Dubai: A record number of over 30,000 runners will be lining up at the start line on Friday for the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, which has become a key date in the city’s sporting and social calendar.
From a humble beginning on November 27, 1998 with just 150 runners, to 30,000 today, this event has come a long way. It has now become a dream event for marathon runners because winning the race can mean a chance in lifestyle.
With prize money of $200,000 (Dh734,600) awaiting both the men’s and women’s winners, the race to the finish has always been electrifying with every runner putting in their best and pushing the limits.
This was how little-known 20-year-old Lemi Berhanu Hayle of Ethiopia emerged as the men’s winner in 2015 and pocketed the huge prize money. Hayle is back again to try and win the Dubai Marathon.
When Gulf News asked Hayle on whether his life changed after becoming the Dubai Marathon winner, he said: “It was my biggest success in life and it changed my lifestyle. Till I won here, I had to use a taxi to go anywhere, but now I have my own car and my family have benefited immensely. I have added more facilities to my training and so I felt I should come and run again here.”
Last year’s women’s winner Aselefech Mergia may not be in the fray, but the women’s field is nonetheless very strong with her compatriots Tiri Tsegaye and Mamitu Daska leading the line-up.
Admitting that the Dubai Marathon has always thrown up unexpected winners. Hayle said: “It was a surprise to win here last year. I hadn’t ever won this kind of a race. It helped me make a mark in the international arena. Now if I can win here again, it will help me get points to participate in the Olympics.”
So what is it brings the best runners to Dubai? Hayle has the answer. “It is the weather, the course and everything here makes you give the best.”
It no wonder that Dubai Marathon is now ranked second in the world, behind only the London Marathon. According to website All-Athletics.com, which is athletics’ most comprehensive database — last year’s Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon was ranked higher than those in cities such as Berlin, Boston and New York, taking into account factors such as the overall results and times of both the elite men and women’s events as well as the world rankings of the elite runners themselves.
The 2016 Dubai Marathon is significant in many ways as it is the first race of this Olympic year and this 42.195km distance race is expected to produce another electrifying contest.
The fact that Sebastian Coe, IAAF President will be watching the race and also presenting prizes underlines the importance of Dubai Marathon. With six former champions in a field which contains 28 men who have all run sub 2:10, anything, including a world record timing. is expected.
