The Haier · 2024 Qingdao Marathon officially began with 25,000 runners from all across the globe gathering at the starting line in Qingdao on the morning of April 21. Deputy Party Chief of the CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee and Mayor of Qingdao Zhao Haozhi was in attendance to launch the event with a flag-off.

The race this year took after the cherished tradition of past Haier · Qingdao Marathons, spanning from the Shinan District to the Laoshan District along the picturesque coastline where participants saw themselves passing through quintessential landmarks including the May Fourth Square, Badaguan Scenic Area, Zhanqiao Pier, the Qingdao International Sailing Centre, and the Shilaoren Beach. The runners competed in three main categories: full marathon, half marathon, and the 5-kilometer mini marathon. Kenyan athlete Anderson Seroy claimed the men's marathon title with a record-breaking time of 02:13:33.759, shaving off 6 seconds from the previous Qingdao record. Ding Changqin from Zunyi, Guizhou, triumphed in the women's marathon with a time of 02:35:51.906. Meanwhile, Hong Yue and Pan Sufang emerged victorious in the men's and women's half marathon categories, respectively.

The Qingdao Marathon has hosted five successful editions since its inception in 2017. Renowned for its professional service and top-notch event management, it has been repeatedly lauded as a "Gold Medal Event" by the Chinese Athletic Association, becoming part of the World Athletics Label Road Races. As such, the organizing committee remains committed to upholding high standards to establish the Qingdao Marathon as a premier domestic and internationally-recognized marathon event.

CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee member Liu Shengqin, Deputy Mayor of Qingdao Zhao Shengcun, and Qingdao Political Consultative Conference Vice Chairman Bo Tao were present during the launch of the event.