Explore Asia on Foot: Five Upcoming Marathons to Get You Out of Beijing
Running a marathon is not only a great way to discover local areas when you're training but also a fantastic excuse to head further afield and explore new countries – call it an ultra-healthy holiday. Below are five upcoming marathons around Asia that are so scenic that trained runners will want to immediately lace up and train for them, and who knows, they may even tempt you to run your first ever marathon.
The Khmer Empire Marathon, Aug 4
The Khmer Empire Marathon starts and finishes in the world-famous Cambodian UNESCO heritage site of Angkor Wat. As you can imagine, the flat course is stunning and takes runners past 40 ancient temples and through national forests, rice fields, and traditional villages, with local villagers providing support when things get tough. It all amounts to a unique, non-touristy way to appreciate Angkor's temples and natural scenery. However, one warning: August temperatures typically reach over 30 degrees (and then there's the humidity), so be prepared to sweat as you hit the road.
Click here for registration.
Vietnam Mountain Marathon, Sep 20-22
Alternatively, the Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM) is an extremely challenging mountain run. It offers 10km, 15km, 21km, 42km, 70km, and 100km routes, which wind through the mountainous region of Sapa in northern Vietnam, taking attendees through small dirt roads and narrow trails that feature challenging climbs and descents. When runners aren't coughing up a lung, they also have the opportunity to soak up the majestic mountains, valleys, and swaths of magnificent golden rice fields that are usually only frequented by ethnic minorities local to the area.
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Sun Moon Lake Marathon, Oct 27
As the name suggests, the Sun Moon Lake Marathon runs through the heart of the beautiful Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County, Taiwan. The curvy but flat track cuts through a bike route that CNN ranked one of the top 10 most beautiful cycling routes in the world. Runners can not only enjoy the stunning surrounding scenery but also have the chance to watch cultural performances by locals after the race as part of the annual Firework and Musical Festival.
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Bagan Temple Marathon, Nov 23
The Bagan Temple Marathon takes place at Htilominlo Temple, which is renowned for its plaster carvings and is one of the five oldest ancient pagodas in the northwestern Myanmar city. The relatively flat course meanders through lush plains, showcasing the area's sacred pagodas and temples, traditional villages and settlements, as well as striking landscape, creating an other-worldly atmosphere where time seems to have stood still even when you're counting down the seconds.
Click here for registration.
Chiang Mai Marathon, Dec 22
Just before Christmas each year, the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai is overrun with contenders who are drawn to the area's incredible scenery, vibrant atmosphere, and colorful temples. Highlights of the latter include the artful Lanna and Doi Suthep temples, which are used by monks and locals for sacred worship and date as far back as the 13th century. As well as the full marathon, which kicks off at 2am at night, there are also 21km and 10km routes, and even a 3km race for kids.
Click here for registration.
More of a martial arts kinda person? Check out this handy guide on where to kick some ass in Beijing.
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Photos courtesy of event organizers
