The course is much tougher than traditional marathons with participants challenged by 5,164 stone steps and many steep ascents and descents.

Runners will encounter loose stones, gravel, missing steps, and crumbling walls along with sections taken over by nature with trees and plant life.

The Great Wall of China Marathon course varies in height by around 200m (about 650 feet) between the start line and the highest point at East Tower 20.

The effect this creates for runners is similar to interval training, with an effort required to climb up, followed by a recovery period coming down.

Regular training on steps as part of your preparations for the Great Wall is highly recommended.

Participants must maintain a pace faster than the course time limits in order to complete the race.

Saturday May 17, 2008: Again, the previous race record was broken, this time by Great Wall Marathon first-timer Romualdo Sanchez Garita from Mexico.