The Great Wall Marathon® & Half Marathon

On May 21st 2005, The Great Wall Marathon® & Half Marathon will be held for the 6th time in the picturesque and unspoiled surroundings of Chinas Tianjin Province.

The Great Wall Marathon® is a very demanding course with exhausting ascents, steep descents and more than 3700 steps to conquer. But runners will also be taken on a flat and scenic route through beautiful farmlands and small picturesque villages.

The Half Marathon course takes runners on the Great Wall and through the fascinating scenery surrounding it. The experience will be no less - just half as long.

The focus of The Great Wall Marathon® is on experiencing a unique adventure and not on setting new records. A fascinating tour combining an adventurous and demanding challenge with relaxing visits to some of Chinas most signature monuments.

Please note that entries to The Great Wall Marathon® can only be bought as part of a tour package, combining the marathon with a number of different tour options.

No runners should enter The Great Wall Marathon® believing that this is an easy course. However, no one shall think of it as an impossible challenge reserved exclusively for a running elites. It takes a lot of training and willpower to succeed but on average, 25% of the earlier "combatants" has premiered as marathoners on the Great Wall. Don't be scared; just make sure to come prepared.

Physically, The Great Wall Marathon® course can be divided into two sections.
- The first section which covers approximately 9 kilometers takes the runners up to, across and down the Great Wall of China. This part of the course is marked by steep ascents and descents of up to 10% and consists of thousands of steps. Runners are advised to run slowly going up and down the mountain, as well as to walk when passing the steepest parts of the Great Wall.
Full marathoners will complete this section of the course twice, whereas half marathoners will only pass it once.

The second section of the course, which takes the runners through picturesque villages and rice fields, is done on flat asphalt and gravel roads. All roads are in good condition and do not require special footwear. Full marathoners should be aware of a long ascent when going towards the turning point (letter L on the course map). This ascent may seem easy compared to the road leading to the Great Wall section, but after running approximately 21 kilometers it may come as an unpleasant surprise.

There will be a drink station for approximately every 5 kilometers serving bottled water. Electrolyte drinks and bananas will be served at selection drink stations. For runners with other requirements to nutrition and drinks, personal provisions can be placed at selected drink stations.

A team of specialized medical doctors and officials will supervise the marathon. These people have undisputed authority to exclude runners who, according to their judgment, should not continue running.

Well-prepared runners should be able to complete The Great Wall Marathon in 5-6 hours. The Great Wall Marathon requires careful planning as every section requires a different strategy. It is recommended to leave your watch at the hotel, in order not to focus on kilometer averages.

Even though we start the race early, most runners will experience the sun and heat as they run.
It is recommended to wear light/light-colored running gear during the race. The surface is even throughout the course and no special footwear is required to race the Great Wall Marathon.
On inspection day, it can be useful to wear hiking boots (for ankle stability) to prevent sore joints from walking up and down steep steeps.
It is recommended to wear a shade but avoid baseball caps or the likes. Runners will need to keep their heads cool and shade out of their eyes. Baseball caps and other hats build up heat and can be dangerous for runners spending hours in the sun.

The Great Wall Marathon® & Half Marathon must be completed in 8 hours. To ensure that nobody has to struggle the Great Wall in vain, there will be a 6½ hours cut-off at Kilometer 32 where runners re-enters the Great Wall section of the course.

As much as The Great Wall Marathon® is a sporting event, it is also about experiencing the mysticism and splendor of ancient and contemporary China.

The Great Wall Marathon is a vacation combining a marathon with a number of cultural visits. Even though you are not a marathoner yourself, you can still participate in this unique adventure.

Apart from the race itself, spectators will follow the same itinerary as the runners. Prior to the race, everybody gets to walk the Great Wall section of the event. On this day, runners and spectators will get a chance to visit the Great Wall of China together.

On race day, only runners are allowed onto the Great Wall. As a spectator, you are free to explore the beautiful villages in the vicinity or stay in the finish area or along the course to support the passing runners.

Hotel standard is a minimum 4 or 3 star Tourist Class, centrally located.