The event marked a return to its pre-pandemic quota of 74,000 participants, of which about 22,000 took part in the full marathon, 21,500 in the half-marathon and 30,500 in the 10km (6.2 mile) race.

The two previous editions of the race, held in February last year and October 2021, drew 37,000 and 18,500 runners, respectively.

Wearing number “852”, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, 68, also took part in the marathon, securing second place in a 2km Legends Cup race, which also involved about 40 other politicians and business leaders. The short race was held for the first time in five years.

“Early in the morning, over 74,000 runners were full of energy and determination as they made their way along the track,” Chan later wrote on a Facebook post. “The crowd was bustling. The cheers and applause from the spectators along the way truly showcased the dynamism of Hong Kong as a city.

“I also took part in one of the short-distance races this morning and was pleasantly surprised to finish in second place in the Legends Cup.”

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Chan finished the track stretching from the Wan Chai Sports Ground to Victoria Park in about 11 minutes. Business tycoon Peter Woo Kwong-ching secured first place, while politician Bunny Chan Chung-bun claimed third spot.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok and his wife took part in a 10km race, finishing in one hour and 11 minutes.

“It has been several years since I last ran such a long distance. And I haven’t had much time to train. My performance was average,” Lam wrote on social media.

“But seeing the bustling crowd and the vibe reverting back to its pre-pandemic state filled me with joy as I joined in the celebration. The gathering of tens of thousands of people exuding positive energy is truly uplifting.”

He also visited the cheering stations set up by his alma mater, Wah Yan College in Hong Kong, where he greeted fellow past students, school leaders and representatives of the alumni association.

The full marathon took racers across the city’s breadth, starting on Nathan Road and out past Tsing Yi, before looping back to Hong Kong Island via the Western Harbour Tunnel and concluding in Victoria Park.

Couple Will Chan, 30, and Michelle Lo Yee-yan, 33, who completed the 10km race together, said the event was “full of energy” because of the good weather and more participants compared with last year.

“This year there was more cheering,” Lo said. “It gives you lots of support.”

Chan said the disappearance of masks among spectators and other pandemic measures also contributed to the improved atmosphere in the city.

“It feels like things are coming back,” he said. “It’s a good feeling.”

Runners were greeted with cool and dry weather on Sunday morning, with temperatures hovering at about 17 degrees Celsius (62.6 Fahrenheit) when the races began at around 6am. Experts previously said such weather was ideal for running.

Hongkonger Alvin So Wai-chung, a 31-year-old investment banker who took part in the full marathon, also praised the “very good” atmosphere.

“This is the biggest event in Hong Kong,” he said. “I’m very happy to be here.”

So said he had stopped training over the past few years because of the pandemic but was motivated to start again after his friends took part in last year’s race.

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He said he ran an average of 10km each day for the past year in preparation for the event, which had paid off as he finished with a personal best of two hours and 57 minutes.

“I’m very proud of myself,” he said, adding that the good weather in the morning had made the “tough” route more manageable.

Duan Zhi Hua, a 43-year-old customer support specialist from Shanghai who came to Hong Kong to compete in the marathon, was also all smiles as he achieved a personal best, finishing the race in three hours and nine minutes.

“I’m very happy,” he said.

Others competing in the races included Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat, who reportedly completed the half-marathon in just over two hours and 26 minutes.

Chow said he was happy with the result and lauded the weather and scenery, despite dropping his mobile phone at the beginning of the race.

“I felt very comfortable in general but there were some sections of the route that were slightly challenging due to the inclines,” the 68-year-old said. “I had to be patient and take it slow.”

Chow added he was aiming to finish the race in two hours and 15 minutes next year.

“There were a lot of people and the vibe was very nice. I’m happy to see a lot of senior residents running with me. I encourage Hongkongers to do more exercise,” he said.

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Property and entertainment magnate Allan Zeman, who also participated in the Legends Cup, said that the return of the marathon in full showed that the city was back on the map.

“The marathon is very important for Hong Kong because it symbolises togetherness [and that] Hong Kong is free,” he said. “It lifts our spirits.”

Zeman said it was encouraging that Hong Kong had attracted elite runners, adding that sports would be a big pull for the city in the future.

“Sports is now a very big thing for Hong Kong and you’re going to see more and more sports events,” he said, noting that football legend Lionel Messi was scheduled to play in the city next month for an exhibition match with Inter Miami CF.

Additional reporting by Lars Hamer