Great Wall of China Marathon

Running Towards the Rising Sun

5,164 steps to climb? Only at the Great Wall Marathon in China. Conceived in 1999 by the Danish organization Albatros Adventure Marathons, this race is one of the hardest in the world, featuring 900 meters of elevation gain over the iconic 42.195 km. Coincidentally or not, from its first edition, the race saw Danish runners dominating, with the top ten finishers in 1999 being from Denmark. Niels Magnus Jensen stood out among the men with a time of 3h16min55s, while Kersti Jacobsen won the women’s race in 3h55min30s. It wasn’t until 2001 that a Chinese runner, Jixiang Zi, claimed victory with a time of 3h50min24s. In 2013, Jensen’s record was broken by a trio consisting of American Jorge Maravilla, Greek Dimitris Theodorakakos, and New Zealander Jonathan Wyatt. That same year, the women’s record was improved by Italian Silvia Stefani, who clocked an impressive 3h32min12s.

These performances are all the more remarkable given the difficulty and uniqueness of the course: finish times are typically an hour slower than traditional marathons. The Great Wall Marathon mainly attracts runners from 60 different countries, aged between 12 and 85, seeking a unique experience over breaking records. Normally held in mid-May, the event enjoys relatively favorable weather conditions, with moderate temperatures between 15 and 25°C and light winds. However, humidity and possible showers—since May is a transitional month into the rainy season—can complicate the challenge. Only major crises, like the SARS epidemic in 2003 and the COVID-19 pandemic, have forced cancellations of the event.

Running this marathon also offers the chance to tread on an extraordinary historical structure. Extending nearly 9,000 km, the Great Wall was built as early as the 5th century BC to protect China from invasions. Running on stones over 2,300 years old is an adventure where physical endurance inevitably combines with awe. The start is generally in the province of Tianjin, about 100 km from Beijing. The route passes through picturesque villages like Dangzhang and Xiaying, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, rice paddies, and Jinshanling National Forest. This marathon has become one of the most famous in the world, with up to 2,500 participants, far from the 350 brave souls of its early days.