![Runners pass the Tian'anmen Square during the HYX Beijing International Marathon, October 19, 2008. Nearly 30,000 participants took part in this annual marathon event.[Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20081020/000cf1a487730a66646a2a.jpg "Runners pass the Tian'anmen Square during the HYX Beijing International Marathon, October 19, 2008. Nearly 30,000 participants took part in this annual marathon event.[Xinhua]") |
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Runners pass the Tian'anmen Square during the HYX Beijing International Marathon, October 19, 2008. Nearly 30,000 participants took part in this annual marathon event.[Xinhua]
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![Runners compete in the Beijing marathon, the biggest sports event after the Beijing Olympic Games in the Chinese capital, October 19, 2008.[Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20081020/000cf1a487730a66645129.jpg "Runners compete in the Beijing marathon, the biggest sports event after the Beijing Olympic Games in the Chinese capital, October 19, 2008.[Xinhua]") |
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Runners compete in the Beijing marathon, the biggest sports event after the Beijing Olympic Games in the Chinese capital, October 19, 2008.[Xinhua]
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The elite men set off first, the Kenyan runners led the field from the outset. Benjamin Kiptoo prevailed, in a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes and 14 seconds. He was followed by compatriots Chelimo Luka and Simon Wangai.
In the women's race, China's Bai Xue bettered her third place in 2007 winning in 2 hours, 26minutes and 47 seconds.
Marathon champion Bai Xue said, "I think the first half of my race was good, but I was much slower in the second half. "
Teammates Chen Rong and Zhang Yingying finished second and third, to stand alongside Bai Xue on the podium.
But it was truly a race for the people. After the elites finished, thousands more amateur runners poured into the Olympic Center, ending their race on the track of the stadium.
(CCTV October 20, 2008)
