Route map for the 2016 Wuxi International Marathon. [Photo/wxrb.com]

The Wuxi International Marathon, with the theme "Running in pictures", will hear the starter's pistol at Taihu Avenue on Mar 20.

The event is co-organized by the Chinese Athletic Association, the Jiangsu Sports Bureau and the Wuxi government.

This year, the event is expecting 15,000 people in the full marathon, 10,000 in the half marathon and 5,000 in the mini marathon. Runners will start from Lixi Road, Taihu Avenue, via Turtle Head Island scenic spot, Lihu Lake, Changguangxi Wetland Park, Wuxi Grand Theater, and Jiangnan University, and arrive at the south gate of Wuxi Sports Center to complete the 42 kilometer full marathon.

The number of registered runners this year has far surpassed the organizer's expectations, and so they were forced to draw lots. More than 16,000 people went into the draw for the 9,412 places available to run the full marathon, and 22,336 people competed for the 7,297 positions in the half marathon. The registration program is now closed.

According to the event rules, some athletes, staff of sponsors, media crews and members of charitable organizations will be given direct qualification, totaling 5,588 in the full marathon and 2,703 in the half marathon.