Rock 'n' Roll Marathon: Music themed event heads to Guangzhou

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We head over to Guangzhou, where in the city's Huadu District, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon series had its inaugural stop. More than 10,000 participants made their way to South China, enduring temperatures of 28 degrees while having their running experience amplified with live music along the route. Mike Fox has more.

The second stop of the 2018 Rock 'n' Roll half marathon China series visited Guangzhou. Being overseen by China's Dalian Wanda group, precisely 10,118 runners from more than 40 countries and regions geared up for this exciting event that isn't your usual endurance test.

This time in Guangzhou, organizers invited rock bands from China and overseas to add to the full experience. Five groups performed on the main stage for 6 hours during the race with five music stations set along the course. These areas seem to have a positive impact on Chinese runner Shi Jilin, as he is the first man to finish the half marathon in 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 32 seconds.

SHI JILIN MEN'S HALF MARATHON WINNER "This is my first time participating in a Rock 'n' Roll marathon, and the thing that impressed me the most is the music stations along the route. It definitely motivated me when I was tired. Normal marathons have people cheering for you on the side of the road, but they are not as loud."

But the race also has its issues. The southern city is known for its high temperatures and humidity and to combat this, those in charge set up 9 medical stations equipped with water and other supplies in case of emergency. 11 ambulances are on the course to go with 65 medical staffs and over 1,300 volunteers.

YIN XIAOYU WOMEN'S HALF MARATHON WINNER "I'm very happy to win. It's really hot today so it's also a new challenge for me as I've never run a half marathon in such high temperatures. I started a bit slow at first to save energy. But the scenery along the way helps a lot -- the lake view is breathtaking -- so the race didn't seem that long for me."

The event also features a 6-kilometer Happy run, where participants are more relaxed but what's intensifying is the Rock 'n' Roll marathon schedule with two more events at unknown locations set for the calendar before the race reaches Shanghai. Mike Fox, CGTN.