Fitness first in sporty opening to the year
The 2019 Run The Track is held at the Shanghai International Circuit in suburban Jiading District.
Shanghai welcomed 2019 with a wealth of fitness activities, including fun runs and stair-climbing, as citizens looked forward to a year of health and fitness.
At the Shanghai International Circuit — which hosts the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix — in suburban Jiading District, the 5.4-kilometer track was opened to 10,000 runners for the 2019 Run The Track.
Of these, 6,000 competed in a single-lap race, while the other 4,000 took part in a 21.6km four-lap run.
Wang Hongwei and Li Zhixuan won the men’s and women’s four-lap run, clocking 1:10.03 minutes and 1:12.23, respectively.
Run The Track was first held in Shanghai in 2015. The idea came from the informal races held at Formula One circuits around the world in which F1 drivers, team members and marshals compete.
The Shanghai International Circuit track is shaped like the Chinese character shang (up) and runners hope the event will bring them good luck for the new year.
A total of 4,800 runners take part in the 2019 Jing’an 10K New Year Run in downtown Jing'an District.
In downtown Jing’an District, 4,800 runners took part in the 2019 Jing’an 10K New Year Run, which started from Jing’an Park at 7am.
A total of 3,500 participants competed in the 10km main race, which finished at Daning Park. Another 1,300 runners took part in the 5K run which ended at Shanghai Railway Station’s Magnolia Square.
Cheng Qianyu and Liu Jingya won the men’s and women’s 10K race, clocking 31.03 minutes and 34.57 minutes, respectively.
Coming into its sixth year, the Jing’an 10K New Year Run adjusted its route to increase the level of difficulty.
The 10K runners had to conquer Hengfeng Road Bridge followed by the Wanrong Road Tunnel.
The routes covered popular commercial streets, including Nanjing Road W., as well as taking in views along Suzhou Creek.
A traditional stair-climbing competition at the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in the Pudong New Area attracted more than 1,000 participants, who raced to a platform 259 meters above ground level.
Charity donations were organized during the event.
The Chinese tradition of “climbing high” at the beginning of the year represents a wish to reach new heights in lives and careers.
Changning, Hongkou, Putuo and Fengxian districts also organized running events.
Approximately 60,000 people, young and old, took part in more than 30 sports activities in almost all parts of the city.
