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!!!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

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

Friday, November 23, 2007

get your results

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

Sunday, November 11, 2007

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!

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

Friday, September 14, 2007

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...

Monday, September 3, 2007

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...