Marathon critics have tainted vision

Despite its rising popularity, marathons make headlines often for reasons other than running in China. In 2013, some runners urinating on the Forbidden City walls grabbed the headlines. Last October, Beijing's heavy smog provided critics with a chance to ridicule the degree of intelligence of those who chose to run at the cost of their health.

In the latest case, a marathon was blamed for the traffic jam in Haikou, capital of Hainan province, on Sunday. "The whole city was paralyzed," claimed the local media as they elaborated on how the "nine-hour" traffic control had thrown the tourist city into chaos. The event's sponsorship by a real estate developer added fuel to the public rage, with many saying, "the wealthy could do anything at will" to the detriment of commoners' rights to commute.

The sense of justice displayed on such a broad scale and strong resolve to defend it have left me with a sense of awe.