Over 3,000 women set to run in 10km jogging event

More than 3,000 women are expected to take part in a 10 kilometer jogging event to be held in north Shanghai as the city’s annual cherry blossom festival begins next month.

The runners will jog through the city’s largest cherry blossom forest totaling over 12,000 trees in Gucun Park in Baoshan District on March 11.

Applications have opened through the official amazing_runplus WeChat account of the event and female expats are encouraged to participate, the sports authority of Baoshan District said.

“We invite elite female groups, such as policewomen, lawyers and teachers to take a lead to encourage women to take more active part in sports and develop healthier lifestyle,” said Chen Taifeng, director of the Baoshan District Sports Center. They include over 100 women lawyers, accountants and teachers from Baoshan.

An application costs 100 yuan (US$15.80) and each race participant will receive a bag and T-shirt.

The 10km and 5km events have been popular among locals who are increasingly getting involved in sport activities to lead a healthy lifestyle. Shanghai hosts over 10 running events consisting of half marathon and shorter distance.

More than 2,000 participants have applied to take part in the popular 10km event since applications started early this month, Chen said.

“We expect 20 percent more people will take part in the race this year compared with the first such event last year,” Chen said. Over 2,500 women took part in the first women’s 10km jogging event in the park last March.

The race will also mark the beginning of the city’s annual cherry blossom festival. The festival has become one of the most popular events for locals as well as for visitors from neighboring provinces since it was launched in 2011.