On November 1, an incident occurred at the Yantai Marathon in Shandong province, where chaos erupted over seafood supplies meant for participants after the race. Videos captured the frantic scene, in which numerous individuals scrambled to grab food, causing tables to collapse under the pressure.
The event’s organizer, Yonghui Sports, issued an apology the following day, acknowledging that they had significantly underestimated the number of people who would gather to collect the seafood supplies.
Reports from various media outlets indicate that soon after the marathon concluded, the seafood dining area became a frenzy, with participants using bags to collect food. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with some people not hesitating to risk burns from hot seafood as they rushed to secure their share. A staff member from the event committee recounted that the pots of seafood had barely been set down before people surrounded them. He remarked, “This happens every year,” adding that even increasing security personnel had proven insufficient to control the situation.
This seafood distribution area was located in the post-race brand interaction zone, where runners would pass while waiting for shuttle buses. According to Ms. Pang, the promotional representative for the Yantai Marathon, the seafood was independently provided by sponsors. She explained that after a large number of half-marathon runners finished, a sudden influx of people overwhelmed the previously estimated capacity for food service, which had been planned to operate in batches rather than providing everything at once.
In their apology statement, Yonghui Sports revealed that they had prepared 10,000 pounds (about 5 tons) of scallops and 1,500 pounds of clams, along with cooked dishes and ginger soup. However, they admitted that they had seriously underestimated the excitement and demand from the runners.
The organization stated that between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM on November 1, over 5,500 runners completed the race and made their way to the supply area. As the seafood had to be processed on-site, with each pot taking around 20 minutes, the overwhelming number of attendees resulted in a backlog, leading to long waiting times.
In response to the chaos, the organizers reported that they had deployed additional security personnel and volunteers, set up barriers, and used public announcements to restore order. They noted that subsequent runners were able to collect their supplies without further disruption.
Looking ahead, the organizers expressed a commitment to adjusting food preparation times and methods, expanding collection and queueing areas, and including scenarios involving high volumes of finishers in future rehearsals.
The tumultuous scene sparked a variety of comments on social media, with some users remarking, “Don’t test human nature,” while others noted, “If someone leads, a crowd will follow.”
In light of the staff’s comments about the annual recurrence of such incidents, some netizens questioned, “If it happens every year, why do they continue to provide it?”
Others humorously suggested, “Next time, just hold a ‘Seafood Grab’ event,” with some commenting on the shift in the marathon atmosphere, stating that it has transformed into a competition for food rather than a race.