Registration for the Beijing Marathon 2018 is now open

Image: Quino Al on Unsplash

Beijing's premier marathon returns September 16

Have you ever wanted to run continuously for a questionably healthy distance? Perhaps you already have done so. Whatever the case, it's time to get on your marks, as the Beijing Marathon is back for 2018.

On Sunday 16 September, channel your inner Pheidippides and complete the 42.195km course (which is 26.219 miles, or 26 miles and 385 yards if you don't like a decimal). Starting at Tiananmen Square, the route has in recent years reached out to the city's west, before heading north towards the Summer Palace, and eventually returning eastward to end at the central area of the Olympic Park.

Submit a registration form now, or anytime before 10am, Sunday 19. Once you've submitted your application, you'll go into a draw with thousands of others, until the lucky 30,000 few are chosen sometime towards the end of August – keep your fingers crossed in the meantime, as last year, 100,000 runners reportedly applied. If you don't make the cut, though, you could always just make your own marathon, or go for even longer – like the guy who ran the entire 222km of the Sixth Ring Road back in 2016.

To register, head to the official website or download the 马拉马拉 (Mararun) app.

Participants must have been born before 1999, and will need to complete a 14-question entry application, with mind-teasers galore (sneak peek below).

Keeping running and never giving up will, however, be an important skill for completing a marathon.

The race fee for Chinese nationals is 200RMB, while foreigners need to pay 50USD.

Get registering now, and remember: keep running and never give up. (Unless you need to, in which case please do stop running.)

To find out about the guy who ran the entire Sixth Ring Road, hit 'Read more'. 

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