The 2025 Penghu Cross-Sea Marathon kicked off on Sunday, attracting over 3,000 runners from home and abroad, but are the entrants there for the race or the famously lavish seafood feast that follows?

Enormous mountains of lobster, crab, shrimp, and even abalone await the 2025 Penghu Cross-Sea Marathon participants, an event and feast combination that has attracted over 3,000 runners from home and abroad.

The race is the world’s first island-hopping route, never doubles back on itself, is certified by World Athletics and the long-distance run association AIMS, and offers beautiful sea views.

One runner said she quickly ran to eat lobster, otherwise it would be too late. Another praised the food, shouting that the all-you-can-eat seafood feast is so delicious. A third said he won't dare come next year, because he is too scared that he won’t be able to finish the race after eating so much.

Ten stations offered over 120 dishes, though medical experts remind runners to pay attention to their physical condition, and consider the freshness of the seafood and its potential impact on their digestive system. Nutritionist Belle Yuan (袁毓瑩) spoke about the event, stating that while seafood is a good source of high-quality protein, it's not the best choice for direct supplementation during exercise.

The Penghu Cross-Sea Marathon enhances Taiwan's international reputation as a foodie’s paradise. Unfortunately, this year’s event is over, but runners interested in participating in 2026 have plenty of time to crab an o-fish-ial spot in both the race and the feast!