The 2025 Shanghai Women's Half Marathon is set to kick off at 7 am on March 9, welcoming runners who will take to the streets of Changning district for a race dedicated to "Shining with she power".

Participants will compete in two categories, with 6,000 runners tackling the challenging half marathon and another 1,000 opting for the fitness run. Among the diverse group of participants, 131 international runners from 15 different countries and regions will join local athletes in the competition. Lisa-Marie Azzopardi, the consul general of the Republic of Malta in Shanghai, will also lace up her running shoes to take part in the event.

For top performers, attractive cash prizes await, with the top six finishers set to receive rewards of 15,000 yuan ($2,070), 10,000 yuan, 8,000 yuan, 5,000 yuan, 3,000 yuan, and 2,000 yuan, respectively. Additionally, the top 200 finishers will secure a direct pass to compete in the prestigious 2025 Shanghai Marathon.

The half marathon will kick off from Zunyi Road and culminate at Gate 3 of Zhongshan Park on Wanhangdu Road, while the fitness run will conclude at Shanghai Zoo on Hongqiao Road. Both races are scheduled to start simultaneously.

According to the organizing committee, this year's race has seen a remarkable response, with a total of 30,521 registrations. Of these, 26,430 runners signed up for the half marathon, while 4,091 registered for the fitness run. The majority of participants fall within the age range of 36 to 45, with the youngest participant being 17 years old. Impressively, 215 runners are over the age of 55.

Xia Miao contributed to this story.