About 35,000 runners braved rain and high humidity on Sunday morning to take part in the Hong Kong Marathon, which saw the return of international elite athletes after the city lifted most of its Covid-19 restrictions.

Kenya’s Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba won the men's race in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 48 seconds. He was followed by Ethiopia’s Limenih Getachew Yizengaw and Senbeta Geza Tadease.

"The race it was very hard for me. In fact, it was very humid. But I think it was difficult for everyone. We were trying to run under 2:10, but we didn't manage... but for the result, it was good," Kipchumba told reporters.

The first woman to cross the finish line was Ethiopia's Fantu Eticha Jimma, with Ethiopian-born Sinke Dessi Biyadgilgn coming in behind her.

Hong Kong record holder Gi Ka-man was the fastest home finisher, completing the race in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 45 seconds.

"It’s my second marathon in Hong Kong. I didn’t think about achieving any goals or winning the race. I just wanted to do my best," Gi said.

"Another reason for me to run is that my father has been in hospital since he had a stroke ten weeks ago. I had been practising these ten weeks, and I just want to tell him that as long as we don’t give up, there’s always hope."

Before the 10-kilometre race got going, it seemed the weather was on a lot of the participants' minds.

"It’s rather humid. It’s not hot but rather humid. It will affect my performance to a certain extent, but I hope I can adjust my strategy," said a man surnamed Cheuk.

A runner surnamed Tang, meanwhile, said he had to lower his expectations after catching coronavirus.

"Since I contracted Covid a month ago, my training has been disrupted. That’s why I don’t have any goals except finishing the race," he said.

There was also a half marathon. Hong Kong boxing star Rex Tso was spotted coming over the finish line.

"I enjoyed it very much. People were cheering for us along the way, and I bumped into some runners I knew, and we encouraged each other to run together. I felt great," he said.

Before the pandemic, up to 70,000 people took part in the races each year, but the number of participants was capped this year as part of infection-control measures.

The event was cancelled altogether in 2020 and last year because of the pandemic.

The Hospital Authority said around 30 runners had been taken to hospital, with several of them in a serious condition.
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Last updated: 2023-02-12 HKT 14:07