Wrap up

Dear All...

Thank you for the many compliments, comments and suggestions, and complaints... we appreiceate them all.

We know that the water ran out in the Dbayeh area... that the water station at SeaRock was stolen and that the separation was crashed by the 10k runners. All of these things have been noted. One of our main challenges was that having closed all the roads the security would not allow any vehicles, even ours, to pass and prevented us from responding as we should. We will not allow that to happen again.

Please email me your thoughts - md@beirutmarathon.org

Congratulations to all the finishers of this year's marathon and we look forward to seeing you all again next year...

Mark

get your results

http://results.championchip.co.za/results/index.php?File=results_search.php&DataID=1259&DB=za&subportal=bim

Time to Run - or cheer

Well, the race is just a few days away... actually six days and ten hours... we are ready for the race of our lives... there are already 18,000 registrations, but we have now closed the registration, so if you missed out this year then you will have to train for next year...

but you can still go down on the track and cheer...

it's going to be amazing... come and be a part of it...

It's my Marathon... make it yours!

Your Picture - Your Race...

Yes, you! BLOM Beirut Marathon 07, sponsored by BLOM Bank and in association with Nike, is proud to offer an online photo service for ALL runners in this year’s races… EVERY participant will have his or her photo taken as he or she runs along the streets of Beirut and then they will be available on-line the following day.
During the 5k, 10k and 42k Marathon there are several photo opportunities…and there is a sign a few meters before you reach the photo point, so don’t forget to smile!

And at the finish line, LOOK LIKE A HERO.. even if you are tired out, raise your arms in victory – you can put that on your wall and be proud of yourself!

The pictures are provided by www.Marathon-Photos.com who take care of the photography at multiple international marathon events.

See yourself on camera on race day! Buy the picture later as your personal souvenir.
For those who don’t have a credit card, the BMA will help you get your pictures.

Running - Let's go...

Are you ready??? The time to run is now!!! There are about 30 days to go and you should be reaching the peak of your training right about now... and then begin the taper, for you 42k guys... 10kers, you still have a bit more time... remember that the last week is rest time...

All marathon runners will go to the parking of the Radisson hotel on Race Day and will take a bus from there to the start... there is NO direct access to the start line... baggage will be taken at the start line and you can get it at the finish. The reason is so that you can park your car 300m from the finish!!! isnt that cool?

Keep on running!!! See you on Race Day.

Television commercial for BMA

Filmworks was very kind to generously support the Beirut Marathon Association by producing a television commercial for the race... check it out here...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PfjU8_1ehfI

Enjoy

New Lebanese Record – Go out there and break your own!

Middle East runners are breaking records alongside the world’s greatest. The Beirut Marathon Association sent Omar Abdel Latif to Berlin in collaboration with Nike, the Lebanese Army, and the Real._Berlin Marathon. As the Lebanese winner of the 2006 BLOM Beirut Marathon at 2:31 it was considered possible that with a lot of training Omar would be able to break the Lebanese marathon record.

The last 8 months has seen tremendous activity around the longstanding record of Philemon Salmoun that lasted from the 70’s until April 2007 when Daoud Mustapha made a new record of 2:28 in the Flora London Marathon. This only proved to spur Omar on to greater things, returning from Berlin with a new record of 2:27:54. He was placed 42nd in a field of over 40,000 runners and was chasing the heals of the new world record holder Haile Gebresallassie, who did an incredible performance of 2:04:26.

Upon hearing the news of this record, Maxime Chaaya, the coach of Daoud Mustapha, called and said Omar’s record would be shortlived, Daoud is going to break the record again in Beirut in November! And so the challenge is on, again!

On the women’s side, the new marathon record holder at 3:09 in Paris in 2006 attempted a record too, again in Berlin, but was hindered by vomiting during the second half of the run and grimly persevered to achieve 3:10.

The BMA is committed to building the Lebanese record and offers $1000 cash for anyone who breaks a distance record (3,000meters plus).

The BLOM Beirut Marathon 2007 (sponsored by BLOM Bank and in Association with Nike) is upon us, registration is closing on 18th November and the track looks amazing. It is the best track yet and should yield a new track record and the potential for a Lebanese runner to break the Lebanese record on our own soil! Let us hold our breath and see what is going to happen.

Personal records are just as important as national records. So all of you reading this and wondering how you will ever achieve such times? It is not important; achieve your own personal best! If it is your first time to run the marathon, then start off slow and build it up… we will all be there to celebrate your performance!

Good luck and go for it… see you on November 18th

Great North Run

As part of the growth of the Beirut Marathon Association we are attending the Great North Run in Newcastle England, as guests of the organizers, Nova International.

The Great North Run is billed as one of the biggest races in the world with 50,000 particpants in a half marathon. The race will be particularly exciting as Paula Radcliffe will be making her debut back to racing at this event.

I'll keep you posted - the event takes place on September 30th...

Olympics 2008

Beirut Marathon Association is proud to be able to join in sending Edward Maalouf to the Summer Olympics next year in Beijing...

he is currently in training and has won many races and medals this year, including the silver medal at the world championships...

He is a handcycle racer and is Lebanese... we hope to see him race to Glory and the Gold Medal...

If you would like to join in co-sponsoring him, any amount from a $1 is great...just let us know and we will tell you how to get in touch...

Are you running?

We are...

everyday somewhere in Beirut there is a run... as we get nearer to the marathon lots more people are working towards their final preparations... you have about 12 weeks left to go - which is enough to start training for the marathon in November...

so... give us a call - or send an email... and we'll get you going...

cheers

Run with us in the TV Commercial Shooting

hi there everyone - if you wanna be in the TV commercial for the BLOM Beirut Marathon 07 (exclusive sponsor BLOM Bank and in association with Nike), then please come to the parking lot in Saifi Village, downtown Bierut on Sunday 19th August 07 at 10:00.

cheers
Mark

profile of Beirut 07

The course this year is for runners!!! The entire track has been run, many times, to ensure that it is the best that it can be. We have eliminated as many hills as possible, though with the geography of Beirut it is virtually impossible to avoid them all. The hills, as you can see from the profile, are mainly concentrated in two areas, at around the 32k and 34k mark. We will be providing music and entertainment on the hill to push runners up it... but based upon any track from the previous years, this one is a winner. We hope to see the marathon course record for Beirut broken this year for sure!

Heels On Fire in Lebanon

Welcome Pete to Lebanon... (www.heelsonfire.org) great website and well done for doing so much good for others.

We have plenty of runners out and about at different times... so please give us a call at the office on 05-959262 and ask for Mark, Wissam or Omar and we will be pleased to hook you up... we are preparing for the Amsterdam Marathon right now and so everyone has long runs two or three times a week.

Welcome to Beirut and if you have the time to pass by our offices to give us a personal interview, then we will print it in Running Middle East!

Cheers
mark

Running Middle East point of sales

hi there... Running Middle East is available in the book stores around Lebanon... if you email to md@beirutmarathon.org with your address we will send you a free copy of the next issue and put you on our mailing list - so if you dont find it in the market, just let us know and we'll get it to you...

cheers
Mark

Running Middle East

hey all you people.. Running Middle East is out again and it is awesome... Vivicitta race is well covered and the cover is a special edition with a fold out cover....


DO YOU WANT A FREE COPY OF THE MAGAZINE SENT TO YOU?????????????

JUST EMAIL ME YOUR ADDRESS AND WE'LL SEND YOU ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


The next issue is coming up in the first week of August, if you have any marathon news or stories that you would like to share, then please let us know... you can email them, or even just call us on the phone and tell us what you think... we are ready...

thanks for your support and hope that you are running frequently...
cheers

keep on running

Well several things to say... First, if you plan to run the BLOM Beirut Marathon... now is the time to start your training... running in the early morning is fun and refreshing... and there are Beirut Marathon Association runners out and about every day somewhere in the city doing their running thing...

Most of us are training for the Amsterdam Marathon which is one month before the BLOM Beirut Marathon coz on Marathon day we have to work :-( too bad!! but we are working to give you a great day :-) yeah!!!

Personally very happy about my training by the way... I managed a new pb of 4k at 22mins flat and 46 mins for 8k.

I got tons of experience by running the London marathon and now I am even more fired up to get going... have a great training plan for anybody that is interested... just reply and I'll send it on!

cheers

hello annonymous blogger... thanks for the questions...

So, coming to the ranking, the position that I previously told you, refers to the ranking updated to March 25, 2007: of course things are have changed now after the big marathons results, which you can see from AIMS (link below). if you calculate them back I believe you will find the rankings at that time.

Regarding the ETHIOPIAN FEDERATION current year ranking, Shitaye is in position. 4 and Asnake in position n. 2 and they will partecipate to OSAKA IAAF WORLD CHAMP. in August.!!

Here is the ranking:

1 MELESE GASHAW 2h09,53 1 GETE WAMI 2h21,45

2 ASNAKE FEKADU 2h10, 27 2 MAGARSA TAFA 2h25,07

3 TESFAYE TOLA 2H10,45 3 DIRE TUNE 2h26,52

4 AMBESSE TOLOSA 2H11,15 4 SHITAYE GEMECHU 2h28,03

You can find also the world current year statitistics in the AIMS web site at this address:

http://www.aims-association.org/statistics/CurrentYearStatistics.htm

Gemechu is Ethiopian! As is Aznake... please see below...
WOMEN
2:23:12 Wei Yanan CHN 1 Seoul 18 MAR
2:23:48 Yumiko Hara JPN 1 Osaka 28 JAN
2:24:39 Mari Ozaki JPN 2 Osaka 28 JAN
2:24:43 Yuri Kano JPN 3 Osaka 28 JAN
2:25:08 Souad Ait Salem ALG 1 Roma 18 MAR
2:26:08 Xiaolin Zhu CHN 1 Xiamen 31 MAR
2:26:46 Hellen Kimutai KEN 2 Roma 18 MAR
2:26:52 Dire Tune Arissi ETH 1 Houston 14 JAN
2:27:19 Tafa 1 Dubai 12 JAN
2:27:25 Rose Cheruiyot KEN 2 Seoul 18 MAR
2:28:03 Shitaye Gemechu ETH 1 Treviso 25 MAR

MEN
TIME ATHLETE NATION RANK VENUE DATE
2:08:04 Lee Bong-ju KOR 1 Seoul 18 MAR
2:08:20 Viktor Roethlin SUI 1 Zuerich 01 APR
2:08:29 Paul Kiptanui KOR 2 Seoul 18 MAR
2:08:38 Laban Kipkemboi KOR 3 Seoul 18 MAR
2:08:45 Edwin Komen KOR 4 Seoul 18 MAR
2:09:36 Elias Kemboi ChelimoKEN 1 Roma 18 MAR
2:09:45 Daniel Njenga KEN 1 Tokyo 18 FEB
2:09:53 William Todoo RotichKEN 1 Dubai 12 JAN
2:10:12 Jose Manuel MartinezESP 2 Roma 18 MAR
2:10:23 Atsushi Fujita JPN 1 Oita 04 FEB
2:10:25 Jonathan Kosgei KEN 3 Roma 18 MAR
2:10:27 Philip Biwott KEN 3 Treviso 25 MAR
2:10:27 Fekadu Asnake Roro ETH 4 Treviso 25 MAR

Regarding the press, it is the press who writes what they write and of course we are unable to control the press... We always try to ensure that the data that we give them is accurate. Sometimes in the heat of the event the numbers can be quoted by anyone, but our official statement is that there were around 10,000 people participating in the event.

Hope this makes all clear... though I must inform you that we take the rankings at face value and I see that they are now two or three positions different from what we quoted... however, sometimes the results come late and the rankings change. The positions we quoted were in good faith, and I am sure that you will agree with me that a world ranking of 9 or 11 is fantastic and that runners coming to Zahle were truly of a world class standing.

thanks as always for your interest in our site... please identify yourself if you dont mind...
Mark

London Marathon

What a fantastic experience... being one in 35,000 was certainly special and an amazing day... but it was hot! I set out for a 4:20 and ended up coming in at 5:16 - but I completed the race!

Now training has began for the next marathon!! Details to follow...

Zahle was Awesome! London awaits...

Well, over 10,000 people ran in Zahle, with 250 in the half marathon and the rest in the 5k fun run... it was an amazing day.. with rain (again!!!) and sunshine too... everyone had a great time... more than that, we had two of the world's greatest athletes there... from Ethiopea... Asnake Fekadu and Shitaye Gemechu, wondeful to see them run..

Now, off to London for the Flora London Marathon... I am hoping for a time of four hours and twenty minutes.. anyone want to sponsor??? I am going to give the money to charity.. just let me know!

I feel ready, but a bit nervous...

Who is we?

The "we" was Dr Ahmad Khalife, Wissam Terro and Mark Dickinson...
I remember after the rain when I was completely soaked and was running alone, that I was surprised, actually jumped out of my skin, when I heard a voice behind call my name... it was Wissam with a Snickers bar and water!!!!
Then as we continued down the road, Ahmad was running back towards us to encourage and motivate me to get to the end!!

London & 32k... plus Zahle

London Marathon is only three weeks to go and we are very ready!

Yesterday we ran 32k in preparation for the big race and were pleasantly surprised to complete it in 3hours and 33 minutes... amidst torrential rain and thunder storms with the smell of burning from the lighting all around us. At one point the rain turned to hail and we were truly burned by the stinging of the hailstones... nonetheless we completed the run with silly grins and great happiness and enthusiasm all around.

Zahle Half Marathon is a week away too... so the office is mad with preparations for this event... we are excited to see so many registrations already completed, with over 4000 completed here in the BMA...

Hope to see you on what I am sure will prove to be a wonderful day out... dont forget to come to the bib-pick up in Zahle to enjoy the enteratainment and fun on Friday and Saturday 13 & 14th April.

London Marathon is only three weeks to go and we are very ready!

Yesterday we ran 32k in preparation for the big race and were pleasantly surprised to complete it in 3hours and 33 minutes... amidst torrential rain and thunder storms with the smell of burning from the lighting all around us. At one point the rain turned to hail and we were truly burned by the stinging of the hailstones... nonetheless we completed the run with silly grins and great happiness and enthusiasm all around.

Zahle Half Marathon is a week away too... so the office is mad with preparations for this event... we are excited to see so many registrations already completed, with over 4000 completed here in the BMA...

Hope to see you on what I am sure will prove to be a wonderful day out... dont forget to come to the bib-pick up in Zahle to enjoy the enteratainment and fun on Friday and Saturday 13 & 14th April.

32k & 3 weeks to go...

London Marathon is only three weeks to go and we are very ready!

Yesterday we ran 32k in preparation for the big race and were pleasantly surprised to complete it in 3hours and 33 minutes... amidst torrential rain and thunder storms with the smell of burning from the lighting all around us. At one point the rain turned to hail and we were truly burned by the stinging of the hailstones... nonetheless we completed the run with silly grins and great happiness and enthusiasm all around.

Zahle Half Marathon is a week away too... so the office is mad with preparations for this event... we are excited to see so many registrations already completed, with over 4000 completed here in the BMA...

Hope to see you on what I am sure will prove to be a wonderful day out... dont forget to come to the bib-pick up in Zahle to enjoy the enteratainment and fun on Friday and Saturday 13 & 14th April.

32k & 3 Weeks to go!

London Marathon is only three weeks to go and we are very ready!

Yesterday we ran 32k in preparation for the big race and were pleasantly surprised to complete it in 3hours and 33 minutes... amidst torrential rain and thunder storms with the smell of burning from the lighting all around us. At one point the rain turned to hail and we were truly burned by the stinging of the hailstones... nonetheless we completed the run with silly grins and great happiness and enthusiasm all around.

Zahle Half Marathon is a week away too... so the office is mad with preparations for this event... we are excited to see so many registrations already completed, with over 4000 completed here in the BMA...

Hope to see you on what I am sure will prove to be a wonderful day out... dont forget to come to the bib-pick up in Zahle to enjoy the enteratainment and fun on Friday and Saturday 13 & 14th April.

Start running

hi there... well here we are in Doha again...

The Doha International Marathon preparations are well and truly under way... it is going to be a diamond of an event and the Beirut Marathon is going to be taking the winners from the 10k race and the 5k race to the Doha Marathon!!

So start running now and you will be fit and ready for Beirut on 18th November... Doha Marathon will take place in February 2008... it will be an exciting all expenses paid prize that is focused on building great runners in Lebanon..

If you wanna run with me and the Beirut Marathon team... Thursday Morning the 8th February is the time to be there... Corniche Ain El Mreisseh... so be there... dont miss it... 7am start for a 5k run...

looking forward to seeing all you runners there...
cheers
Marko

Women are Running Faster...

Women set pace for running's growth
Much of the growth in running comes from a rise in female runners, according to most running experts. While men still make up the majority of marathon finishers, female finishers are closing the distance between them.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15514433/from/ET/

Women are Running Faster...

Women set pace for running's growth
Much of the growth in running comes from a rise in female runners, according to most running experts. While men still make up the majority of marathon finishers, female finishers are closing the distance between them.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15514433/from/ET/

DIM

no... this is not a reflection on someone's IQ... nor the strength of light from a bulb... IT IS>>>>>

DOHA INTERNATIONAL MARATHON

We are very proud to be the organizers of the DIM 08 in partnership with the QAAF...
This is a very exciting project and we are looking forward to seeing the streets of Doha being brought to life with this great event...

We spent seven days in Qatar during the arrangement of the details and we were welcomed with the greatest hospitality and with honor.

We loved the Qatari people and we are looking forward to our next visit on 3rd March... watch out.. great things are happening...

Pia Nehme

We are super proud to be sponsoring the efforts of the Female Lebanese Marathon Record holder in trying to break the half marathon and the marathon record...

She will be running Berlin on April 1st and in September... watch out for great things...

here she is...

Running Free...

Saturday morning in Beirut was fun... we (Wissam, Omar & I) ran the first 15k of the new track and it was awesome... it is flat... even for tired out runners like me!

Today (Monday) all seems a little mundane... we were in Batroun on Friday morning working on the race for May 20th and in Zahle on Friday evening for the preparations of the April 15th Race...

HOT NEWS... we are going to be supporting two other races in Lebanon... one on 25th March and one on 1st April...

I'll give you more news soon...
cheers
Mark

Scotland... & Paris Security

Kenenisa Bekele did what he has been doing for a very long time... winning..

Watching an elite athlete at the peak of his career is inspiring and exciting... it makes you dream...

We had a fabulous time as guests of Nova, the organizers of the Great North Run... we met the worlds greatest athletes and saw them tear up the Scottish Cross Country Races... it was massively windy... but it was an awesome experience

However... security in Paris makes no sense at all. you have alredy been strip searched in the UK, then as a transit passenger you are subjected to the whole performance all over again... more wild than that... you are allowed to buy a drink in the UK after you have passed security and you are allowed to take that drink on the plane with you... BUT you are not allowed to take that drink with you through security in Paris... go figure!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe there is a deal between the duty free drink sales and the security company... anything is possible...

keep on running!!!!

introducing my lovely wife

well, I talked about her a lot... so here she is...

Bonnie Scotland - here we come...

Close on the heels of the BMA morning run, the first one of 07 was today... we are off to Scotland to see the Scottish National Cross Country Championships...

Steve Cram and Brendan Foster will both be there, as will some of the greatest names in the world: including Kenenisa Bekele, Eliud Kipchoge, Zersenay Tadesse, Benita Johnson, Worknesh Kidane etc...

gonna be an awesome day... we'll keep you posted...

have a great day...
Mark

Vision 2007

it was amazing to be back amongst the team and to share with them the plans for 07...
Here are some of the highlights...

Happy New Year Runners!

Well here we are... 2007...
It is exciting to enter a new year with resolutions... my big resolution for this year is to run a marathon... The London Marathon... Here is my training plan... Any hints or tips that any of you may have would be most welcome...
Looking forward to hearing from you and hearing about your training plans...
All the best for a great year
Mark