[Hong Kong - Road] SCHKM 2027 adds a 5km Harbourfront Run; ballot opens 20 Oct, closes 26 Oct at noon
The inaugural 5km Harbourfront Run takes place on Saturday 16 January 2027, starting at Kai Tak Sports Park and following the Kai Tak Promenade to Shing Kai Road Garden - about 5km, non-competitive, with a 60-minute limit. There are 4,500 places at HK$300, allocated by an individual ballot (aged 16+) and a family ballot (ages 6-15 with an adult 18+). Ballot entry runs from 20 October 12:00 to 26 October 12:00; first-round results and payment 29 Oct 14:00-2 Nov 12:00, second round 6 Nov 14:00-9 Nov 12:00; wheelchair entry is first-come, first-served until 27 Nov. The Youth Run (ages 10-15, approx 2km, 3,000 places, HK$200) is also new, with entry open to 27 November, first-come first-served. (Source: Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon official site)
[Hong Kong - Road] BOCHK HZMB Half Marathon on 15 Nov upgraded to World Athletics Platinum Label
The Bank of China (Hong Kong) Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (Hong Kong Section) Half Marathon will be held on 15 November and has been awarded World Athletics Platinum Label status - Hong Kong's first platinum-label road race and the world's fourth platinum-label half marathon. The course starts at the HZMB Hong Kong Port and passes the Scenic Hill Tunnel with airport views. A new 10km challenge category lifts the total field from 8,000 to 10,000, with more than 10,000 entries received, a record. (Source: Fitz, 20 Oct; HKAAA)
[China - Road] Beijing Marathon: Tamirat Tola wins in 2:03:10, fastest ever run in China
At the 2026 Beijing Marathon and National Marathon Championships on 18 October, Paris Olympic champion Tamirat Tola won the men's race in 2:03:10 on his first start in China, breaking the course record and setting the fastest marathon time ever recorded on Chinese soil. Anchinalu Dessie defended the women's title in 2:20:36, while China's Xu Shuangshuang (2:28:25) and Yang Yiting (2:28:47) completed their marathon debuts. (Source: Fitz, 20 Oct)
[France - Trail] Grand Trail des Templiers: Francesco Puppi and Martyna Mlynarczyk win
At the 32nd Grand Trail des Templiers on 18 October - an 80.4km loop with 3,429m of climbing from Millau - Italy's Francesco Puppi won the men's race in 6:32:20, one second outside the course record, while Poland's Martyna Mlynarczyk took the women's race in 7:41:18, breaking Caitlin Fielder's 2024 course record of 7:42:24. The three-day festival featured 18 races and more than 13,000 participants. (Source: iRunFar, 18 Oct)