Thread: Marathons

• Marathon runners take over Beijing streets in annual race

The Beijing Marathon was held on Sunday. The race started at Tiananmen Square and ended at Celebration Square in the Olympic Green Park. Ethiopia's Deresa Geleta Ulfata won the gold medal with a time of 2 : 07 : 41. Chen Tianyu was the best performer among all Chinese runners, ranking seventh with a time of 2 : 48 : 11.

• Here’s the winners of the 48th Marine Corps Marathon

Runners cross the finish line at 48th Marine Corps Marathon

Motivated runners from across the U.S. and world ran in the 48th Marine Corps Marathon in D.C. and Arlington, Virginia, on Sunday.

More than 23,000 runners from all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and 63 countries were registered to run in the “The People’s Marathon”, organizers said in a release. MCM Weekend featured events from Friday to Saturday, including the 26.2-mile marathon and a 50K ultramarathon.

The number of runners was nearly double the amount of last year's in-person return following the pandemic.

Race winners

The winner of the marathon was Julius Kogo, of Durham, North Carolina. His run was 2 hours, 25 minutes and 56 seconds. That's a 5 minute and 34 second mile pace, according to the marathon's tracker.

"Next year God willing, I'll be here to lower that time. So...the course was very nice," Kogo said.

The winner of the 50K was Calum Neff, of Houston, Texas. His run was 2 hours, 55 minutes and 57 seconds, breaking the Marathon’s 50K record. It was the first time he's run in the Marine Corps Marathon.

“I’m feeling not too bad, of course, a win helps keep the runner’s high going,” Neff said.

He said this was a training run for him as he prepares for a longer race. He's previously done 50K's and raced with Team Canada.

"It's absolutely incredible, the organization with the marines," Neff said.

• Thousands of runners take part in Coventry half marathon

Thousands of runners have taken to the streets of Coventry for the return of the city's half marathon.

Back after two years, the race started in Gosford Street at 09 : 00 GMT on Sunday and finished at the cathedral.

A number of road closures were in place throughout the city for the race.

Charities involved said it was "heartening" to see runners taking part to raise much-needed funds, while runners said they were pleased to see it return.

Runner Ricky Passam took on the route dressed as a disco ball to raise money for charity Hope for Children.

"It is my 81st fancy dress run, including marathons and halves," he said.

The event was organised by Jane Tomlinson's Run For All, a not-for-profit firm set up as a lasting legacy to late amateur athlete and fundraiser Jane Tomlinson CBE, and in partnership with Coventry City Council.

Official partner charities this year include Zoe's Place Baby Hospice, Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity, Myton Hospice, Clothing Coventry, Sherbourne Fields School, RSCPA Coventry and District, Mind Coventry and Warwickshire, as well as the Jane Tomlinson Appeal.

Leigh Collins, from Zoe's Baby Place, said it had a team of runners as well as staging a cheer point where a team were spurring on those taking part.

"It is heartening to see the runners running for us and how committed they have remained to helping Zoe's Place," she said.

The first male across the finish line was Jason Bennett in a time of 01 : 10 : 05, followed by David Brewis who took second place in 01 : 10 : 24. James Drakeford took third place in 01 : 10 : 31.

Claire Jacobs was the first female across the finish line in 01 : 16 : 43 followed by Emma Styles who clocked 01 : 18 : 51 for second spot and Rachel Gifford who took third in 01 : 19 : 14.

• 2023 New York Marathon preview

Defending New York Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi leads a loaded women’s field that includes Olympic gold medallist Peres Jepchirchir, Boston Marathon winner Hellen Obiri and former world record holder Brigid Kosgei. Here’s everything you need to know about the New York City Marathon, on Sunday, November 5.

The 52nd edition of the race on Sunday (5 November) is promising to be a thrller.

The women’s field is one of the best fields assembled in recent years.

It will be the first time that the reigning Olympic champion, the Boston Marathon winner and last year’s New York winner line up together at the Big Apple.

Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya) returns after her 2021 victory and is keen to improve her third-place finish in London last April, as Hellen Obiri (Kenya) seeks her second victory in her third career marathon.

Then there’s defending champion Sharon Lokedi (Kenya), and Olympic silver medallist Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) who was the marathon world record holder until September.

The men’s field will look a bit different than the one earlier announced as three elite athletes had to pull out. Defending champion Evans Chebet, his Kenyan compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor and Ethiopian Gotytom Gebreslase will not be able to race.

But World Championship medalists Maru Teferi of Israel and Mosinet Geremew of Ethiopia, Netherland’s Olympic silver winner Abdi Nageeye and 2021 New York Marathon champ Albert Korir of Kenya are all scheduled to start on Sunday.

• Celebrities running in the 2023 NYC Marathon on Sunday

Around 50,000 people will run in the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon this Sunday, Nov. 5 — and among the runners taking to the streets of NYC will be a number of celebrities. Famous people from TV shows, movies, music and sports will be running the 26.2 mile course, with celebs like MTV's Nev Schulmann and former Stanley Cup champion Zdneo Chára participating.

Not only is Marathon Sunday in New York a special celebration of athletic achievement, but it is also a celebration of the millions of dollars raised for charities all over the world. In 2022, New York Road Runners, which organizes the race, reported that runners raised $52.3 million for their official charity partners in the 2021 marathon and the 2022 half-marathon.

• Ruoning Yin Returns to No. 1 in Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings | LPGA | Ladies Professional Golf Association

Ruoning Yin highlights the Moves of the Week by returning to No. 1 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings for the second time in her young career. Yin finished in a tie for 17th at the Maybank Championship to overtake Lilia Vu, who was not in the field last week in Malaysia and has held the top spot for the last five weeks.

Yin had spent two weeks at world No. 1 after a solo third-place finish at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G in September, jumping ahead of two-time major winner Lilia Vu, who had held the position since August 14. Yin is the second player from the People's Republic of China to get to No. 1 since the inception of the Rolex Rankings in 2006. She joins Shanshan Feng, who was No. 1 for 23 weeks from November 13, 2017, until April 22, 2018.

• Will Sydney Become the Next World Marathon Major?

Following the mid-September news from the Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM) that the Sydney Marathon would be the host race for the 2024 Age Group World Championships next September, it was announced on October 31 that runners who qualify and participate in the 2024 championships will receive a provisional WMM star at the race.

It doesn’t mean the Sydney Marathon will become the long-awaited seventh WMM race, but it is one of three destination races engaged in a two-year qualification process to possibly join the majors circuit in 2025.

Since the city chosen to be the “seventh star” in the World Marathon Majors will not be announced until 2025, this provisional star awarded in Sydney is meant to be an interim nod of acknowledgement to those runners who will compete Down Under.

“The Age Group World Championships is a program our community feels strongly about and one that has produced record-breaking performances in a number of categories,” says Dawna Stone, CEO of Abbott World Marathon Majors. “That demonstrates the standard of runners taking part and the level of commitment our participants have to this goal. We believe it is only right that this special group, that is already part of the AbbottWMM family, should be rewarded for dedicating themselves to training for, traveling to and racing in our flagship event.”

https://www.outsideonline.com/runnin...rathon-majors/

• How much prize money do NYC Marathon winners get? Here's how much they can win in 2023

Runners from around the world are gearing up for the TCS New York City Marathon this Sunday in New York City.

While running 26.2 miles calls for major celebration, the fastest runners also stand to bring home big purse money.

What is the prize money for first place in the NYC Marathon?

The Open Division men's and women's first place finishers will each receive $100,000.

Are there any other prizes for the NYC Marathon?

Prizes are awarded for the top 10 runners in the Open Division. Those prizes are as follows:

• Second: $60,000
• Third: $40,000
• Fourth: $25,000
• Fifth: $15,000
• Sixth: $10,000
• Seventh: $7,500
• Eighth: $5,000
• Ninth: $2,500
• Tenth: $2,000

• Stellar Women's Field Takes Aim at New York City Marathon Record Sunday

The New York City Marathon women's record, which has stood for 20 years, could go down Sunday with one of the strongest fields assembled in the history of the race.

Reigning champion Sharon Lokedi looks to defend her title against a stellar group of female runners who include Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, Olympic gold medalist and 2021 New York champion Peres Jepchirchir and former marathon world-record holder Brigid Kosgei.

"It was very life-changing," Lokedi said of winning last year. "Very excited to be back here again."

She'll have some added support from her mother, who flew to New York from Kenya and will be waiting at the finish line in Central Park.

All will be aiming for the $50,000 bonus if they can beat the NYC event record of 2 : 22 : 31 set by Margaret Okayo in 2003. Obiri won the Boston Marathon in April, lowering her personal best to 2 : 21 : 38.

"The field will be very strong when I’m together with them," Kosgei said.

Lokedi won in her marathon debut last year, taking the New York laurel wreath crown in 2 : 23 . 23. She pulled away in the final three kilometers of the race, winning in unseasonably warm temperatures in the 70s. It was one of the hottest days in race history since the marathon was moved to November in 1986.

The temperatures on Sunday are expected in the high 50s, considerably better for the 50,000 runners expected to start the race.

"I'm happy it will be cooler," Lokedi said.

• Kenya's Hellen Obiri wins New York Marathon

What you need to know:

Reigning Boston Marathon champion Obiri claimed her second major win of the year to finish in 2hr 27min 23sec, pipping 10,000m world record holder Gidey, who crossed in 2 : 27 : 29.

Defending champion Sharon Lokedi of Kenya finished third in 2 : 27 : 33.

• 2023 NYC Marathon: Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola breaks record in men's pro race

There was a definite enthusiasm and a different feel in the air for the 52nd running of the TCS New York City Marathon as more than 50,000 runners lined up in Staten Island to complete the grueling 26.2-mile five-borough trek through the city.

Unlike last year, where the humidity led to temperatures soaring to near record-breaking levels, it was a typical November New York City Sunday morning, a comfortable 50 degrees under cloudy skies for the 8 a.m. start. With millions of spectators cheering the runners on from the crowded sidewalks, history was made for the second consecutive year.

Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia pulled away from the pack and coasted to victory in the men's professional race, setting a new open division course record, breaking the tape at Central Park in 2:04:58. Geoffrey Mutai set the previous mark of 2 : 05 : 06, set in 2011. That earned Tola a $50,000 bonus for breaking the record.

The 32-year-old Tola, the 2022 world champion and bronze medalist in the 10,000 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and fellow countryman Jemal Yimer started to separate themselves from the rest of the field about the half-marathon mark, but Tola kicked into high gear increasing his lead to over 30 seconds in the stretch run and Yimer faded, coming in 9th.

NYC Marathon 2021 winner Albert Korir, from Kenya, was the runner-up (2 : 06 : 57) and Ethiopian Shura Kitata finished third. Futsum Zeinasellassie was the top American male finisher coming in 10th.

• Chicago Marathon: Stoma runner's hopes after New York snub

A runner with a stoma who had to pull out of the New York City Marathon is hoping to compete in another race in the United States.

Gayle Redman, a GP from Flint, was told by New York Road Runners that her supplies vest did not adhere to rules set by police.

But organisers of the Chicago Marathon have said her stoma and water supplies were allowed if she secured a place.

Gayle said it was "fantastic" news, but called for accessibility at all races.

Following surgeries for endometriosis Gayle has a stoma and needs to self-catheterise six times a day.

A stoma connects to the digestive or urinary system and allows waste to be diverted from the body and into a bag.

After competing in numerous events over the past decade, Gayle said it was time organisers were more accommodating, particularly as "everybody's stoma is totally different".

"Accessibility shouldn't be this difficult anymore. We should at least be able to have conversations about it," she said.

"There are so many other races around the world that just don't have bans on race vests and hydration bladders.

"Add in the ecological side of it, encouraging people to us reusable kit, and then the fact that it's actually so easy to do security checks. It's flabbergasting. Where is the issue?

"Security is absolutely important, but there needs to be a process in place."

Alloa man completes 'coolest marathon on Earth' in Greenland

David Eveleigh went to the Artic Circle to undertake a 26-mile race through Greenland on October 29. He completed the marathon with friend Kevin Neilson for the Rangers Charity Foundation.

"It was brutal." David said. “When we started it was minus thirteen, it got up to minus eight.”

It took David five hours and seven minutes to complete the marathon, contending not just with the cold, but also ice and snow to make it to the finish line. Due to the weather conditions he also had to wear spokes on his feet which became painful.

David added: "I trained up in the Ochils but I couldn’t prepare for those conditions.

Not everyone was able to finish the marathon. Roughly 150 people signed up for the race but only 82 finished. Several people got hypothermia and one woman broke her ankle.

VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight

VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight 2023 will take place on November 26. Held for the first time in 2020, the tournament attracted 5,000 athletes. The number of registrants doubled to 10,000 in the second race in 2022

VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight 2023 is expected to impress runners when passing by a series of famous landmarks, such as Sword Lake, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, West Lake, the Hanoi Flag Tower, and the Opera House.

• Saskatchewan runner Caitlin Schindel captures UTMB marathon title in Mexico

In her day-to-day life as a registered nurse and a mother of three, Caitlin Schindel sees her schedule on a daily basis fill up quickly.

She always finds time to run, however, and it’s that dedication to improving her pace that has brought the Saskatoon product a milestone win in her first international marathon competition.

Running in the Puerto Vallarta UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) trail marathon in Mexico on Sunday, Schindel trounced the field to cross the finish line as the top woman in the 50-kilometre category.

“I didn’t expect to win,” said Schindel. “I just recently got into trail running last year. It’s just been such a fun adventure and it was fun going through the jungles and mountains of Mexico.”

Schindel didn’t just win, she was dominant in victory finishing the race in a time of 5 : 40 : 11 which was over half an hour quicker than her closest competitor in the female 50-kilometre division.

• Kenya's Edwin Kiptoo wins Athens Marathon in a course record of 2 : 10 : 34

Kenya’s Edwin Kiptoo has won the 40th Athens Marathon in a course-record time of 2 hours, 10 minutes and 34 seconds.

The 30-year-old Kiptoo gradually shook off his main challengers, most of them his compatriots, over the second half of the course, running the last 10 kilometers alone.

As Kiptoo was crossing the finish line, about a 100 people in Athens’ Panathenaic stadium unfurled a banner saying “Free Palestine” and waved Palestinian flags. Some spectators also held and waved Palestinian flags along the course.

• Ethiopians sweep women's B.A.A. Half Marathon, Kenyan wins men's race

Of the 6,311 athletes who raced 13.1 miles through Boston on Sunday morning in the B.A.A. Half Marathon, none was faster than Kenya's Abel Kipchumba.

He crossed the finish line at White Stadium in Franklin Park with a time of 1 : 01 : 32.

“Today was difficult because it was very cold. And as we know, Boston has a lot of hills. But I managed to win the race, so I am happy,” said Kipchumba. “I like the crowds. They cheered me and I got a lot of energy to push the pace.”

In the women's race, a trio of Ethiopian athletes dominated the top three spots. Fotyen Tesfay finished first with a time of 1 : 08 : 46, followed by Senbere Teferi and Tsigie Gebreselama.

“The pack was so big, but I managed to move ahead of them as I got close to the finish to take the win,” said Tesfay. “This is my first time running a half marathon in Boston and the coldest race I have ever run, so I am very happy to win.”

• Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon participants to receive a rose in 2024

Are you ready to run for the roses? For the first time, participants of the GE Appliances miniMarathon and Marathon will receive a rose after crossing the finish line of the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon on Saturday, April 27.

The Kentucky Derby Festival teamed up with Churchill Downs to the design the medal, commemorating Kentucky's largest day of road racing and celebrating the historic 150th Kentucky Derby. The Finisher's Medal features a red rose front and center against a black background with gold accents, highlighting the Kentucky Derby's signature color palette.

"This Finisher's Medal is not only recognition for their amazing achievement but also a collector's piece that salutes a historic time in our city," Matt Gibson, president and CEO of the Kentucky Derby Festival, said in the news release Tuesday.

The Kentucky Derby has been known for the red rose for more than 125 years, with the winning horse receiving the infamous Garland of Roses every year since 1932.

"Churchill Downs is thrilled that this year, as we prepare for the 150th Run for the Roses, thousands of athletes from all over the country and world will have the opportunity to run for their rose in the Derby Festival races," Tony Abeln, vice president of communications for Churchill Downs, said in a news release Tuesday.

2024 marks the 51st annual GE Appliances miniMarathon and the 23rd run of the GE Appliances Marathon. Runners from all 50 states and several countries come to Louisville the the race, and for the first time since the 2019 event, both courses will be finding their way back home to Kentucky. The marathon has been split in between Kentucky and southern Indiana since the COVID-19 pandemic but will return to south Louisville in 2024.

The race is scheduled to start at 7 a.m. on Main Street, near Slugger Field, and then end on Adams Street by the Lynn Family Stadium. Participants of the race will be able to experience the many sights and sounds of downtown Louisville, as well as seeing Churchill Downs, the historic Old Louisville Neighborhood, parts of Olmsted Park System and many other attractions. The complete course map and details will be available to runners in the upcoming weeks.

"Whether you're an avid runner looking to qualify for the Boston Marathon, collecting medals from every state or taking that first step, this race means something to every person who crosses the finish line," Kevin Nolan, president and CEO of GE Appliances, said in a news release Tuesday.

Race registration is open online. Current rates are $75 for the miniMarathon and $85 for the Marathon. In addition to the miniMarathon (half marathon) and the full Marathon, the Derby Festival is also offering a Marathon Relay ($325) for teams of three to five runners, as well as the virtual miniMarathon & Marathon ($50) for those who prefer to run at their own pace. More information is available at DerbyFestivalMarathon.com.

British ultramarathon runner Joasia Zakrzewski banned for 12 months for using a car

15 November 2023

A leading British ultramarathon runner has been banned for 12 months for using a car during a 50-mile race before accepting a third-place trophy.

Dr Joasia Zakrzewski, a GP from Dumfries who now lives near Sydney, had claimed that the incident arose due to miscommunication after she was sick, tired and jetlagged.

UKA have now banned Zakrzewski from competing in any licensed races, representing Great Britain, or coaching or managing for a year, after finding her guilty of breaching their code of conduct.

Evidence showed that Zakrzewski, who has represented Great Britain on multiple occasions, covered around 2½ miles in a car, including one mile that was completed in just one minute 40 seconds at an average speed of 36mph.

^Not showing a bit of guilt

• Preparations underway for 2023 Mayflower Marathon

A special food drive to benefit those in need in our area kicks off one week from Monday. It’s the 2023 Rock102 Mayflower Marathon and Western Mass News is a very proud media sponsor.

As Michael Baxendale and Steve Nagle continue to have a laugh and play music over the radio waves, things are about to get serious for Rock102. With Thanksgiving week approaching, both hosts are getting set for the 30th annual Mayflower Marathon, a 52-hour effort to make sure the needy have Thanksgiving meals.

“One out of five families in the Springfield area has some level of food insecurity. I think it was like 44,000 meals Open Pantry served last year and that accounts for like 39,000 people,” Baxendale explained.

Western Mass News stopped by the East Longmeadow-based radio station, which is coming off their best marathon to date, collecting more than $170,000 in food and monetary donations in 2022 to send to Springfield’s Open Pantry, but with an up-and-down economy this year and many migrant families sheltered across the commonwealth, Nagle said the need is even higher.

“Usually, we stock the shelves up until about March, but the need is greater this year,” Nagle noted. “This is going to be a huge year and very helpful for them.”

Last year’s effort at MGM Springfield witnessed three tractor trailers get filled, with a fourth on standby. This time, Bax and Nagle are hoping for even larger results at the casino.

“Now, we’re starting with four (tractor trailers). Hopefully, possibly needing a fifth one,” Nagle said. “They (MGM) get the word out, they let all of the patrons that go into the casino (know, they’re doing all different kinds of things. That’s really kind of helping us out this year),” Nagle noted.

They’re asking for non-perishables, which can last through the winter months.

The message to the public: come out and help because one can could make a difference.

“It’s not just about Thanksgiving. This is about everybody getting through the wintertime,” Baxendale explained.

The 30th annual Mayflower Marathon kicks-off at MGM Springfield at 6 a.m. on Monday, November 20 and concludes at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22.

Asian half marathon C’ship: Indian men’s team wins gold, women’s team clinches bronze - Sportstar
Asian half marathon C’ship: Indian men’s team wins gold, women’s team clinches bronze

The Indian men’s team won gold at the first Asian half marathon Championship in Dubai on Saturday.

The team consisted of Kartik Kumar, Abhishek Pal and Sawan Barwal. Barwal won his second medal earlier, as he finished with a bronze clocking 1 : 04 : 30.

The Indian men’s team won gold at the first Asian half marathon Championship in Dubai on Saturday.

• Vernon Kay completes Children in Need ultra marathon

BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay has raised more than £5m for Children in Need after completing his ultra-marathon.

The DJ ran from Leicester to Bolton - a distance of 116 miles - over four days.

Speaking to Radio 2 breakfast host Zoe Ball as he reached the finish line, Kay described it as "one of the most painful and joyous experiences I've ever had".

BBC Children in Need's televised appeal is under way on BBC One.

Kay has regularly been appearing live on Radio 2 to update listeners on his progress since he started the marathon on Tuesday.

"I'm absolutely exhausted, absolutely spent, physically, mentally," Kay said as he crossed the finish line just before 10 : 15 GMT.

He added jokingly: "Is there anyone here who can replace a knee?"