Marathon madness sweeps across nation

Road races promote healthy lifestyles, create economic benefits

WUHAN — With over 20 marathon events taking place across the country, March 23 was dubbed "Super Marathon Day" in China.

Leading the pack was Wuhan Marathon in Hubei province, which expanded its participant limit to 40,000 this year. Demand was high, with over 450,000 people applying for a spot in the race.

For seasoned runner Yang Jun, from Beijing, a spot in the Wuhan Marathon was a long-awaited opportunity. "I had applied five times before and finally got in through the supplementary draw this year," he said.