Tuesday, October 16, 2007

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.

Monday, October 15, 2007

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.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

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