Cow, wild fish, chickens for winners: China half marathon finds unusual way to attract people

HONG KONG: In an effort to draw more runners and promote local food, a half marathon in the northeastern Chinese province of Jilin offered unusual prizes, with the first runner crossing the finish line taking home a cow and other racers receiving wild fish, geese, or roosters.

A cow would be given to the male and female half marathon winners, according to a WeChat post of the Nong'an Taipingchi Ice and Snow half marathon organisers on December 29. Another option is to exchange the farm animal for 6,000 yuan ($827.81).

Second place gets wild fish from Taiping pond, while other prizes were geese, ducks and roosters from the same pond. Ten kilogrammes (22 pounds) of rice and wheat would be given out to other finishers.

"Grand prizes are coming and the champions are so proud. The organising committee is full of sincerity," the post said.

The notice was widely circulated on Chinese social media and ranked as one of the hottest topics on platform Weibo on Tuesday.

"If the first place person lives overseas, do you need to buy a high speed train ticket for cattle?," asked one user.

The event is due to take place in the Wetland Park in Nong'an County, Jilin, which is a major agriculture producer.

Marathon running has grown rapidly in China in recent years with a total of 622 marathons and half marathons held across the country in 2023, with events taking place at a rate of nearly two per day on average, according to the Chinese Athletics Association.

Smaller cities and counties with populations of a few hundred thousand have also begun organising different kinds of running events.

Chinese social media is teeming with comments on marathon events, sportswear, equipment, training and diet tips.

More than 30 marathons and other road-running events were held across China between Nov. 2 and 3, drawing approximately 400,000 participants, the Xinhua official news agency said last week.