NEWS ALERT as at 16th January 2009 for the 1st Zhuhai Half Marathon and Romantic 10K Fun Run

A course inspection and "Test Run" were conducted last Sunday of the Zhuhai Half Marathon route by 15 runners from Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau.
Martin Wiliams a Hong Kong based runner commented favorably on the Zhuhai Half Marathon course by saying “I can report that the course is excellent in so many ways. It is generally very flat and the scenery is very pleasant, especially along the seafront. The air was fresh this morning. There should be plenty of space at the start before a need to narrow the road for traffic. Great finish location”. Allan Chan another Hong Kong runner who also joined the test run has posted the photos he took last Sunday at http://picasaweb.google.com.hk/allanccl/20090111# Thank you Allan. We also posted some photos from the test run at http://gallery.me.com/robertkirby1#100008.

The latest course map is now posted onto our website and there may be another small change to the Half Marathon course to facilitate better runners flow-watch this space. Fortunately every time the course has changed by the PSB, we think it has it has improved the course for the benefit of the runners! Please note that the finish location for the Zhuhai Half Marathon has changed to the Zhuhai Holiday Resort (the start is still from the Holiday Inn Zhuhai) The finish location is approximately 2.5K from the start and a shuttle service will operate from the finish to the start throughout the morning of the event for runners and guests wishing to return back to the start location. This new finish location for the Zhuhai Half Marathon will help facilitate a safer and even more memorable finish location as this Hotel has beautiful and spacious grounds.

An Entry form for The Zhuhai Romantic 10K Fun Run (the distance is now 10K not 8K as previously reported) will be posted on our website www.zhuhaimarathon. com <http://www.zhuhai-marathon.com/> by Saturday. This event will start at the same time as the Zhuhai Half Marathon and will cover 10K of the Zhuhai Half Marathon course. This 10K event is targeting pairs (2 runners) so you have to sign up with a partner! The finish point for the 10K event is on Lovers Road and coaches will shuttle couples to either the finish location of the Half Marathon or back to the Holiday Inn Zhuhai.

Runners bags-Runners will have the choice to either 1) deposit their bags at the Holiday Inn Zhuhai and be kept there safely until they claim them or 2) Have their bags delivered to either the finish line of the Half Marathon or the Finish Line of the 10K event. The 3 bag drops at the Holiday Inn Zhuhai will be clearly marked to support this strategy and your assistance in depositing your bags by 7.30am on the morning of the Race is appreciated to assist the Baggage officials

Cut off dates for entries for both the Zhuhai Half Marathon and 10K event is 12th February 2009
Cut off time for the Zhuhai Half Marathon is 2.5 hours.

The first five runners in each of the individual categories will recognized and invited onto the podium to receive their non cash prizes and cups. The first five Teams finishing in the Zhuhai Half Marathon will also be recognized on the Podium with team prizes.

Runners requiring overnight accommodation are reminded to reserve this directly with the Holiday Inn Zhuhai. See website for contact details. The Holiday Inn Zhuhai rooms are very large and their staff very friendly.

The pre Race Pasta Supper on Saturday evening February 21st will be a chance to meet with other runners from all over Asia - so don't miss it. You can also collect your Race Number packs at the Pasta Supper event which will take place between 6pm and 9pm at the Holiday Inn Zhuhai on Saturday 21st February. The Pre Race Pasta Supper is priced at RMB50 per person (Great Value!) because it is subsidized by the Holiday Inn Zhuhai. Thank you William Hon and team. Pre Race Vouchers will be on sale from the Business Center of the Holiday Inn Zhuhai shortly and we will announce shortly how runners outside Zhuhai can reserve vouchers for the Supper and pay on the evening.

Zhuhai and Pearl River Delta based runners, wishing to register for either the Half Marathon or 10K event now do so in person by visiting the business centre of the Holiday Inn Zhuhai on the 5th floor between 8am and 10pm each day and complete their entry forms and pay their fee there.

We will introduce a Question & Answer section in our next NEWS ALERT

Keep On Running and look forward to seeing some of you at the China Coast Marathon on Sunday

Robert

2009年1月16日第一届珠海半程马拉松和10公里浪漫趣跑赛事之新闻快递

　　上个星期天，来自香港、珠海和澳门的15位长跑爱好者在珠海半程马拉松路线上进行了“试跑”，并检查了沿途赛道。

　　香港选手马丁·威廉姆斯（Martin Williams）对珠海半程马拉松的赛道安排评价颇高，他说，“我能告诉大家的是，赛道在多个方面都堪称完美。道路平坦，景观怡人，沿海赛道风景更不消说。早上试跑时，空气新鲜。初始赛道占地空间应该更大，这样就不用因交通问题而压缩跑道了，但终点站场地绝佳。”另一个香港选手阿亮（Allan Chan）也参加了上周星期天举行的试跑，并拍了不少照片，发布地址为：http://picasaweb.google.com.hk/allanccl/20090111#。谢谢你，阿亮。此外，我们也在http://gallery.me.com/robertkirby1#100008发布了一些试跑照片。

　　现在，最新赛道地图已发布在我们的网站上。为方便长跑选手更好地体验沿途风景，我们可能再次对半程马拉松赛道进行微调。幸运的是，我们认为，珠海交警支队每次调整路线都改善了赛道，有利于长跑选手！

　　请注意：珠海半程马拉松终点站已调整为珠海度假村酒店（起点仍然是珠海粤财假日酒店）。终点站离起点站大约2.5公里，在上午整个赛事期间，将有交通工具从终点站往返起点，为希望返回起点站的参赛选手和客人提供运送服务。因为珠海度假村酒店环境优美，占地开阔，所以，本次确定的珠海半程马拉松新终点站将确保参赛选手更安全，并成为选手更难忘的终点站。

　　周六前，<http://www.zhuhai-marathon.com>网站将发布珠海10公里浪漫興趣跑（现在确定的距离为10公里，不是先前通知的8公里）报名登记表格。本次赛事将和珠海半程马拉松赛事同时开始，而且，将与珠海半程马拉松共用10公里赛道。10公里浪漫趣跑针对组合选手（两人组合），因此，参赛选手得与同伴一起报名。10公里浪漫興趣跑並不切任何奖項。10公里赛事的终点站设在情侣路上，届时将有交通工具将参赛组合选手送至半程马松终点站或送回珠海假日酒店。

　　参赛选手行李包问题—参赛选手可选择：1）将包寄存在珠海假日酒店保管，赛事完毕后再取回寄存包；或 2）委托组织方将包送至半程马拉松终点站或 3）送至10公里浪漫趣跑终点站。 请需寄包的选手在赛事当日上午7.30之前到珠海假日酒店大堂协助行李人员做好寄存工作。

　　珠海半程马拉松赛事和10公里浪漫趣跑的报名截止日期均为2009年2月12日。
　　珠海半程马拉松赛事规定的关门时间为2小时30分钟。

　　我们将确定各組別的前五名选手，并邀请他们到讲台领取非现金奖品和奖杯。珠海半程马拉松的前五名团体也将获赠团队奖品。

　　我们建议要求住宿的参赛选手直接预定珠海假日酒店客房。请登陆网站了解住宿详情。珠海粤财假日酒店客房空间宽敞，员工十分友好。

　　2月21日星期六晚上将举行赛前意式晚餐，报名参加晚餐聚会，您就有机会与来自亚洲各地的其他选手交流，机会不容错过。2月21日星期六在珠海假日酒店举行的意式晚餐聚会6.00点开始，9.00点结束，届时，您还可以拿到您的参赛号码牌。赛前意式晚餐的价格仅为每位50元人民币（经济实惠！），因为珠海假日酒店为此提供了补贴。感谢黄总（William Hon）及其团队。赛前用餐凭证马上会从珠海假日酒店商务中心发售，我们将迅速公布珠海之外的参赛选手如何预定晚餐凭证及如何付款。

　　珠三角地区的长跑爱好者，不论是希望报名参加半程马拉松赛事的，还是10公里浪漫趣跑的，现都可本人造访珠海假日酒店五楼的商务中心，填写报名表格并支付相关费用。工作时间为每天上午8.00至晚上10.00。

　　在下一次新闻快递中，我们将推出问答环节。

　　一直跑下去。希望星期天能在中国海岸马拉松赛道与您相遇。

　　高朗弼