Participants of Yixing International Marathon wait at the starting line, April 7. [Photo/WeChat account: yixingfabu2015]

The second Yixing International Marathon kicked off on Sunday in Wuxi, Jiangsu province.

Known as the "home of purple clay", around 15,000 runners took part in the Yixing race. Three thousand people ran the full marathon (42.195 km), three times more than last year, 5,000 entered the half-marathon (21.0975 km), and the others braved the mini marathon (5 km).

The course passed through many scenic spots and historic landmarks, including Tuanjiu Lake, Dongjiu Lake and Longbeishan Forest Park, making it one of "the most beautiful marathon courses in China".

About 15,000 runners take part in the second Yixing International Marathon on April 7. [Photo/WeChat account: yixingfabu2015]

After a fiercely competitive race, Kenyan runners came out top in both the men's and women's full marathon races.

Maiyo Felix Cheriyot and Gladys Kemboi took the title for the men's and women's full marathons respectively, with record-breaking times of 2 hours 29 minutes 01 seconds and 3 hours 00 minutes 32 seconds.

Maiyo Felix Cheriyot takes the title for the men's full marathon with a record-breaking time of 2 hours 29 minutes 01 seconds. [Photo/WeChat account: yixingfabu2015]

Chinese runners also performed well in the full marathon races, with Zhang Ligang claiming second in the men's full marathon thanks to a time of 2 hours 31 minutes 26 seconds, and Qiu Huijun winning the bronze medal in the women's full marathon with a time of 3 hours 19 minutes 52 seconds.

The medals, made of the area's special purple clay, embody the city's charm and profound cultural background and include a picture of a purple clay teapot to represent Yixing.