On the eve of the annual Taipei Marathon, the Taipei City Government yesterday held the first ever Taipei Marathon Breakfast Run, with 5,000 participants of all ages running a fun non-competitive 3km race.
The annual Taipei Marathon is one of Taiwan’s most anticipated major races and an international marathon recognized by World Athletics, one of the largest international governing bodies for track and field, and other competitions such as road running, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said.
Chiang, who brought his two-year-old son to take part with him in the Breakfast Run, said the 3km route is not too long, not a strain to complete and suitable for people of all ages, with the youngest participant being only seven months old and the oldest being 87.
Photo courtesy of the Taipei City Government
“There are about 5,000 runners today, with many being participants in the official race tomorrow who brought their family and friends to join today,” Chiang said yesterday. “We hope everyone can enjoy the happiness of exercising through this opportunity, perhaps discover a new side of Taipei, and also use it as a warm-up for the official race.”
There are 28,000 participants registered for today’s Taipei Marathon, and all are required to be 18 or older.
This year, runners from 62 countries are taking part in the event, the most ever, Chiang said, adding that he hopes the marathon, which has been going for more than three decades, would be sustainable, and display the spirit of inclusion and hope.
The marathon medal and strap this year are made of recycled marine debris and plastic bottles, to promote the spirit of sustainability, he said.
Some of the Breakfast Run’s participants dressed up as the gingerbread man, Santa Claus and dinosaurs.
The Taipei Department of Sport said 652 children aged 12 or younger participated in the race.
Department Commissioner Wang Hung-shiang (王泓翔) invited wheelchair racers to join the Breakfast Run and the official half-marathon race.
The first Breakfast Run was held to encourage people of all ages to experience road running and develop the habit of exercising regularly, Wang said.
As the event title suggested, the participants of yesterday’s Breakfast Run were given a breakfast box with bread, a rice ball, milk tea, sweet potato crisps, cranberry juice, an energy bar, an energy drink and an apple after completing the run.
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