Over 1,000 runners participate in the Hangzhou leg of the Zhejiang Marathon and Road Running Association's six-city relay race on April 1. [Photo/hangzhou2022.cn]

Over 1,000 runners participated in the Hangzhou leg of the Zhejiang Marathon and Road Running Association's six-city relay race, which took place on the riverside greenway near the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center, on April 1.

The 9.23-kilometer race aimed to boost excitement for the upcoming Asian Games by allowing runners to get up close to the games' venues.

The relay race, with a total of 2,022 participants, consists of six races, with each leg covering a distance of 9.23 km (in honor of the opening date of the Hangzhou Asian Games on Sept 23). The six legs are all located in cities hosting the Asian Games, with Hangzhou as the center and the other five cities, namely Ningbo, Wenzhou, Huzhou, Shaoxing and Jinhua, serving as co-hosts.

Hangzhou Running Association President Zhao Qingsong commented on the popularity of the event, saying, "Registration for the Hangzhou leg was extremely popular and sold out within seconds. It showed us the enthusiasm among Hangzhou residents for the Asian Games and nationwide sports activities."

The next race will take place in Ningbo next week.

A participant takes photos of his medal after completing the race. [Photo/hangzhou2022.cn]