Roughly 36,000 runners from across China take part in the Hangzhou Marathon on Nov 3. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

The 2024 Hangzhou Marathon kicked off at the Huanglong Sports Center at 7 am on Nov 3, lighting up social media.

This year's race, featuring a full marathon, half marathon, and 3.5-kilometer fun run, drew approximately 36,000 participants from across China. Runners passed Hangzhou's most iconic sites, including West Lake and the Qiantang River, capturing the city's stunning blend of history and modernity.

In a thrilling finish, Kenyan athlete Moses Kibet set a new Hangzhou Marathon record, crossing the line in 2:07:47. The top three finishers in the men's marathon all surpassed the previous records, with the top female athletes also achieving record-breaking times. In the half marathon, Tsinghua University student Chen Zhongping defended his title with a time of 1:06:23, shaving nearly a minute off his performance last year.

The marathon introduced four-legged robotic pace runners for the first time, adding a unique touch to the event. Larger robots acted as sweepers for the half marathon, while smaller models accompanied fun run participants, providing cheerful interactions and support along the way.

The race concluded at the Hangzhou Olympic Center Stadium, marking a memorable day of personal triumphs and new records in Hangzhou's premier marathon event.

A robot dog is set as th event's pace runner for the first time. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]