[UPDATE] Foreigners Now Able to Register for Beijing's Half-Marathon Return, Apr 24

[UPDATE Apr 1, 12pm] As of this morning, it appears that the Beijing Half-Marathon is now open to everyone, including foreigners for the increased price of RMB 132. Scroll down for more details.

After last year’s event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Beijing’s Half Marathon – aka the Beijing International Running Festival – is set to take place Apr 24, with registration opening yesterday, Mar 30, and closing on Apr 4 at 4pm.

Unfortunately, unlike past years, the 2021 iteration will only be open to Chinese citizens and permanent residents (those with a Chinese green card), and participation requires a negative nucleic acid test result issued by a Beijing testing institution on or after Apr 21.

Likewise, whereas past marathons have attracted upwards of 18,000 runners from China and abroad, according to ongoing COVID-19 prevention efforts, this year will only host 10,000. Should the number of registrants exceed that number (it almost certainly will), runners will be chosen at random and notified in the coming weeks. Registration is RMB 132 for foreigners, versus RMB 120 for locals.

The Beijing International Running Festival dates back to 1956, when it was known as the Beijing Spring Run. It wasn’t until a number of decades later that it was combined with the Beijing International Run, and in 2016, officially upgraded to a half marathon. Today, the course extends from Tiananmen Square to Olympic Park, covering a distance of 21.0975km.

Despite the poor air that the capital has experienced as of late, or more likely because of it, Beijingers are increasingly desperate to get out and run. Coupled with the cancelation of last year's Beijing Half-Marathon and Marathon events, that's never been more true than now, with an estimated 7 million people competing in 1,828 Chinese Athletics Association-certified running events in 2019, a 22 percent increase compared to 2018.

Hopefully, with the government doubling down on its anti-pollution efforts, the air will be clear when runners cross the starting line later next month. The return of the half-marathon also bodes well for the Beijing Marathon, which is usually held in October.

How to sign up

To sign up, visit the official Beijing Half-Marathon website, switch to English, click "View details" on the Beijing Half-Marathon 2021 button, and register via your phone number. You'll then need to answer a short questionnaire spanning everything from your health status to what are the best practices for running a long-distance event. Once completed, you'll need to enter the usual pertinent information as well as your blood type and an option to upload proof of previous running competitions you have entered in the past three years (we're unsure if this will give you an upper hand in the draw, but it shouldn't hurt). Then pay the RMB 132 registration fee and you're done!

Those who manage to secure a spot will receive details at a later date about where to register in person and drop off their negative nucleic acid test certificate, etc., as well as pick up the event materials for the half-marathon.

You can keep track of half-marathon news by following the official Beijing Half-Marathon account at WeChat ID: 北京半程马拉松.

READ: Beijing Officially Announces Vaccine Roll Out for Foreign Residents

Image: Bruno Nascimento (via Unplash), Statista