"Thousands of runners gathered for the annual Taipei Marathon on Sunday, creating an electric atmosphere in Taiwan's special municipality in the early morning hours. Footage shows participants running past the starting line in front of the city hall as they kick off the race. Spectators watch with excitement, cheering and filming the contest from the sidelines. "Marathons require a lot of self-discipline, but you make many friends during the process," shared a public servant taking part in the race. "When you go on a running trip abroad, you can arrange a marathon to make the travel more interesting. After all, it's hard to just walk 42 kilometres during a normal trip, but you can do it through a marathon," she added. Others, unable to participate, showed up to support their loved ones or fellow enthusiasts with chants and supplies. "It's too exhausting for me, so keep it up, everyone! I ran before, but I didn't have enough perseverance or physical strength," said a physical therapist who volunteered to provide runners with kinesiology tape. According to the organisers, this year's event is expected to attract 9,000 full marathon runners, 19,000 half-marathoners, and a number of wheelchair athletes. A total of 4,875 international runners from 57 different countries participated in the event, reportedly setting a new record for the competition. Bethwel Chumba from Kenya won the men's race, while Ethiopian runner Mulu Demissie Gadise clinched the women's category. In the domestic titles, Shih Yu-Tso and Chang Chih-Hsuan were crowned champions in the men's and women's categories, respectively, according to local media. The Taipei Marathon was first held in 1986 and has reportedly been held every year since then. "