I wish to express my support for changing the marathon route ('Changing the route could create a true city marathon', February 12). It is sadly ironic that while the marathon is billed as (one of) the Greatest Race on Earth, the reality is anything but. It doesn't come close to the experience of running New York, London, Paris and other city marathons where communities join in with street parties, bands play and crowds cheer. The Hong Kong Marathon route has to be one of the bleakest anywhere on the planet. Running is a hugely personal activity, each runner out there for his or her own reasons. And it's also not just about the top runners. The real challenge is the battle being fought in the minds of every participant. As someone who ran marathons for over 10 years and sometimes up to 12 a year, I know that crowd support and involvement are second only to walking away with the satisfaction of having completed the task. There is an emotional high in running through crowds, hearing shouted encouragement and actually 'experiencing' the city, which plays an enormous part in pulling you through tough times. The Hong Kong Marathon is devoid of any of that. Runners are left to themselves with long stretches of bleak highway, no shade and no community encouragement, and they have to endure it twice - out and back! Perhaps it should be called the Hardest Race on Earth. My ideal Hong Kong Marathon route would include areas like Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Happy Valley and Kennedy Town. Hong Kong is a great city and the Hong Kong Marathon could truly be called the Greatest Race on Earth. Melissa Wu I support a change to the route for the Hong Kong Marathon to a more city-focused route. I am a permanent resident and have taken part in the half-marathon every year since 2000, except in 2005 when I completed the full marathon. I have taken part in the London Marathon, and the contrast is staggering. The proposed route gives the opportunity for more spectator support, and more 'colour' to the event. Running back along the Western Highway is one of the most boring runs I have ever done. A run along the Island Eastern Corridor is a much better 'Harbour Run' than to the container port, and provides a much more pleasing aspect of Hong Kong. I am sure for every person inconvenienced for half a day one Sunday every year, that there are two who are either running or cheering - or even watching live coverage on TV . . . which there never has been. This is another poor reflection on the 'standard' of our marathon event. Hong Kong is wondered at by many for its resilience and ability to continue to make money, yet it can be laughed at when anything where money is not involved gets treated as of lesser importance. Sport is very important and a flagship event like a world-class marathon should get proper community and official support, with a good route which attracts people to watch and take part. Our marathon does not do that. John Shelton It is high time changes were made to all three categories - 10km, 21km, and 42km. The 10km, which is the highest crowd puller, should be kept to a different day or on Kowloon side from start to finish. Kowloon has more space to handle big numbers. The 21km should be run on Hong Kong side as your newspaper suggested while the 42km should overlap between Kowloon and HK island. It would be made more interesting by putting down routes on streets and lanes, so that the people of Hong Kong could cheer the runners, who would become more motivated. Public awareness would also grow and more people would join this mega event. I ran for the eighth time last Sunday - the first time in the half-marathon - and a number of people said they wished they could have come and cheered me on. I know people are worried about what would happen if the roads are closed for half a day but it would build up unity and awareness like in New York and London. It is time for Hong Kong people to participate rather than sit in front of the TV or bet on football and horse racing. Umesh Kalro