Sweat, Sales Pitches and Scandal at the Beijing Running Festival (3)

（CRI Online）  09:39, April 17, 2013  

However, people were either oblivious or didn't seem to mind running in such a commercial setting. They padded along the roads, waving at the cheering bystanders, alternating between posing for and snapping photos.

The difference between a running "race" and a running "festival" was evident in the event's noncompetitive nature; no individual times were recorded, except for top finishers. Dai Zhen was the runner of the day, completing ten kilometers in 32:23 minutes.

A man surnamed Wang was a typical participant, uninterested in times, but perfectly pleased that he'd run his five kilometers and arrived in Xiannongtan Stadium with no great deal of suffering. "It's important to participate to be healthy. And it makes a contribution to the country," he added.