). The International Group race will include expatriates, sports-group members ineligible for the shorter run, and anyone else willing to take on many fine, established runners.
Starting times for the various groups will be staggered, with the international race being the first away at 8.30am. In this race, the first six male and six female runners over the line - plus a percentage of the fastest finishers in other groups - will be awarded prizes.

Contestants' registration is from March 5-21 at participating health and fitness clubs, though volunteers will be on hand on race day toassist unregistered latecomers near the north gate of the Workers' Stadium, the races' starting point. The entry fee for the International event is 50 yuan, and for other age groups 10-30 yuan. The fees will include a T-shirt, badge and participants' certificate.

The 10km race will be along Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, East Second Ring Road and Dongzhimenwai Dajie before looping back to the finishing line at the Workers' Stadium.



	Article featured in Beijing This Month, March 2001 Publication sponsored by Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Tourism