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China’s trail races return to ‘old normal’ after coronavirus-induced hiatus but marathons still restricted
- The timeline of Chinese running races has seen many false dawns with promises of the return of races, but now they really are getting back to normal
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Chinese trail races are making a comeback after a hiatus since February due to the coronavirus, and now some events have thousands of runners. Unlike in Europe, where runners now abide by “new normal” race protocols such as staggered starts, masks, and social distancing, organisers in China are relying on a track-and-trace system, health codes and mass testing to keep the race experience as close to the “old normal” as possible.
Chinese runners are now booking out every race, but the recovery is still some time away – major marathons are yet to open registration.
But the timeline for the return of races has been slow and frustrating. In mid-February, after parts of China went into a lockdown, frustrated runners started doing circles around their apartments.
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In March, there was a tentative roll back of the restrictions. The Chengdu Double Heritage Marathon held a much scaled-down version, with social distancing and mask-wearing enforced.
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Runners’ spirits surged, but then China’s General Administration of Sport announced that all mass sport events would be put on hold as part of a “prevent importation from the outside, prevent rebound on the inside” strategy to contain the virus.
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