began holding an annual international marathon in 2000 to give the public a different experience of the park, boost Hualian's tourism industry and raise Hualian’s international profile. Every marathon held so far has been a success and the number of participants increases year by year, with top international runners also taking part; in 2010 the marathon attracted 294 runners from 22 countries and the percentage of participants from outside Hualian reached 95%, making it a major event on the local tourism calendar that provides a substantial boost to local tourism industry revenues.
This year’s Taroko Marathon will take place on November 5. Taroko National Park Management Headquarters brought all related units together for a work meeting on July 8 to discuss organizing this year’s event. The 2011 Taroko Marathon will have three categories: the marathon, half-marathon and the fun run. The marathon will set off from Taroko Arch Gate, follow Provincial Highway 8 to Asia Cement’s Flame Tree Grove and then turnaround, enter the Central Cross-Island Highway, pass Swallow Grotto, the Tunnel of Nine Turns, Lushui and then turnaround at Tianxiang, finishing at Taroko HQ Visitor Center, 42.195 kilometers in total. The half marathon will also start at Taroko Arch Gate, follow Provincial Highly 8 to Asia Cement’s Flame Tree Grove, turnaround, enter the Central Cross-Island Highway and turnaround near Xipan, 21 kilometers in all. The fun run will start at the north end of Jinwen Bridge, with the turnaround point at the Eternal Spring Shrine, and will be five kilometers long.
A Taroko National Park spokesperson said that this will be the 12th year the event has been held and it is planned to collect 100 short essays and photographs that express participants' feelings or tell a story about taking part in a past Taroko Marathon. These essays will be included in this year’s event booklet, with the authors of essays selected for use receiving a fine small gift (contributors must also be entered in this year’s race).To provide an opportunity for participants to socialize before the event like in previous years, a “Runners Night Concert” will be held the night before, the venue and program to be decided by the organizer, the Chinese Taipei Road Running Association.
To provide opportunity for more people to take part while also taking into account the safety of participants, this year the maximum number of participants will be increased by 500 to 10,500 (7,500 in the full-marathon and half-marathon, 3,000 in the fun run).Entries will be taken from around mid-August. Please see the Chinese Taipei Road Running Association website at this time: http://www.sportsnet.org.tw.
For telephone inquiries: Chinese Taipei Road Running Association 02-25855659 or Taroko National Park Headquarters 03-8621100ext.601,602,603.
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News issued by Taroko National Park Headquarters
Translated by Kevin Lax
