Runners unfazed by heat in first-ever NM marathon

Around 15,000 people took part in the inaugural Northern Metropolis Marathon on Sunday morning, with the organiser saying it will try to hold future races in cooler months and extend the route to Shenzhen. At the sound of the horn, eager runners began their 42.1km journey at 6:30am in Shek Mun, where the Heung Yee Kuk – which organised the event – is headquartered. Full marathoners then headed north via the Science Park, Tolo Highway, Lam Tsuen River in Tai Po and the Lung Shan Tunnel before crossing the line at the recently commissioned Fanling Bypass. Half-marathon runners had a similar route, starting at the Science Park and finishing in Fanling. Most participants said the arrangements were smooth. But depending on their luck, some might have had to briefly stop at the traffic lights at a crossing to let cars pass. A certain section of the route also saw runners sharing a bike path with cyclists. Lai, a marathon finisher, said he was not pleased with his time of three hours and 11 minutes. "I kind of expected it, because of the heat," he said. "To me the route didn't matter. Running in 28 degrees [Celsius] was really tough, and there was a lack of water stations....