Runners fill streets for Qingdao West Coast Half Marathon

The 2023 Qingdao West Coast Half Marathon kicked off on March 19 in Qingdao West Coast New Area (Qingdao WCNA), East China's Shandong province.

A total of more than 10,000 professional and amateur runners from home and abroad competed in the event’s 21.1-kilometer half marathon and 5-km mini-marathon.

This year's route started in Golden Beach Beer City, a popular venue to enjoy the city's beers and coastal views, and passed through the Yumingzui scenic spot, Tangdao Bay Park and the Silver Beach scenic spot.

Wang Peilin from Qingdao Zhongyang Marathon Club was the first to cross the finish line in the men's semi-marathon championship, and Yin Hengyu from Linyi, Shandong province won the women's semi-marathon championship.

The marathon also rolled out the online version of the competition on Feb 16 for the first time, which lifted the restrictions of time and location. Over 210,000 runners signed up for the online competition, which was divided into 1 km, 3 km, 5 km, 10 km, and half marathons, aiming to provide runners with more choices.

Since its launch in 2016, the Qingdao West Coast Half Marathon has been held six times and is recognized by the Chinese Athletics Association as an official competition. In the future, marathon organizers plan to stay committed to optimizing services, promoting the marathon spirit, and encouraging people to foster a healthier lifestyle.

The 2023 Qingdao West Coast Half Marathon kicks off on March 19 in Qingdao West Coast New Area, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/WeChat account: qdxihaianfabu]