Beirut Marathon
Beirut Marathon | |
---|---|
Date | November |
Location | Beirut, Lebanon |
Event type | Road |
Distance | Marathon |
Primary sponsor | Aquafina |
Established | 2003 |
Course records | Men: 2:10:41 (2018) Mohamed El Aaraby Women: 2:28:38 (2017) Eunice Chumba |
Official site | Beirut Marathon |
Participants | 48,605 (all races) (2018) 565 finishers (marathon) (2015) |
The Beirut Marathon, is an annual event that takes place in Beirut, Lebanon, first held in 2003. It is a founding member of Asian Premier Marathons, and was accredited as a Silver Label Road Race by the IAAF.[citation needed]
The marathons are managed by the Beirut Marathon Association, a non-profit non-governmental organization registered under the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Lebanon. It is sponsored by the BLOM Bank.
History
The race, created by businesswoman May El-Khalil, has the theme of unity at its core.
The first marathon was held on October 19, 2003 and attracted over 6,000 runners from 49 countries, and tens of thousands of Lebanese and international spectators.
The 2010 edition of the men's race was won by the pacemaker Mohamed Temam. Hussein Awadah broke the Lebanese record at the race that year, completing the distance in at a time of 2:20:31.
In 2011, the course was altered to make it faster and easier to organise and the men's and women's record were both improved that year; Seada Kedir knocked over five minutes off the women's best time.
The 2019 edition of the race was cancelled due to anti-government protests, with all registrants given the option of transferring their entry to 2020 or obtaining a refund.
The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all who had transferred their entry from 2019 given the option of obtaining a refund.
Other activities
Beirut Marathon Association also organizes their annual marathon village which was sponsored by Transmed in 2017.[citation needed]
Community impact
The race reaches out to all sides of the political spectrum in Lebanon. The day's events also include a 3 km race for MPs of any political allegiance, as well as members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon stationed in the country.
Winners
Key: Course record (in bold)
Ed. | Date | Male Winner | Time | Female Winner | Time | Rf. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2003.10.19 | Paul Rugut (KEN) | 2:17:04 | Jackline Torori (KEN) | 2:42:29 | |
2 | 2004.10.10 | Eshetu Bekele (ETH) | 2:17:31 | Anastasia Ndereba (KEN) | 2:36:46 | |
3 | 2005.11.13 | Francis Kamau (KEN) | 2:19:20 | Jane Omoro (KEN) | 2:42:19 | |
4 | 2006.12.03 | Moses Kemboi (KEN) | 2:17:28 | Eunice Korir (KEN) | 2:49:25 | |
5 | 2007.11.18 | Tamrat Elanso (ETH) | 2:19:46 | Beyene Adenech (ETH) | 2:41:24 | |
6 | 2008.11.30 | Alemayehu Shumye (ETH) | 2:12:47 | Alemtsehay Hailu (ETH) | 2:37:20 | |
7 | 2009.12.06 | Mohammed Temam (ETH) | 2:16:12 | Mihret Tadesse (ETH) | 2:42:41 | |
8 | 2010.11.07 | Mohammed Temam (ETH) | 2:16:43 | Etaferahu Tarekegne (ETH) | 2:41:15 | |
9 | 2011.11.27 | Tariku Jufar (ETH) | 2:11:14 | Seada Kedir (ETH) | 2:31:38 | |
10 | 2012.11.11 | Kedir Fekadu (ETH) | 2:12:57 | Seada Kedir (ETH) | 2:35:08 | |
11 | 2013.11.10 | William Kipsang (KEN) | 2:13:34 | Rehima Kedir (ETH) | 2:36:47 | |
12 | 2014.11.09 | Fikadu Girma (ETH) | 2:12:26 | Mulahabt Tsega (ETH) | 2:29:15 | |
13 | 2015.11.08 | Jackson Limo (KEN) | 2:11:04 | Kaltoum Bouaasayriya (MAR) | 2:36:05 | |
14 | 2016.11.13 | Edwin Kiptoo (KEN) | 2:13:19 | Tigist Girma (ETH) | 2:32:48 | |
15 | 2017.11.12 | Dominic Ruto (KEN) | 2:10:42 | Eunice Chumba (BHR) | 2:28:38 | |
16 | 2018.11.11 | Mohamed El Aaraby (MAR) | 2:10:41 | Medina Armino (ETH) | 2:29:31 | |
— | 2019.11.10 | cancelled due to anti-government protests | ||||
2020.11.08 | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | |||||
17 | 2021.11.14 | Toni Hanna (LBN) | 2:33:03 | Chirine Njeim (LBN) | 3:00:18 |