?The 2010 Xiamen International Marathon kicked off Saturday morning with a record of 48,000 runners contending for honors in full marathon, half marathon, 10-km and 5-km races.

Mugo Samuel Muturi of Kenya, defending champion in the men's race, set an event record of 2:08:51 last year. But Muturi, also the winner of the 2009 Beijing Marathon, faces stiff challenge this year as 15 others in the men's group have a personal best of under 2:10:00, among whom Bazu Worku of Ethiopia is the fastest with 2:06:15.

Athletes start off at the Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center at the Xiamen International Marathon in Xiamen, southeast China' Fujian Province, Jan. 2, 2010.

After a clean sweep of top three in the women's race last year, China's dominance looks shaky this year due to the absence of a handful of elite runners, including reigning world champion Bai Xue.

The Xiamen International Marathon, which was launched in 2003 and hailed by IAAF as the Gold Label Road Race, is renowned for its charming seaside scenic course. The whole course follows largely the scenic sections of the coastal city.