Organisers of this year's Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Half Marathon have vowed to address issues raised by runners in the inaugural edition in 2023. The race, which has been designated a Gold Label Road Race by World Athletics, will see 8,000 runners traversing the 55-kilometre bridge's Hong Kong stretch on Sunday. Some participants of the event's first edition, which took place in November 2023, were left frustrated by a lack of sports drinks and snacks, as well as a shortage of toilets. "This time, we have increased the number of portable toilets. We have prepared 70 of them at the start and finish line, and we have 130 in total along the entire course... We believe this should be able to address the needs of runners," said Simon Yeung, who chairs the organising committee. "We have responded to the issues raised by some runners. We heard them and have followed up, and we hope to do better this year." Yeung also said some of the six water stations would provide sports drinks and bananas. The event will be divided into the "challenge" and "non-challenge" groups, with the first batch of runners expected to start at 7.15am. Among participants in the "challenge" group will be 16 runners specially invited from abroad, including Ethiopian track and field athlete Milkesa Mengesha, who won the latest Berlin Marathon. Parts of the bridge will be gradually closed to traffic from Saturday until after all races are completed.
