Taiwan's Rice Heaven Tianzhong Marathon
🏃♂️ 42 km
🌍 INT
One of the most important economic and tourism events for the county is the annual Taiwan’s Rice Heaven Tianzhong Marathon (TZM), which is jointly organized by CCG and Shukang Lohas Sports Association. Study Cheng (鄭宗政), TZM’s chief executive, founded the Tianzhong Tourism Business District Development Association in 2013 and heads the Changhua Marathon Association, a regional branch of the semiofficial Chinese Taipei Athletics Association supported by the Ministry of Education-administered Sports Administration (SA).
Launched in 2012, TZM, whose title translates literally as “in the fields,” quickly emerged as one of the country’s most popular rural road running events. From around 4,000 runners in the first race, registrants more than doubled in 2013 and have continued increasing ever since. Now, TZM has to limit the number of participants to a total of 16,500 for the marathon, half-marathon and 9.7-kilometer run, despite the 2022 event attracting over 29,000 applicants.
Pre-pandemic it also saw steadily increasing numbers of international participants to over 1,000 in 2019. In 2020 it joined the established Taipei, New Taipei City Wan Jin Shi and Kaohsiung Fubon Marathons as an SA-promoted, Taiwan-branded international competition, and as such it leverages economic benefits, fosters local pride and encourages people of all ages to engage in physical activity.
Launched in 2012, TZM, whose title translates literally as “in the fields,” quickly emerged as one of the country’s most popular rural road running events. From around 4,000 runners in the first race, registrants more than doubled in 2013 and have continued increasing ever since. Now, TZM has to limit the number of participants to a total of 16,500 for the marathon, half-marathon and 9.7-kilometer run, despite the 2022 event attracting over 29,000 applicants.
Pre-pandemic it also saw steadily increasing numbers of international participants to over 1,000 in 2019. In 2020 it joined the established Taipei, New Taipei City Wan Jin Shi and Kaohsiung Fubon Marathons as an SA-promoted, Taiwan-branded international competition, and as such it leverages economic benefits, fosters local pride and encourages people of all ages to engage in physical activity.