Tapping a trend for running abroad

Organizers of a new Asiawide marathon series are hoping to tap in to China's running boom by tempting runners to races at exotic locations across the continent.

Kicking off its inaugural season with a bang in Beijing last month, the Asian Premier Marathon (APM) series, which is sanctioned by the Asian Athletic Association, is expected to attract more-seasoned Chinese runners to events abroad while also bringing organizers together to exchange ideas on management and promotion.

"The success of the Beijing Marathon has highlighted the huge interest in long-distance running in China, and we are excited to channel that passion to other events in Asia," said Wu Hongtao, head of APM and a senior executive at Infront China, a shareholder and operator of the series.