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Why China needs to build a culture to rival the great marathons in United States and Europe

With an increase in spending power, the followers of fashion are queuing up to join the running boom, especially in Shanghai

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The Shanghai Marathon is growing in popularity as a running boom takes hold in China. Photo: Shanghai Marathon Organising Committee

China needs to build a culture to catch the running boom and compete with the great marathon races in the United States and Europe.

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The challenges are many – from cheating to hotel scams to pollution to changing values and attitudes – as a running boom sweeps China because it is now “fashionable”.

“If you are poor, you do not think about running, you have other things to worry about. The Chinese running boom is caused by the improvement in people’s financial situation,” said a public relations manager, who wished to remain anonymous.

“We are still a developing country, but now many Chinese people have enough money to run and also travel abroad to run.

“Our top marathons are not that far behind Western ones in terms of quality now, but the culture between Chinese and Western cities is different, and this creates different events.

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Participants take pictures of themselves as others run past the Tiananmen gate during the Beijing Marathon. Photo: Reuters
Participants take pictures of themselves as others run past the Tiananmen gate during the Beijing Marathon. Photo: Reuters
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