Run Towards the Olympics

004/10/27

The Beijing International Marathon (BIM), organized by the China Athletics Association and approved by the IAAF (International Associaton of Athletics Federatons) and AIMS (Association of Internatonal Marathons and Road Races) , is the highest-profile marathon race in China. It was first staged in 1981 and has been held annually in October ever since. It has become an influential and well-regarded international race, ranking among the top 10 marathons in the world. The men's and women's records, achieved in 2003, are 2 hours, 7 minutes, 49 seconds and 2:19:39, both achieved by Chinese runners.

The 24th BIM was held on October 17. The slogan for this year's event was "Sports for All, Challenge Ourselves." Organizers estimate about 25,000 people took part in the 42.2-kilometre race.

Chinese athletes claimed all three top women's spots in the race.

Sun, last year's world 10,000-metre bronze medallist in Paris, competed in both the 5,000 m and 10,000 m events at the Athens Olympic Games.

"I am very excited to have won," she said. "I was very disappointed coming back from Athens, but now I will start to prepare for the 2008 Games. I'm very confident."

Kenya's James Moiben won the men's title in 2:10:42.

On race day, millions of enthusiastic spectators lined the streets to cheer on the thousands of runners. Over 100 million people nationwide watched live TV coverage of the race. The event was marred somewhat by the unfortunate death of two of the amateur competitors.