A half marathon in China's Jilin province has introduced an unconventional prize system, offering the winner a cow and other participants wild fish, geese, or roosters to boost participation and promote local products. The Nong'an Taipingchi Ice and Snow half marathon, scheduled for December 29, announced on WeChat that the male and female champions would each receive a cow, which could be exchanged for 6,000 yuan ($827.81). Runners placing second would be awarded wild fish from Taiping pond, while geese, ducks, and roosters from the same pond were other prizes. Additionally, participants would receive 10 kilograms of rice and wheat.
The announcement, titled 'Grand Prizes Are Coming and the Champions Are So Proud,' quickly gained traction on Chinese social media, becoming one of the top trending topics on Weibo. One user humorously inquired, 'If the first-place winner lives overseas, do you need to buy a high-speed train ticket for the cow?' The event will take place in Nong'an County's Wetland Park, a significant agricultural area in Jilin.
Marathon running has seen rapid growth in China, with 622 marathons and half marathons held nationwide in 2023, averaging nearly two events per day, according to the Chinese Athletics Association. Smaller cities and counties have also started organizing various running events. Chinese social media is abuzz with discussions on marathon events, sportswear, equipment, training, and diet tips. Over 30 marathons and road-running events took place across China between November 2 and 3, attracting approximately 400,000 participants, as reported by Xinhua.
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