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
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