Nearly 17,000 runners join HK Streetathon, some run 9km extra due to unclear instructions

The Hong Kong Streetathon kicked off on Sunday morning with over 16,400 participants, including 3,069 international runners representing 64 different countries and regions.

Among the 19,400 registered runners, the attendance rate was 85 percent, with 99 percent successfully finishing the race, according to the organizer RunOurCity.

However, the organizer recognized that it had received complaints from several half-marathon runners who ended up covering over 9 km more than intended due to unclear track instructions. That resulted in an almost 30 km run in the 21.5 km-long race.

RunOurCity stated that the incident occurred sporadically and might have been caused by incorrect instructions from on-site staff. They emphasized that if it turns out to be a human error, they will take steps to improve staff training.

In addition, four individuals were hospitalized with fractures or bleeding injuries, while another 110 sustained minor injuries.

This year's event featured a new Five-Senses Marathon for runners to encounter sensory delights during their full, half marathon, and 10km race.

The full marathon began at 5 a.m. at the Eastern Corridor and finished at San Shan Road, crossing the Eastern Harbour Crossing from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon. The half marathon followed a similar route but excluded the Central Wan Chai Bypass, Lung Wo Road, and the Tseung Lam Highway.

The 10km race began at 9 a.m. on Tseung Lam Highway. Runners passed the Cha Kwo Ling Road and Kwun Tong Bypass and finished at Kwun Tong Promenade.

Lisa Cheng Lai-sa, the world champion rock climber known as "Hong Kong Spider Woman," who participated in the half marathon, mentioned that her main goal is to enjoy the race.

Another half-marathon participant from Japan expressed excitement about her first overseas marathon.

One participant, surnamed Choi, enjoyed the event's five-sensorial experience, praising the arrangement of the snack station and the scenic view.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki highlighted the introduction of a family category to the 10km race, which requires at least one participant to be between the ages of 10 and 25, to align with the government's objective to promote sports participation.

Mable Chan Mei-bo, the newly appointed Secretary for Transport and Logistics, expressed hope that the new introduction of serving Cantonese festival meals like Poon Choi and steamed glutinous rice cake during the race can promote the city's unique characteristics and local delicacies to overseas runners.