A group of Tainan-based runners yesterday emerged as the biggest winners in the Penghu Cross-Island Marathon, a unique island-hopping event that features local delicacies along the way.
A total of 3,443 runners from 19 countries ran in the eighth edition of the event, including 101 international athletes, 2,664 from Taiwan proper and 678 from Penghu County, the Penghu National Scenic Area Administration said.
Making their debut in marathon, an eight-member team from Tainan, led by Su Chih-pin, delivered an impressive performance. Lin Chiu-chieh won the men’s full marathon in 2 hours, 47 minutes, 32 seconds, while Yang Chiao-chu took the women’s title in 3:19:07.
A participant in the Penghu Cross-Island Marathon holds a lobster in Penghu County yesterday.
Lin said after the race that Penghu’s course is similar to Kinmen County’s, adding that that the cool weather made for ideal running conditions.
He said he felt lucky to claim victory in his first appearance at the event.
Japan’s Fusaki Sakai finished second in the men’s race with a time of 2:48:48.
Photo: CNA
Su finished second in the men’s half marathon race in 1:25:36, behind Hsinchu County runner Eric Lai (賴賢鴻).
Although the team narrowly missed its goal of three titles across the full and half marathons, Su said he was pleased that three members finished among the top three overall in their categories.
Billed as Taiwan’s only “cross-sea and island-hopping” marathon, the race featured five divisions — a 42km marathon, a 42km relay, a 21km half-marathon, an 11km run and a 5km fun run.
Photo: CNA
To promote local tourism, organizers set up 10 food stations offering more than 100 local delicacies along the route and 30 food stalls at the finish line.
To further boost offseason tourism, the Penghu County Government offered NT$500 winter travel vouchers to non-Penghu participants, valid through Jan. 31 next year.
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