Two months before the 10-kilometer mini-marathon began at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing on Saturday, the competition had already started for amateur runner Li Zhiqiang from Qingdao, Shandong province.
Even when Tiffany Tang was in her 20s, she says she never felt so full of energy and healthy.
The fitness industry expands in China as an increasing number of Chinese people opt for healthier lifestyle.
Pod Inn, a Hangzhou-based budget hotel chain, saw reservations surge at one facility in the city ahead of a marathon race in early November.
Makers of yachts, kayaks and inflatable boats are popularizing water-based recreational activities as healthy lifestyle options.
These sports industry insiders shared their views about the booming running business sector as witnesses.