DUBAI: The world’s best marathon runners will rub shoulders with thousands of hardy amateur runners when the world’s richest marathon — the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon — takes to the streets of the UAE on Friday. And with Ethiopian running superstar Bekele headlining the men’s list, which features 20 athletes with personal bests of sub 2:10, talk is of one of the best times in history being recorded. “I feel confident, I’m happy and I know I’m better prepared than before,” said 32 year-old Bekele, who won his marathon debut in Paris last April with 2:05:04 and then took fourth in Chicago in 2:05:51. “This is a very important race for me. I want to improve my time. I am confident to make history here, but you can never say you will win - you can’t be sure, because otherwise it would not be a race. Bekele’s manager Jos Hermens believes his man has never been in better shape. “If he runs a low 2:04, improving by around one minute that would be fine.” Three-time Dubai winner Haile Gebrselassie will be an interested spectator in Dubai and his national record of 2:03:59 could also become an objective for his young rival. “I have not spoken to Haile about Dubai, but I saw his races when he was competing here. Every race is different,” said Bekele. The course record is also the goal for the women’s race and the current record holder looks ready to attack it in an event held under the patromage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council. “If all goes well I can run under 2:20 and break the course record. I am as strong as before maternity leave,” said Aselefech Mergia. A year before she ran the Dubai course record of 2:19:31, also her personal best. Mergia faces the defending champion, fellow-Ethiopian Mulu Seboka and Kenyan Lucy Kabuu, second in 2012, just three seconds behind Mergia in 2:19:34. Four more runners have personal bests of sub 2:22. Away from the big guns, thousands of amateur runners will have their own special reasons for running, including a team of more than 70 from Dubai Eye 103.8. The radio team will use the occasion - running across the Marathon, the 10km and the 4km Fun Run - in memory of former employee Rebecca Davidson who tragically lost her life while on an assignment for the station.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 09:33:21 +0000
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