Runners in action in Beijing (© AFP / Getty Images)
The gun will go on the very first event of the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015 at 7.35am local time on Saturday (22) when the men’s marathon gets under way at the Chinese capital's famous landmark Yongdingmen Gate.
However, in addition to the 69 men who will be standing on the start line about to commence their journey north to the Bird’s Nest stadium and race over 42km for a little over two hours, alongside them will be about 10,000 other runners taking part in the in the 10km mass run.
Beijing's mass run follows on from the innovative idea of the organisers of the 2014 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen, which combined the championship event with a mass participation race.
The 10km runners will have the thrill of rubbing shoulders with some of the superstars of distance running, including Uganda’s defending world champion Stephen Kiprotich and Kenya’s world record-holder Dennis Kimetto, at least until they disappear from view up the road.
Among the sights on both course over the first 10km is the stunning Temple of Heaven, before the mass run participants cross the finishing line at Yuetan North Street.
The big question is: how many runners will finish their 10km outing before the first of the elite contingent crosses the line in the Bird’s Nest stadium and claims his gold medal?
IAAF
