IMO any chain-smoker who attempts a marathon should be given a head start. Like a golf handicap.

As a former smoker I can’t imagine doing it whilst running. Either he takes only light drags or is superficially smoking. Really inhaling fully during running would be very unpleasant.

This is the best summary I could come up with:

A 52-year-old Chinese man, who chain-smoked cigarettes while completing a marathon, has been issued banned for two years.

The man, identified by his surname Chen, completed the C&D Xiamen Marathon 2024, held on 7 January in three hours and 33 minutes, and smoked throughout.

Now, the Xiamen Marathon’s organising committee has issued a two-year ban on him from their races and reported him to the Chinese Athletics Association for further penalties.

He is popularly known as Uncle Chen and has earned the title of “Smoking Brother” in China, according to Canadian Running magazine, which first reported the incident.

The list also includes “open defecation, littering, trampling on the flowers and grass and other behaviours that might affect other runners”.

Last year, the Chinese Athletics Association introduced a proposal aimed at encouraging healthier participation and reducing smoking during road-running events.

The original article contains 372 words, the summary contains 139 words. Saved 63%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

Just like the good old days when athletes would smoke during breaks in the game. They sure were great times!

How the hell can you be a chain smoker and run a marathon?!