Beirut Marathon

The Beirut Marathon, is an annual event that takes place in Beirut, Lebanon. The first ever Marathon was held on October 19th, 2003 and attracted over 6,000 runners from 49 countries, and tens of thousands of Lebanese and international spectators.[1] These numbers increased every year, most notably reaching 32,000 runners from 71 countries in the 2009 BLOM Beirut Marathon, and over 47,800 runners in 2017. It was recently accredited as a Silver Label Road Race by the IAAF.

Beirut Marathon Association
DateNovember
LocationBeirut, Lebanon
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
Primary sponsorBLOM Bank
Established2003
Course recordsMen: 2:10:41 (2018)
Mohamed El Aaraby
Women: 2:28:38 (2017)
Eunice Chumba
Official sitewww.beirutmarathon.org
Participants48,605 (2018)

Beirut Marathon is the founding member of Asian Premier Marathons (APM) (2017–18 season) along with Beijing Marathon and Seoul Marathon.

A group of runners in 2012
The organizer of the Beirut Marathon, May El-Khalil (5.f.r.), receives a charity cheque (2010)

The race, created by businesswoman May El-Khalil, has the theme of unity at its core. Reaching 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.[2] Attendance and participation in the Beirut Marathon races continue to grow annually, and it commands the attention of national and international media. 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.[3]

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.[4] The course was altered to make it faster and easier to organise at the 2011 edition 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.[5]

It is sponsored by the BLOM Bank.[6]

Beirut Marathon Association also organizes their annual marathon village which is sponsored by Transmed in 2017. Transmed Marathon Village will be open from 8th November through 11th November from 5:00 to 11:00 pm.

The village comprises an expo, Souk El Akel Food Market, BLOM Bank Beirut Marathon Bib Pick-up, 15th Year Museum, Activations and many more activities by exhibitors.

The 2019 edition of the Beirut Marathon was cancelled.[7]

Past winners

Key:   Course record

Edition Year Men Time
(h:m:s)		 Women Time
(h:m:s)
November 10, 2019Cancelled
16th November 11, 2018  Mohamed El Aaraby (MAR) 2:10:41  Medina Armino (ETH) 2:29:30
15th November 12, 2017  Dominic Ruto (KEN) 2:10:42  Eunice Chumba (BHR) 2:28:38
14th November 13, 2016  Edwin Kiptoo (KEN) 2:13:19  Tigist Girma (ETH) 2:32:48
13th November 8, 2015  Jackson Limo (KEN) 2:11:04  Kaltoum Bouaasayriya (MAR) 2:36:05
12th November 9, 2014  Fikadu Girma (ETH) 2:12:26  Mulahabt Tsega (ETH) 2:29:15
11th November 10, 2013  William Kipsang (KEN) 2:13:34  Rehima Kedir (ETH) 2:36:47
10th November 11, 2012  Kedir Fekadu (ETH) 2:12:57  Seada Kedir (ETH) 2:35:08
9th November 27, 2011  Tariku Jufar (ETH) 2:11:14  Seada Kedir (ETH) 2:31:38
8th November 7, 2010  Mohammed Temam (ETH) 2:16:43  Etaferahu Tarekegne (ETH) 2:41:15
7th December 6, 2009  Mohammed Temam (ETH) 2:16:12  Mihret Tadesse (ETH) 2:42:41
6th November 30, 2008  Alemayehu Shumye (ETH) 2:12:47  Alemtsehay Hailu (ETH) 2:37:20
5th November 18, 2007  Tamrat Elanso (ETH) 2:19:46  Beyene Adenech (ETH) 2:41:24
4th December 3, 2006  Moses Kemboi (KEN) 2:17:28  Eunice Korir (KEN) 2:49:25
3rd November 13, 2005  Francis Kamau (KEN) 2:19:20  Jane Omoro (KEN) 2:42:19
2nd October 10, 2004  Eshetu Bekele (ETH) 2:17:31  Anastasia Ndereba (KEN) 2:36:46
1st October 19, 2003  Paul Rugut (KEN) 2:17:04  Jackline Torori (KEN) 2:42:29

References
  1. El-Khalil, May. "Transcript of "Making peace is a marathon"". www.ted.com.
  2. Butcher, Pat (2010-11-05). Ethiopians the favourites as Beirut's unifying Marathon celebrates its eighth edition. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-11-07.
  3. "About BMA - Marathon". Archived from the original on 2013-12-22. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  4. Butcher, Pat (2010-11-07). Pacemaker Teman hangs on to win in Beirut. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-11-07.
  5. Course records fall in Beirut. IAAF (2011-11-27). Retrieved on 2011-11-27.
  6. Brune, Adrian (February 25, 2017). "Racing to Rebuild the Middle East". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved February 26, 2017.  – via Foreign Affairs (subscription required)
  7. Official announcement accessed on 28th January 2020

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