The Great Wall of China Marathon is one-of-a-kind, and for many proves to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is definitely an experience that you will never forget. It will give you stories to tell your friends and family members for years to come, and it will provide a race t-shirt you never want to give away.
What makes the Great Wall Marathon so unique?
- The race is held on the Great Wall of China
- You get to explore an important part of history while enjoying a race
- The course incorporates over 5,000 steps
- The heights of the wall allow for spectacular scenery found nowhere else in the world
If you fear you will only be able to travel abroad for one race in your lifetime, you will not be disappointed with this race. If you are looking for a race that can easily be transformed into a vacation enjoyed by all (even the non-runners), this is definitely it!
Race History
The Great Wall Marathon does not attract hundreds of thousands of participants, mainly because it is too challenging for the majority of runners training for marathons.
Only the most ambitious and dedicated runners are able to successfully train for and complete this marathon. It has been in existence since 2007, and as proven to be much more than a marathon.
It is a test of endurance that even the best marathon runners cannot always endure.
Great Wall Marathon Race Course
The first portion of the Great Wall of China Marathon is basically a mountain ascent and descent. You race up thousands of steps to reach the top of the Great Wall, race across the length of the wall, and then back down thousands of steps on the other side. This is the portion of the marathon that many runners find the most challenging, since it is far from your typical flat ground marathon course.
The rest of the marathon is more like other marathons, except you are racing through rice fields and villages that are found nowhere else in the world. You are also racing on gravel roads, with some asphalt roads thrown in as well.
You won’t need special gear for these roads, but the varying terrain does make the marathon a bit more challenging than those raced on sidewalks or roads in other countries.
Even this second portion of the course has some steep elevation, so runners should be prepared for ascents not found in many other marathons around the world. This is what makes this one of the most unique and challenging marathons in the world.
Registering for the Great Wall Marathon
Registering for the Great Wall of China Marathon is different from most other marathons, since you register for a completely package rather than just a marathon.
You are given the choice of itineraries, each offering different experiences for your trip. You can select the package that best fits your interests and needs, so the marathon becomes a part of a larger vacation.
This is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in history, photograph amazing scenery that you may never see again, and challenge yourself physically.
Training for the Great Wall of China Marathon
Since the Great Wall Marathon incorporates a lot of steps, your training will be very different than it would for any other marathon. Some marathons require you to train for vicious hills, but this is the only marathon that requires you to train for over 5,000 steps!
The steps are especially demanding because they require exceptional endurance and strength. You need endurance to run up and down hills as well, but you will need more strength to power through steps while going uphill.
You definitely want to incorporate strength training and cross training into your schedule, but you may want to spend some time on a stair stepping machine or out on the bleachers as well.
While it is common for runners to walk portions of a marathon, not many marathons openly encourage participants to walk at some points. That is exactly what happens with the Great Wall of China Marathon!
Part of the course is essentially a mountain climb, and runners are openly encouraged to settle to a walk at the steepest points of the ascent. They are also advised to go slower and take caution when going up and down the other steps, which can be quite steep as well.
Needless to say, this is a marathon you don’t want to go into without a lot of training.
Since the course varies dramatically from one section to the next, you will need to train with a variety of strategies in mind. You can read more detailed information regarding each portion of the course on the registration website.
The months leading up to the marathon are crucial for your success. Are you still searching for a marathon training plan that fits your needs? My 100 Day Marathon Plan review tells you all about Marius Bakken’s revolutionary method to train for a marathon.
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