Keeping fit in new ways
Running online
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement or cancellation of many marathon and long-distance running events across China in 2020. In turn, many organizers began staging online running events.
The key benefit is that runners don't gather to run the same track with thousands of others. With no specific location and start time, participants used applications on smart devices to track their steps, with the data sent to organizers. Those who completed their chosen distance were awarded medals.
In one example, the organizing committee of the Xiamen Marathon in Fujian province decided to postpone due to the pandemic just days before it was due to start, Jan 3.
The next day, the committee announced it would stage an online version of the event. Between Dec 31 and Jan 6, a total of 265,942 runners from across China signed up for the online Xiamen Marathon. Among them, 189,959 people finished a 5-or 10-km race remotely and received medals.
"I thought I had missed the chance of running this year's Xiamen Marathon. So the chance of running the event online was truly surprising for me," runner Huang Shunyong told Xinhua.
Enthusiasts now have various options to participate in all kinds of online running events in the future. In another example, the Chinese Athletics Association launched an online marathon series called "Running Across China" in October, which contains more than 1,000 small events and continues for a year.
"Online sports events could avoid the limitation of places and the number of participants in traditional events. It will also avoid the risks of spreading the virus caused by people gathering," CAA vice-president Cai Yong said earlier.
"Online events allow runners to join in the events in freer ways and encourages more participation. The CAA hopes to attract more runners to join the online marathon series, so more people can join the national fitness campaign."
However, online marathons are a hapless choice for runners who love to travel and see different places, enjoy the atmosphere of running with thousands of people and hear the sound of cheering crowds along the route.
Retired Chinese Olympic race walk champion Wang Liping suggested runners could choose to join in the online events as a part of their daily training. It would be a chance to keep their physical condition before having chance to join marathons offline, she suggested.
"The idea of hosting online running events is to encourage more people to join in sports and fitness campaigns in such a special time. Those who love sports will enjoy themselves during the whole process. Online marathons will be a future trend," Wang told media earlier.
