At Chuzhou Park in Lishui, East China's Zhejiang province, the 2025 Lishui Marathon started on March 30, with 20,000 runners setting off.

The event included a full marathon, a half-marathon, and a fun run, featuring 9,868 local residents and 75 international runners from 13 countries and regions, including Ethiopia and Kenya.

The 2025 Lishui Marathon kicks off on March 30 at the Chuzhou Park in Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: wxlishui]

Kenya's Samuel Kalalei won the men's marathon with a time of 2 hr 30 min 32 sec. In the women's marathon, Ethiopia's Garba Emabet Shibiru finished first with a time of 2:46:59.

In the half-marathon, Mao Ningkang from Lishui's Yunhe county won the men's title, and Wu Yanli from Qingyuan county claimed the women's title.

Participants run along the scenic route. [Photo/WeChat account: wxlishui]

The marathon course was specially designed to highlight both the professional aspects of the race and the cultural and natural landscapes of Lishui.

Along the route, 37 music stations energized runners with songs and cheers. Performances added vibrancy to the event, while five cheering stages, 28 slogan walls, and 10 support points provided constant encouragement.

The enthusiasm of Lishui's people, from volunteers to cheering spectators, offered warm support to the runners every step of the way.