All you runners... great job... very proud of you...
had amazing feedback and a (very) few comments that we will take into consideration... the course for 09 is the same! so get ready...
Because the course is the same it will help tremendously in training and preparation... most of you will have notice that the first 10k has all the hils and that from the corner of the French Ambassador's residence onwards it is a gradual decent that leads you to the flat part which commences at 15km (beside Chevrolet Benzine station). what is important is to time yourself in your decent and not allow your pace to overrun you since there are still 27k to go...
We stacked the music and cheering into the marathon this year... so much so that we got a complaint that the 10k didnt have enough... but now way I will change that... we might add some more music for the 10k guys.. but for the marathon it makes it so much more fun...
this year's mission is to raise the awareness for people to come down and cheer the race on...
so, let me know what you thought and get ready for HSBC Vivicitta International Half Marathon - Run for the Environment.
cheers
Based in the home of the world's greatest runners, Olympia Altitude Training Center is host to some world champions and provides running services for all runners at every level...
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Run Against Cancer
With their strenght we run...
this is the message of the BLOM Beirut Marathon this year... we are running Against Cancer - to encourage, inspire those who have been touched in one way or another by the disease and on the other hand, to build awareness of the disease...
Monday, September 1, 2008
BLOM Beirut Marathon Update
The BLOM Beirut Marathon 08 will be held on 30th November 2008. For the first time in several years, the event will be held under peaceful circumstances. Lebanon’s politics are now on a new track and the safety of the country is improving by the day, as witnessed by countless tourist arrivals.
We want to remind you of our awesome event and encourage you to come and join us in a celebration of revival and renewal as we ring out a message of hope that things can be changed.
The Marathon attracts people from all over the world and is truly a cultural meeting point, and with over 18 million Lebanese living overseas almost every nation is represented, either by a national or a Lebanese emigrant. Race day is exciting, the marathon makes its way through West Beirut, then goes along the green line that once separated the two sides of the war, and then heads towards the North of Beirut along the seashore road, eventually ending up in the beautifully reconstructed downtown city center for celebrations and entertainment. There’s plenty to do during the lead up to the race, with sight-seeing trips to the Roman temples and the Jeita Grotto, as well as the opportunity to visit some of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. There’s also the chance to get to meet and run with the elite athletes before race day and generally enjoy the thrill of the race.
On the same day, there is a fantastic annual 10km race that attracts in excess of 20,000 runners, together wtih a 5km race for children, which includes championships for under 18’s.
All the races are timed and there are plenty of give aways and goodies.
The Beirut Marathon Association welcomes accredited journalists and has very special support packages available for them – to secure your place contact: abdallah@beirutmarathon.org
Registration is on-line and is open. Deadline is November 15th.
Hope to see you there!
We want to remind you of our awesome event and encourage you to come and join us in a celebration of revival and renewal as we ring out a message of hope that things can be changed.
The Marathon attracts people from all over the world and is truly a cultural meeting point, and with over 18 million Lebanese living overseas almost every nation is represented, either by a national or a Lebanese emigrant. Race day is exciting, the marathon makes its way through West Beirut, then goes along the green line that once separated the two sides of the war, and then heads towards the North of Beirut along the seashore road, eventually ending up in the beautifully reconstructed downtown city center for celebrations and entertainment. There’s plenty to do during the lead up to the race, with sight-seeing trips to the Roman temples and the Jeita Grotto, as well as the opportunity to visit some of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. There’s also the chance to get to meet and run with the elite athletes before race day and generally enjoy the thrill of the race.
On the same day, there is a fantastic annual 10km race that attracts in excess of 20,000 runners, together wtih a 5km race for children, which includes championships for under 18’s.
All the races are timed and there are plenty of give aways and goodies.
The Beirut Marathon Association welcomes accredited journalists and has very special support packages available for them – to secure your place contact: abdallah@beirutmarathon.org
Registration is on-line and is open. Deadline is November 15th.
Hope to see you there!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
HSBC Vivicitta
Run for Peace – HSBC Vivicitta – June 1st 2008
Beirut, Lebanon, has for many years been depicted as “the war ravaged city of the Middle East” where peace is but a dream. However, as of today, a new president has been elected and the political world has seen fit to agree upon a common plan of action for a stable and secure future, so with this chapter finally closed, Lebanon is set to make a different kind of history.
The Beirut Marathon Association (BMA) has for a long time faced monumental challenges, through times of war and assassinations and political unrest. to host events of international acclaim. In its five year history the event has seen some 167,000 participants join together to run, defying the forces that have worked against stability, laying claim to being the Middle East’s largest annual sporting athletic event.
The title of the race is given by UISP (Unione Italia Sport per Tutti) which since its inception 25 years ago in Sarajevo has been an international event whose aim has been to bring together people of all nations to run for peace. Now in its second year in Lebanon the event stands to make a statement for peace as the country takes its first steps into a new world.
HSBC Vivicitta will comprise two races, an International Half Marathon where international athletes are joining together in the race with Mare Dibaba (Female 1st Place Warsaw Half Marathon 08, PB 71:54) and Shitaye Gemechu (Female 4th Place Paris Marathon 08) taking the women’s field and men, DEREJE TADESSE GIRMA – ETHIOPIA (with an unofficial 61:50 time), and ALEMAYEHU SHUMYE TAFERE - ETHIOPIA (71 minute half in Ethiopia, making his first international appearance) the race is set to be a stiff competition. Lebanese champions are thrilled to be facing an international field of such a high caliber and with a prize purse of $15,000 the race is set to take its place in the world’s annual sporting calendar. The second event of the day will be a 5k Student’s Run for Peace which will count towards the Lebanese Championships.
The track takes the athletes on a tour of East and West Beirut, passing some of the most beautiful parts of the city, including running along the corniche, once famed to be the Monaco of the Middle East, before turning inland and passing along the ‘green line’ that once separated the two sides of a warring nation, before returning to the iconic reconstructed downtown central district of the now bustling and modern Beirut.
BMA President May El Khalil said “HSBC Vivicitta Run for Peace is unique and its timing perfect in celebrating a new peace in Lebanon, and in sending out a message of hope through sports. We want the world to see that through sports unity can be achieved, and we believe that this is a message to the world of the start of a new era. We hope that sports organizations and media across the globe will trumpet this initiative in support of a better world”.
HSBC CEO Charles Hall said, “We are proud to be associated with this event and have signed a four year partnership with the BMA because we believe in the professionalism of the organization and the aims of the race. It supports our global Corporate Social Responsibility values and we hope to see a worldwide impact for peace through this event”.
Beirut, Lebanon, has for many years been depicted as “the war ravaged city of the Middle East” where peace is but a dream. However, as of today, a new president has been elected and the political world has seen fit to agree upon a common plan of action for a stable and secure future, so with this chapter finally closed, Lebanon is set to make a different kind of history.
The Beirut Marathon Association (BMA) has for a long time faced monumental challenges, through times of war and assassinations and political unrest. to host events of international acclaim. In its five year history the event has seen some 167,000 participants join together to run, defying the forces that have worked against stability, laying claim to being the Middle East’s largest annual sporting athletic event.
The title of the race is given by UISP (Unione Italia Sport per Tutti) which since its inception 25 years ago in Sarajevo has been an international event whose aim has been to bring together people of all nations to run for peace. Now in its second year in Lebanon the event stands to make a statement for peace as the country takes its first steps into a new world.
HSBC Vivicitta will comprise two races, an International Half Marathon where international athletes are joining together in the race with Mare Dibaba (Female 1st Place Warsaw Half Marathon 08, PB 71:54) and Shitaye Gemechu (Female 4th Place Paris Marathon 08) taking the women’s field and men, DEREJE TADESSE GIRMA – ETHIOPIA (with an unofficial 61:50 time), and ALEMAYEHU SHUMYE TAFERE - ETHIOPIA (71 minute half in Ethiopia, making his first international appearance) the race is set to be a stiff competition. Lebanese champions are thrilled to be facing an international field of such a high caliber and with a prize purse of $15,000 the race is set to take its place in the world’s annual sporting calendar. The second event of the day will be a 5k Student’s Run for Peace which will count towards the Lebanese Championships.
The track takes the athletes on a tour of East and West Beirut, passing some of the most beautiful parts of the city, including running along the corniche, once famed to be the Monaco of the Middle East, before turning inland and passing along the ‘green line’ that once separated the two sides of a warring nation, before returning to the iconic reconstructed downtown central district of the now bustling and modern Beirut.
BMA President May El Khalil said “HSBC Vivicitta Run for Peace is unique and its timing perfect in celebrating a new peace in Lebanon, and in sending out a message of hope through sports. We want the world to see that through sports unity can be achieved, and we believe that this is a message to the world of the start of a new era. We hope that sports organizations and media across the globe will trumpet this initiative in support of a better world”.
HSBC CEO Charles Hall said, “We are proud to be associated with this event and have signed a four year partnership with the BMA because we believe in the professionalism of the organization and the aims of the race. It supports our global Corporate Social Responsibility values and we hope to see a worldwide impact for peace through this event”.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Maratona di Roma
Almost forgot to blog about my trip to Rome... well, it was a great experience and we were treated so well by everyone there... I ran 5:00 exactly, which was great... 16 minutes better than a year before... my friend said that if I keep on knocking off 16 minutes per marathon, with two per year I will be up to world record pace in a short time!!! just kidding!!!
My problem in running is food... I like it! and it likes me... what I eat stays with me...
The last 4k of Rome marathon were tough... they are generally uphill and on cobble stones and in crowded streets... Best moment was running past the Trevi fountain... it was really cool...
Great experience and nice medal... but once done... no need to come back again.
Upwards and onwards...
My problem in running is food... I like it! and it likes me... what I eat stays with me...
The last 4k of Rome marathon were tough... they are generally uphill and on cobble stones and in crowded streets... Best moment was running past the Trevi fountain... it was really cool...
Great experience and nice medal... but once done... no need to come back again.
Upwards and onwards...
Baalbeck 6k Run
Sunday is going to be a bigger challenge than the Rome Marathon... since coming home from that race i have managed to run twice, other than that, to eat a lot of food, and it is beginning to show...
With Baalbeck Race on Sunday being held by the RRA and Veteran's Clubs it looks to be a lot of fun running in the ancient ruins of the Roman Empire... So I shall try to stagger round in a time of less than the 48 minutes allocated!!!
Hope to see you all there...
Next Marathon for me is Warsaw... training starts on May 1st - Labor Day... auspicious!!!
:)
With Baalbeck Race on Sunday being held by the RRA and Veteran's Clubs it looks to be a lot of fun running in the ancient ruins of the Roman Empire... So I shall try to stagger round in a time of less than the 48 minutes allocated!!!
Hope to see you all there...
Next Marathon for me is Warsaw... training starts on May 1st - Labor Day... auspicious!!!
:)
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Rome Marathon
Looking forward to an exciting month... a half marathon on Sunday along the seaside road from Jounieh to Beirut with the Inter-Lebanon Road Runners Association... medals for all finishers, time limit 2:45!
I'm really feeling good for the race, I ran a 2:13 half on Sunday in the middle of my last long run for Rome Marathon on 16th March, so I feel good. This morning I had a PB on 5k, but of note was the last kilometer that flew by in just 4:38.... yipee.. i felt almost respectable with that time... It is the first time in 20 years I can claim to have run at 13k for a sustainable distance... quite proud of myself.
well, they say all roads lead to Rome... here you go...Rome! looking forward to the marathon there and to seeing how they do it... it is one of the world's big ones. My spring race if you will.
Anyone else going? please let me know...
keep on running!
I'm really feeling good for the race, I ran a 2:13 half on Sunday in the middle of my last long run for Rome Marathon on 16th March, so I feel good. This morning I had a PB on 5k, but of note was the last kilometer that flew by in just 4:38.... yipee.. i felt almost respectable with that time... It is the first time in 20 years I can claim to have run at 13k for a sustainable distance... quite proud of myself.
well, they say all roads lead to Rome... here you go...Rome! looking forward to the marathon there and to seeing how they do it... it is one of the world's big ones. My spring race if you will.
Anyone else going? please let me know...
keep on running!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Middle East Races
Great to be at the Dubai Marathon and the RAK half marathon... both events had a huge media hype about the prize money, but both need to think about the common man who runs the race in several hours... we need more in terms of being entertained and feeling important...
So amazing to see such star power making it out here to run and we hope that it will continue in the future.. even though the 30 seconds that Gerb missed the record by is possibly the most expensive 30secs in athletics history!!!
So amazing to see such star power making it out here to run and we hope that it will continue in the future.. even though the 30 seconds that Gerb missed the record by is possibly the most expensive 30secs in athletics history!!!
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