Cohosted by Changhua County Government and Tianzhong Town Office, the 3rd marathon of the Changhua Marathon Month – the 2017 Taiwan Rice Heaven - Tianzhong Marathon – officially kicked off in the morning of the 12th in front of Tianzhong Town Office in Changhua County (intersection of Douzhong Rd. and Zhenzheng Rd.) by Changhua County Magistrate Ming-Ku, Wei, Tianzhong Town Mayor Wen-Hsien, Hsieh and Tianzhong Tourism Development Association President Tsung-cheng Cheng. County Magistrate Wei, dignitaries and local residents all extended their warm welcome to the athletes, inviting them to attend the most hospitable Tianzhong Marathon in order to appreciate the beauty of Changhua via running. Along the way, 6,500 enthusiastic volunteers and cheerleaders will cheer on the runners, allowing them to appreciate the warmest hospitality and reception of the volunteers. Everyone is welcome to participate in this wonderful marathon festival.
According to County Magistrate Wei, the Tianzhong Marathon has received the Best Popularity Award as one of the top 10 marathons in Taiwan by Sports Administration, Ministry of Education. Now in its 6th year, domestic and foreign runners are welcome to join the Taiwan Rice Heaven - Tianzhong Marathon. The event is so sought after that registration closed almost immediately after it was opened, and it goes to show the passion and hospitality of the people of Tianzhong. He also expressed his thanks to the runners’ support and love of Tianzhong Marathon.
County Magistrate Wei commented that despite the rain, everyone’s enthusiasm was not diminished in the least. He urged participants to look after their physical wellbeing and pay attention to traffic safety. Along the entire length of the race, more than 6,000 cheerleaders lined the streets to cheer on the competitors, while they also prepared Changhua County delicacies and savory dishes to welcome the runners. Aside from savoring gourmet food, the runners can also appreciate the magnificence of Tianzhong’s countryside, folk customs of Shanjiao Rd., on Baguashan, as well as the picturesque sceneries of Zhuoshui River. He wished the contestants good luck in achieving their personal’s best record.
Tianzhong Town Mayor, Wen-Hsien, Hsieh, expressed his joys at such a festive atmosphere in Tianzhong, where so many people have come together to offer their hospitality. This is the 6th year of the Taiwan Rice Heaven - Tianzhong Marathon, and each year is better than the last, with more and more people participating in the event. He thanked the county government, Sports Administration and Representative Council for their support to make the event’s success possible. He also reminded runners to pay attention to safety while running in the rain, and to keep hydrated in spite of the cool weather.
Tianzhong Tourism Development Association President Tsung-Cheng, Cheng expressed his gratitude towards the county government, town office and various elected representatives for their full support, as well as cooperation from sponsors, subcontractors and hard-working volunteers. Most importantly, he wanted to thank all the athletes for joining the Taiwan Rice Heaven - Tianzhong Marathon to improve it year after year. In addition to Tianzhong Marathon, the county government also launched Marathon Month. Tianzhong Marathon is the 3rd event on the Marathon Month calendar this year, everyone is welcome to participate in the Marathon Month to feel the vivacity of Tianzhong and make magnificent memories.
The Tianzhong Marathon is the premier event on Tianzhong’s calendar, and registration is currently open to the public. Nearly 100 Tianzhong residents queued outside the town office in the early morning to sign up for the annual extravaganza and take advantage of the early bird special. Registration for 500 early bird special slots quickly ended within the hour, and as many as 50,000 people have registered online. However, only 15,000 applicants were selected randomly by computer; in other words, only 1 out of 4 applicants were fortunate enough to be selected. To put it in perspective, buying a Jody Chiang concert ticket will be easier than registering for Tianzhong Marathon!
This year, approximately 15,000 athletes from more than 10 countries gathered in Changhua to admire the breathtaking sights and abundant culture of Baguashan, Babao Canal and Changhua Plain. The event is divided into full marathon (42km), half marathon (21km) and health run (10km), consisting of roughly 5,000 runners in each group. There are nearly 6,500 cheerleaders, traffic controllers, and supply volunteers from the town of Tianzhong to service and cheer on the runners.
Now into the 6th year, Taiwan Rice Heaven - Tianzhong Marathon has been voted the most hospitable and most popular race by netizens for 5 straight years. Recently, the event also received the “Best Popularity Award” for Sports Administration, Ministry of Education’s “Let’s Exercise – Local Specialty Sports” online voting event. Tianzhong Marathon features varied sceneries such as old streets, canals, countryside, forest trails and steep inclines, these are complemented by the warm hospitality of local cheerleading squads and wide selection of supplies, making it the most hospitable race in the country and transforming Tianzhong into the most friendly town in the hearts of the runners.
Other highlights of the event include: Inviting athletes from ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) as opening runners alongside Changhua’s local basketball team “Formosa Dreamers” and local town folks. Their speedy silhouettes resonate with the passionate spirit of the Tianzhong Marathon, and Changhua Post Office also printed commemorative stamp collections exclusively for the Tianzhong Marathon.
A total of 4 marathons will be organized in November, which is designated by Changhua County as “Marathon Month”, hoping to present the county’s local characteristics to citizens nationwide through the races. County Magistrate Wei is dedicated to promoting tourism through sports, hoping that Tianzhong Marathon will continue to be hosted in the future without interruption, thereby generating tourism development and the spirit of sportsmanship while showcasing Changhua County’s vivaciousness.
Information courtesy of Changhua County Government official website.