Distance Running, issue 83 (2015) by Distance Running

Issue 83 路 2015 Edition 1

Florence Kiplagat and Dennis Kimetto, world record breakers both, were awarded at the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Gala held in Athens, Greece

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Florence Kiplagat and Dennis Kimetto, world record breakers both, were awarded at the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Gala held in Athens, Greece

DISTANCE RUNNING | ISSUE 83 2015 EDITION 1

On the cover…

Issue 83 · 2015 Edition 1

Florence Kiplagat and Dennis Kimetto, world record breakers both, were awarded at the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Gala held in Athens, Greece

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Regulars Race dates Official listings for AIMS events

World Leading Times The top times for men and women at Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km

Asics Corporation Tokyo Branch, Hatchobori Tokyu Building 2-20-8, Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0032, Japan Tel: 81 3 5543 8226 Fax: 81 3 5543 8633

Results Worldwide race reports and pictures

Race contact details

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AIMS member races with full contact details

Features Bourne to run

Bournemouth Marathon Festival, Great Britain Bank of America Chicago Marathon, United States of America

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

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From little hills big things grow Podgorica Marathon, Montenegro

Marathon cheer

Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. 6-1-12, Tanashi-cho, Nishi-Tokyo-shi, Tokyo 188-8511, Japan

Osaka Marathon, Japan

A spectacular display Penang Bridge Int’l Marathon, Malaysia

Thanks and friendship Kobe Marathon, Japan

Konica Minolta 1-6-1 Marunouchi, Chioda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan

Race previews Novi Sad Half Marathon, Serbia; Marathon Rotterdam, Netherlands; Vodafone Istanbul Half 41 Marathon, Turkey

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Running into history R-bies Tokyo, Japan

Distance Running is an official publication of AIMS and IAAF. It is produced four times a year, in January, April, July and October, and distributed at races worldwide. Publisher: Frank J Baillie bailliefrank@aol.com Editor: Hugh Jones aimssec@aol.com Production & Advertising: Gary Friar gary@distancerunning.co.uk Production & Design: Robbie Pickering robbie@distancerunning.co.uk Production, Design & Advertising Address: Distance Running, MSC Publishing & Design, 1 Ellangowan Court, Glasgow G62 8PH, Scotland. Telephone: 44 141 956 2051. For advertising enquiries, please contact the Glasgow office. All material is copyright and may not be reproduced without permission. Printed in the UK on paper from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources. www.distancerunning.co.uk

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

AIMS News AIMS Gala Awards, Athens, Greece, November 2014

And the winners are… Green Award

Dennis Kimetto and Florence Kiplagat were acclaimed as the best male and female Marathon runners in 2014. The Gala was presented by the Patron of AIMS, OPAP S.A., the leading gaming operator in Greece.

■ The BMW Frankfurt Marathon received the AIMS Green Award for 2014 in recognition of the event’s pioneering approach to environmental protection. Frankfurt develop new projects every year in six ‘spheres of action’ where continuous improvement of environmental protection is targeted. Also shortlisted for the award were the Volkswagen Prague Marathon in the Czech Republic and the Maratón Querétaro in Mexico. Both had set world records earlier in the year. Dennis Kimetto won the BMW Berlin Marathon on 28 September in a new world record of 2:02:57, the first person to break the 2:03 barrier. That achievement immediately ignited fevered discussion of when the two-hour barrier would be broken. He had previously, at the start of the period under consideration, won the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on 5 October 2013 in a time of 2:03:45. Florence Kiplagat had also set a new World Record — in the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona on 16 February. She recorded a time of 1:05:12, improving on Mary Keitany’s previous record by an impressive margin of 38 seconds. Florence went on two months later to finish second in the Virgin Money London Marathon in a time of 2:20:24, which placed her third on the list of leading times for 2014.

Jo Schindler, Race Director of the BMW Frankfurt Marathon commented: “The AIMS Green Award is an effective way to promote and share best environmental practice of distance running races around the world. And there is no better place from which to send the message than here in Athens, the birthplace of the Marathon”. AIMS President Paco Borao said: “It is wonderful that 370 AIMS member races from over 100 countries have recognised the great achievements of these athletes in the spiritual home of the Marathon Movement, which lies here in Athens. The athletes recognised tonight are an inspiration to people all around the world in promoting the marathon and the distance running movement. It is our duty and pleasure to recognise such fine athletes.”

Social Award ■ The AIMS Social Award for 2014 was presented to the Tokyo Marathon for its outstanding work in raising money for chosen charitable causes.

Lifetime Achievement Award The AIMS Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to George Hirsch in recognition of his role in the development of the Marathon Movement in North America, which later spread to all other continents. George was worldwide publisher of Runner’s World magazine and, in collaboration with Race Director Fred

Lebow, helped to realise the groundbreaking five-borough New York City Marathon to celebrate the American Bicentenary in 1976. He is currently Chairman of the Board of the New York Road Runners, the organisers of the TCS New York City Marathon. George Hirsch said “I have watched with great pride as the Marathon

Movement has grown and developed since the 1970s. I would like to extend my thanks to AIMS for choosing to recognise me in this way. To receive the award here in Athens feels special: I have received this accolade in the shadow of those who laid the historical foundations for the event 2500 years ago. It is a very humbling experience.”

Tadaaki Hayano, Race Director of the Toyko Marathon said: “Tokyo Marathon is honoured by AIMS’ recognition through the AIMS Social Award. We are very proud of our TSUNAGU (“Unite”) programme which we operate under the slogan ‘The Day We Unite’ – that day being our race day. It provides a way to recognise not only the 36000 runners who take part in the Tokyo Marathon but also the 10000 volunteers and 1.6 million people who cheer the runners on. We continue year on year to break our records for the money raised for our chosen charities.” Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

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AIMS News New AIMS members ■ The Maraton Int’l de Tijuana (MEX) has been held for four years and attracts about 650 runners to the city lying just south of the US border. Course records are held by Simon Kariuki (KEN) at 2:14:04 and by Mary Akor (USA) at 2:37:57 ■ The Chia Laguna Half Marathon (ITA) has been held twice, attracting 1000 men and 400 women to the island of Sardinia for the title race and associated 10km. Course records stand to Daniele Meucci, with 1:07:45 and Valeria Straneo with 1:13:50. ■ Held over the eccentric distance of 16.945km, the Grande Prémio Fim da Europa (POR) is all about the course. Clinging to the coastline of the westernmost extremity of continental Europe, 2000 runners enjoy the spectacular woodland scenery of the Cabo da Roca. Held on the last Sunday in January. ■ Held for six years on the last Saturday of the year the El Corte Inglés São Silvestre de Lisboa (POR) attracts 5000 men and 1700 women, among whom are 250 foreign runners from 20 countries, for an early evening run on the streets of Lisbon. Records stand at 29:25 and 32:19 to Rui Silva and Sara Moreira

■ Held three times, the Ladakh Marathon and Half (IND) instantly established itself as an ‘apex’ event: the race is run at 3350m altitude among the Himalayan peaks of Indian Tibet. 1800 runners participated in the title race last September, including 60 from 12 foreign countries. Apart from the Marathon, Half and 10km there is also a 71km ultra on offer for such hardy souls who can cope with climbing the 5500m Khardungla Pass (in darkness) – the highest motorable road in the world. ■ The eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona (Barcelona Half Marathon, ESP) leapt into the headlines in February 2014 with the world record of 1:05:12 that Florence Kiplagat ran there. Eliud Kipchoge holds the men’s record with 1:00:04. 14,000 runners are expected for the 26th edition on 15 February. ■ The Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Half Marathon (USA) has been held on the third Sunday of the year for the last 43 years, and established itself as a main event in the USA Marathon calendar, drawing 17000 runners split evenly between men and women and with 400 of them coming from 30 other countries. Course records stand at 2:06:51 and 2:23:14 to Ethiopians Bazu Worku and Alemitu Abera ■ Held three times, the Satara Hill Half Marathon (IND) sees over 1500 runners participate. Course records are 1:08:19 and

1:22:06 by Ethiopians Tamrat Shifera and Shiferaw Rahel. The next race will be held on 6 September

New Associate members ■ The Al Amerat Challenge Race (OMA) is run for 4.5km up a mountain pass on the outskirts of the Omani capital Muscat. Runners go just beyond the summit to a Uturn and then descend, making this a very technically demanding course where times are secondary to performance. Five hundred ran the first editon, including 100 foreign runners from 23 countries. To be next held on 14 February ■ The Tata Steel Kolkata 25km (IND) was first held on 28 December 2014, a sister event to the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon and the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. ■ Held once, the Scottish Half Marathon (GBR) is a sister race to the Edinburgh Marathon, next to be held on 19 September 2015. Course records were established at 1:11:22 and 1:26:13 in the inaugural edition. About 2500 ran the first race, split evenly between men and women. The next edition will be run on 15 February ■ The Penang Bridge Half Marathon (MAS) a sister event to the Penang Bridge Marathon, will be held for the first time on 14 June.

Major Greek sponsorship On 10 December AIMS President Paco Borao and the President of the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) Mr. Kostas Panagopoulos announced that SEGAS will be the major sponsor of AIMS for the next six years. This agreement reinforces the location of the AIMS Headquarters on Spyros Louis Avenue in Athens for the next six years. Mr. Panagopoulos said “the cooperation of SEGAS with AIMS started eight years ago. The first result was a new symbol, that of the ‘marathon flame’, and a new institution, the annual AIMS Symposium, which brings together marathon organisers from all over the world every year in Athens. The Headquarters of AIMS has been established here and in recent years the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Awards Gala. All these activities promote the international image of Athens Marathon the Authentic and

they promote Greece and its history and culture as the birthplace of the Marathon. When the company that was previously AIMS Patron could not continue this relationship, we decided to take over this role. SEGAS will be the major sponsor of AIMS until 2021.” Paco Borao said “on behalf of AIMS I would like to thank OPAP S.A for its

three years of sponsorship which allowed AIMS to initiate its presence in Athens, and SEGAS for their support in allowing this to continue. I extend my thanks to the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Ministry of Tourism, the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens OACA, and the Athens Marathon, the Authentic for their contribution to the success of this AIMS-SEGAS agreement. As the birthplace of the Marathon and location of the inaugural Olympic Games, it is easy to understand why AIMS, dedicated to “fostering and promoting marathons and distance races throughout the world” could not have a more appropriate location for its headquarters than Athens. AIMS will make all efforts to project the image of Greece, its history, the magnificence of its monuments and culture, and the recognition of resilient sporting values like peace, health, and solidarity.”

Marathon Symposium The 8th edition of the AIMS Marathon Symposium, held on 8 November, built upon the theme ‘Adding value to your race’ with four separate contributions to the theme. Carlo Capalbo, of the Prague Marathon described how, by building a portfolio of events and developing a “Running Mall” in Prague as a physical focus for runners, running had become a year-round social activity in the Czech capital. Andrea Eby, of the Vancouver Marathon, gave a review of how social media can inspire people with enthusiasm for the marathon. She emphasised that this requires constant attention and responsiveness in a “two-way conversation”, without which any value added can quickly drain away. Jean Gracia, of the European Athletics Association, explained the thinking behind the “Star” scheme which attempts to evaluate the quality of a road race by using a checklist of 54 criteria, many of them relating to safety. He emphasised that in many cases the rules of running are rules of the road rather than rules of athletics, and road race organisers have established great expertise in this area. Former race director of the BAA Boston Marathon, Tim Kilduff then spoke on adding value through a TV production. He said that it sometimes becomes a contest of the race vs the coverage, but the key to successful co-operation is understanding the needs of the other party. Otherwise “at moments of stress relationships just get blown away.”

Children’s Series The three races in the AIMS Children’s Series for 2015 are scheduled for: April – Zimbabwe (final event) August – South Africa (second event) August – Paraguay (final event)

The next edition of Distance Running will be published in April 2015, covering races held from January to March 2015. The advertising and editorial deadlines will be on 9 March.

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

AIMS News

AIMS EXECUTIVES

President Paco Borao (Valencia)

AIMS Headquarters OACA Olympic Complex Av Spyros Louis Athens, Greece www.aimsworldrunning.org aimshq@aimsworldrunning.com

H O N O R A R Y S T AT I S T I C I A N

H O N O R A R Y V I C E P R ES I D E N T S

borao@correcaminos.org PRESIDENT EMERITUS

Hiroaki Chosa

President’s message C

ontinuing the strong pace set in recent years AIMS membership in 2014 jumped to almost 400. This is higher than ever before and reflects the growing number of people taking up running as a sport all over the world. Two world records were broken: Florence Kiplagat ran 1:05:12 in the half marathon back in February and Dennis Kimetto followed up with the first ever sub-2:03 Marathon time, running 2:02:57 in Berlin on 29 September. But not everything was good news this year, and we acknowledge the concern about doping. AIMS remains strongly committed to working with all interested parties in the fight against the use of prohibited substances and to keeping our sport free of such unfair and dangerous practices. The AIMS Best Marathon Runner Award Gala was held in Athens on 8 November with the theme “Women and Running”. Dennis Kimetto and Florence Kiplagat received their awards as the best man and woman, BMW Frankfurt Marathon the Green Award, Tokyo Marathon the Social Award, George Hirsch the Lifetime Achievement Award, and this time five women from the ranks of the mass runners were singled out for their contribution in expanding the reach of the marathon family. AIMS closed 2014 by reaching agreement with the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) which becomes the new Patron Sponsor of AIMS for the period 2015–2020, ensuring the continuity of the AIMS Headquarters in Athens. On behalf of AIMS I express our deepest gratitude for such generous consideration. Together we will promote Greece in general, Athens Marathon — the Authentic, and the joint AIMS-SEGAS projects including the AIMS Marathon Symposium and the Marathon Flame. We do all this through sharing the principles of the marathon movement: effort, will, friendship, and solidarity.

Dr. David Martin

Secretary Hugh Jones

Allan Steinfeld, Carlos Moya

Treasurer Al Boka (Las Vegas)

aimssec@aol.com

aimstreasurer@aol.com

DIRECTORS

Vice-President Martha Morales (Tangamanga)

Vice-President Dave Cundy (Great Wall)

Gary BE Boshoff

Bruno Boukobza (Nice-Cannes)

Andrea Eby (Vancouver)

Fernando Jamarne (Santiago)

maratontangamanga@gmail.com

bruno@zapsports.fr

cundysm@ozemail.com.au

andreaeby@shaw.ca

Mark Milde (Berlin) C O N S U LT A N T S

mark.milde@scc-events.com

Frank Baillie (Magazine & Website) bailliefrank@aol.com

gary8boshoff@gmail.com

fjamarne@alessandri.cl

Mitsugi Ogata (Fukuoka) m.ogata@jaaf.or.jp

Peter McLean (Press & Public Relations)

petermclean@pmpr2000.fsnet.co.uk

Horst Milde (AIMS Marathoneum, Berlin) horst-milde@t-online.de

A D M I N I S T R AT O R

Paco Borao Theodosis Livitsanos

aimshq@aimsworldrunning.org I N T E R N AT I O N A L M E A S U R E M E N T A D M I N I S T R AT O R S

Hugh Jones (English-speaking Europe & Africa) aimssec@aol.com

Jean Francois Delasalle (French & Spanish-speaking Europe & Africa) jf.delasalle@aliceadsl.fr

Dave Cundy (Asia & Oceania)

cundysm@ozemail.com.au

Bernie Conway (Americas)

measurer@rogers.com

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

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Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

Each year IAAF awards a “label” to road races who apply for them, based upon their observance of certain criteria. For full details see: http://www.iaaf.org

January 2015

3 Jan Xiamen International Marathon (CHN)

23 Jan Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon (UAE) February 2015 22 Feb Tokyo Marathon (JPN) March 2015

1 Mar 1 Mar 1 Mar 8 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 22 Mar 28 Mar

2 Jan Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon (JPN) 25 Jan Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon (HKG) 25 Jan Osaka Women’s Marathon (JPN)

18 Jan Chevron Houston Marathon (USA)

1 Feb Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon (JPN)

22 Feb Maraton Ciudad de Sevilla (ESP) 22 Mar New Taipei City Wan Jin Shi Marathon (TPE)

Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon (JPN) RomaOstia Half Marathon (ITA) World’s Best 10K (PUR) Nagoya Women’s Marathon (JPN) Seoul International Marathon (KOR) Maratona di Roma (ITA) EDP Half Marathon of Lisboa (POR) Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon (CZE)

April 2015

12 Apr Marathon Rotterdam (NED) 12 Apr Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris (FRA) 12 Apr Vienna City Marathon (AUT) 19 Apr Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon (CHN) 20 Apr B.A.A. Boston Marathon (USA) 26 Apr Virgin Money London Marathon (GBR)

IAAF EXECUTIVES Headquarters 17 rue Princesse Florestine, MC 98000, Monaco Tel: 377 93 10 88 88 Fax: 377 93 15 95 15 Email: headquarters@iaaf.org

IAAF Council Members IAAF President: Lamine Diack (SEN)

Senior Vice President: Robert Hersh (USA)

5 Apr 12 Apr 19 Apr 19 Apr 26 Apr

Daegu International Marathon (KOR) Great Ireland Run (IRL) Lodz Maraton Dbam o Zdrowie (POL) HAJ Hannover Marathon (GER) Yellow River Estuary International Marathon (CHN) 26 Apr Orlen Warsaw Marathon (POL) 26 Apr Rock’n’Roll Madrid Marathon & Half (ESP)

12 Apr 12 Apr 12 Apr 12 Apr 19 Apr

SuisseGas Milano Marathon (ITA) Mangyongdae Prize Marathon (PRK) Brighton Marathon (GBR) Maraton de Santiago (CHI) Nagano Marathon (JPN)

Vice Presidents:

Council Members:

General Secretary

Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad (QAT) Sergey Bubka (UKR) Sebastian Coe (GBR)

Ahmed Al Kamali (UAE) Bernard Amsalem (FRA) Sylvia Barlag (NED) Pauline Davis-Thompson (BAH) Helmut Digel (GER) Nawal El Moutawakel (MAR) Frank Fredericks (NAM) Abby Hoffman (CAN) Alberto Juantorena Danger (CUB) Isaiah Kiplagat (KEN) José Maria Odriozola (ESP) Jung-Ki Park (KOR) Anna Riccardi (ITA) Irena Szewinska (POL) Katsuyuki Tanaka (JPN)

Essar Gabriel (FRA)

Honorary Treasurer: Valentin V. Balakhnichev (RUS)

Area Representatives: Zhaocai Du (CHN) Geoff Gardner (NFI) Roberto Gesta de Melo (BRA) Hamad Kalkaba Malboum (CMR) Victor Lopez (PUR) Hansjörg Wirz (SUI)

Deputy General Secretary and Communications Director Nick Davies (GBR)

IAAF Road Running Commission David Bedford (GBR) Paco Borao (ESP) Hugh Jones (GBR) James Evans (RSA) Katsuyuki Tanaka (JPN) Pierre Weiss (FRA) Bernard Amsalem (FRA) Mary Wittenberg (USA) Carlos Cardoso (POR)

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

MARATÓN

SEVILLA FEBRUARY 22nd, 2015 The Flattest Marathon in Europe

Bournemouth Marathon Festival, Great Britain

October

Bourne to run With miles of glorious, unspoilt golden sands and clear blue sea, Bournemouth and Poole provide a stunning backdrop for the ultimate run in a pure and clean natural environment: running as it should be By Amy Cameron Photos by Lesley Martin

fter last year’s inaugural event the Bournemouth Marathon Festival has established itself on the UK running calendar — and the 2014 event was bigger and better. The full weekend of events attracted around 10,500 runners with thousands more lining the course to support Saturday’s Speed of Light 5km, Supersonic 10km and junior races, as well as Sunday’s half marathon, which follows the same course as the pinnacle event, the marathon.

At 10.00 Steve Way, inspirational hometown hero and former overweight smoker who represented England at this year’s Commonwealth Games, got the marathon under way in King’s Park just minutes after finishing second in the half marathon.

2014

Runners go past the historic Savoy Hotel, opened in 1912, and onto Western Overhill Drive, which involves a slight ascent before they come back down onto the promenade for some more beautiful beach running. The climatic finale comes as runners approach the second, more iconic, Bournemouth Pier. First constructed in 1856, the pier has undergone numerous transformations over the years, with the addition of the Bournemouth Pier Theatre in 1959. Framed by the Isle of Wight on one side and the Purbeck Hills on the other, the pier was attacked by Teredo Worm in 1866 and the wooden piles were removed in favour of cast iron replacements, but even with this improvement the Continued on page 17

From King’s Park runners make their way down Seabourne Road then along Broadway towards the Southbourne Coast Road. Runners return along the coast road and make their way onto Undercliff Drive, taking in some magnificent views and filling their lungs with the refreshing sea air. They run past Boscombe Pier, built in 1889, which has recently undergone a £2.4 million restoration project. It was declared “Britain’s coolest pier” by Wayne Hemingway MBE in 2009. In 2010 Boscombe Pier was voted “Pier of the Year” by the National Piers Society.

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

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Bournemouth Marathon Festival, Great Britain Continued from page 15 life of this pier was short. Just one year later it was rendered unusable when the T-shaped landing stage was swept away in a gale. Eugenius Birch designed the replacement 255m iron pier at a cost of £21,600. It opened on 11 August 1880. Covered shelters and a bandstand were added to the pier head in 1855, followed by extensions in 1894 and 1905. The new landing stage increased the pier’s length to 305m. Bournemouth Pier attracts more than half a million visitors every year.

Result MEN: 1

Andrew LESUDA

KEN 2:21:44

Ebisa MERGA

ETH 2:25:30

Anthony CLARK

GBR 2:40:50

Gavin ALLEN

GBR 2:41:38

Edward REES

GBR 2:42:49

Connor JOHNSTON

GBR 2:42:37

Michael ROBINSON

GBR 2:45:27

Allastair PICKBURN

GBR 2:47:44

Matt GALLAGHER

GBR 2:48:57

10 Jez BRAGG

GBR 2:51:13

WOMEN: 1

Kateryna STETSENKO

UKR 2:30:58

Joan KIGEN

KEN 2:33:13

Juliet CHAMPION

GBR 3:03:47

Gill BLAND

GBR 3:10:47

Joyce SHAMEDJE

GBR 3:14:53

Hellen WALLINGTON

GBR 3:16:11

Rachel JONES

GBR 3:19:25

Rebecca BRYANT

GBR 3:19:47

Lauren PRICE

GBR 3:19:52

10 Lydia BROWNING

GBR 3:21:41

Marathon debutant Andrew Lesuuda beat last year’s winner Ebisa Merga of Ethiopia into second place by nearly four minutes. Leading British runner Andrew Clark of the local Poole Runners club, followed in third, 15 minutes behind. Lesuuda, who has paced several marathons but never raced the full distance, said: "I am very happy. This is my first marathon and my biggest success so far. I would love to come back and defend next year." Kateryna Stetsenko was the first female to cross the line, keeping the title in Ukrainian hands for the second successive year, following compatriot Olha Kotovska’s victory last year. Stetsenko’s time was just under a minute slower than last year’s winning time. Afterwards, Stetsenko said: “It is my best time in two years. The race was good – very flat, with very nice support from people and good weather.”

The Bournemouth Marathon Festival had large contingents of charity runners who unfailingly bring enthusiasm, colour and excitement to the festival. An estimated $750,000 was raised for good causes by runners taking part in the Bournemouth Marathon Festival. Among the charity runners were Joe Elliot, Chris Spencer and David Withers who completed the ‘grand slam’ of 5km, 10km, half marathon and marathon races. Others took part in the Bournemouth Marathon Festival as part of their ongoing endurance challenges including Steve Gill who completed his 24th half marathon in as many weeks as part of his project to finish 52 half marathons in 52 weeks in a record combined time. And the incomparable Steve Edwards completed his 652nd marathon of the 1000 he targets as a lifetime total.

Half marathon MEN: 1

Jacek CIELUSZECKI

POL 1:09:29

Steve WAY

GBR 1:09:43

Peter BAKSH

GBR 1:11:22

WOMEN: 1

Helen DYKE

GBR 1:25:26

Charlie BARNARD

GBR 1:26:00

Cerri-Anne SANTOS

GBR 1:26:49

Bournemouth Marathon Festival ■ The race will be run again on 4 October 2015.

■ For event information visit www.run-bmf.com

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

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Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

Bank of America Chicago Marathon, USA Every October runners from across the USA and around the world travel to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. In 2014 40,802 of them trod their way for 26.2 miles through 29 diverse Chicago neighborhoods towards the same final destination in Grant Park. Along the way 12,000 volunteers and hundreds of thousands of spectators offered their support and applause as runners accomplished something magnificent by fighting their way to the finish line on Columbus Drive. he Bank of America Chicago Marathon represents more than a historic footrace. It showcases a community of runners energized and fueled by a reason to run. From the debut marathoner and charity runner to the race veteran and elite athlete participants testify to what the marathon is all about: discovering who you are, raising funds for a charitable cause, keeping a streak alive and stoking the competitive fire within. Race day animates thousands of stories from the front, middle and back of the pack. Each story endures long after the Marathon journey is complete and each story highlights the human potential and capacity to not only survive, but also thrive.

Throughout its 37-year history, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon has staged four world records, two American records and countless personal bests. From its roots as a local race to its current status as a world-class global event it has remained true to the vision of its original organizers: the Chicago Marathon is “the people’s race anyone can come and enjoy.” More than 660,000 participants have crossed the finish line since 1977. Every finisher etches his or her name in history, and every finisher – from the elite athlete to the six-hour runner – is victorious. In its latest edition the Bank of America Chicago Marathon had a record number of finishers and saw unparalleled support along the course from spectators and volunteers, but the race was not always a global sensation. The idea to bring a

Bank of America Chicago Marathon ■ The 38th annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place Sunday 11 October 2015. In advance of the race, a two-day Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Friday 9 October and Saturday 10 October.

■ For event information visit www.chicagomarathon.com

October

12 2014

Chi-ca-go! Result MEN: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Eliud KIPCHOGE Sammy KITWARA Dickson CHUMBA Kenenisa BEKELE Bernard KOECH Ghirmay GHEBRESLASSIE Lani RUTO Wesley KORIR Bobby CURTIS Koji KOBAYASHI

KEN 2:04:11 KEN 2:04:28 KEN 2:04:32 KEN 2:05:51 KEN 2:08:30 ERI 2:09:08 KEN 2:10:42 KEN 2:11:09 USA 2:11:20 JPN 2:11:43

WOMEN (unofficial): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Rita JEPTOO Mare DIBABA Florence KIPLAGAT Birhane DIBABA Amy HASTINGS Clara SANTUCCI Sarah CROUCH Gelete BURKA Melissa WHITE Lauren JIMISON

KEN 2:24:35 ETH 2:25:37 KEN 2:25:57 ETH 2:27:02 USA 2:27:03 USA 2:32:21 USA 2:32:44 ETH 2:34:17 USA 2:34:19 USA 2:34:38

marathon to Chicago started in 1976 among a small group of local running enthusiasts. On 25 September 1977 this group realized their vision when they hosted 4,200 participants in the first ever Chicago Marathon. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has since evolved from a community event into one of the six ‘World Marathon Majors’ that now welcomes runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. As a result of its national and international draw the marathon helps raise millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes while also generating $253 million in annual economic impact to its host city, according to a report by the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign’s Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (R.E.A.L.). Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

next edition

03 April 2016

Artwork: Pant1 | Rework: Flavia Aliverti

Podgorica Marathon, Montenegro

October

26 2014

From little hills By Milan Madzgalj

big things grow

Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, is a city of 150,000 citizens making up almost one-third of the national population. The name translates from Serbian as “under the Gorica” where Gorica means “little hill” or hillock, referring to the cypress-covered hill that overlooks the city centre. he city lies 50km from the Adriatic Sea on the lower slopes of the Dalmatian Mountains and offers great opportunities for marathon runners to run in natural surroundings. Montenegro’s touristic appeal is very much focused on its natural and ecological resources, and these will make a lasting impression on visitors. Even a few days’ stay will impress and also allow you to sample the rich national cuisine.

With the capital’s efforts to improve recreational and sporting conditions for casual participants and professional sportspeople alike the city is becoming recognised on the sporting map as a reliable organiser of international competitions. Continued on page 23 Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

Podgorica Marathon, Montenegro Result MEN: 1

Sila Kipchirchir TOEK

KEN 2:16:06

Joseph Kiprotuich NGENY

KEN 2:17:31

Justus Kipchirchir KIPRONO

KEN 2:17:58

Robeert Saningo SAWOYO

KEN 2:20:23

Artem ALEKSANDROVICH

RUS 2:21:55

Edwin Kiprono KIPCHUMBA

KEN 2:23:46

Milos MILOVANOVIC

SRB 2:35:01

Kristijan STOSIC

SRB 2:38:18

Stanley KIPRUTO

KEN 2:38:22

10 Juan Carlos Aspilli CUELLO

ESP 2:40:39

WOMEN:

Continued from page 21

“The Podgorica Marathon has become a trade mark of the city, and of Montenegro itself”

Olivera JEVTIC

SRB 2:38:22

Ana SUBOTIC

SRB 2:41:17

Priscah Jemutai BARTENGE

KEN 2:43:46

Tunde SAZABO

HUN 2:48:00

Elena MAREVICH

RUS 3:43:41

Snezana MILOSEVIC

SRB 3:46:17

Linnea SEGERSTEDT

SWE 3:52:36

The Podgorica Marathon was first held on 8 October 1994 and has been held annually for the 21 years since, on the last Sunday in October. Race day offers a choice of the marathon, a half marathon, a 5km Fun Run and a 1km Eco run for the youngest runners. For 20 years the Podgorica Marathon has incorporated the national championship in both Marathon and half marathon for men and women. Podgorica has twice hosted the Balkan Marathon Championships.

Maria ROGACKA

POL 4:07:27

Barbara PUCHALA

POL 4:16:49

Mr Milan Madzgalj was one of the founders of the Podgorica Marathon and is also the general secretary of the organisation, bearing the responsibility of ensuring the success and continuity of the event. Technical organisation is done by the Podgorica Marathon Running Club, while the City of Podgorica is the de facto sponsor through the full support it gives to the race. Similarly, the Danilovgrad Municipality has traditionally extended fulsome support to the half marathon.

from Serbia, have run all 21 editions of the Podgorica Marathon.

The course for both marathon and half marathon provides good running conditions, passing as it does through Podgorica’s natural green environment. Since 1996 the marathon has been included in the calendar of the European Athletics Association, and in 2010 it became a full member of AIMS with international certification of the course.

The Podgorica Marathon awards winners in each five-year age category upwards from age 35. The first three male and female finishers in the Marathon win cash prizes, trophies, medals and certificates. Awards extend to 10th place in the men’s race and eighth place in the women’s. The time limit for Marathon participants is 5 hours and 30 minutes. For the half marathon it is 3 hours.

The Podgorica Marathon has become a trade mark of the city, and of Montenegro itself. It is a sporting, cultural and touristic event which attracts more and more participants and supporters from throughout Montenegro, neighboring countries and the wider world. Over 541 runners from 35 countries took part in the latest edition along with 5000 participants in the eco-race and eco-thon. At the time of the marathon the average temperature is around 23C. Course records stand to Petko Stefanov of Bulgaria, who recorded 2:11:41 and to Serbia’s Olivera Jevtic, who ran 2:31:18. Fastest Montenegrin times have been those of Drago Music at 2:24:18 and Sladana Perunovic at 2:39:07. Drago Boroja and Drago Knezevic, both

European Athletics Association vice President Jean Gracia and Balkan Federation President Dobromir Karamarinov were guests of honour at the 21st edition.

10 Dragica MITIC

SRB 4:35:58

Half marathon MEN: 1

Stanley TARUS

KEN 1:07:09

Tamas NAGY

HUN 1:07:22

Srdan SAMARDZIC

BIH 1:10:29

WOMEN: 1

Stella BARSOSIO

KEN 1:18:17

Marija VRAJIC

CRO 1:24:28

Daliborka DAVIDOVICH

MNE 1:30:38

Podgorica Marathon, Montenegro ■ The race will be run again on 25 October 2015.

■ For event information visit www.maraton.co.me

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

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Osaka Marathon, Japan

October

26 2014

Thirty thousand runners participating; ten thousand volunteers providing support; and hundreds of thousands of roadside spectators cheering the runners on. Welcome to the Osaka Marathon, the biggest in Japan.

Marathon cheer

espite its relative newness — it will be held for only the fifth time in 2015 — the Osaka Marathon is already an extremely popular event throughout Japan. The 2014 edition also welcomed a large number of overseas participants, especially from other Asian countries. Overall, but excluding Japan, more than 5000 entries came from 51 countries and regions.

The marathon starts from right in front of Osaka’s most well-known landmark: its Castle. From an area that embodies the city’s history — including Naniwa-no-miya, the remains of an ancient capital city — the course enters Midosuji Boulevard, lined with Ginkgo trees. From there on to bustling

Dotonbori Street, where reflections of large advertising billboards ripple on the surface of the canal. The course passes through other well-known places of interest such as Nakanoshima, with its dazzling modern architecture, and Tsutenkaku, with Osaka’s symbolic tower. The finish lies in front of the INTEX Osaka building in the southern part of the city. The course is flat and the time limit is seven hours (but 2:20 for wheelchair competitors), so it is no surprise that the Osaka Marathon has a very high finisher rate, with some 95% of runners completing the course. Continued on page 27

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

OLD MUTUAL TWO OCEANS MARATHON the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most beautiful marathon | Cape Town 2015

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Osaka Marathon, Japan Osaka Marathon ■ The race will be run again on 25 October 2015. Entries open in April 2015.

■ For event information visit www.osakamarathon.com/index_en.html

Continued from page 25 On Marathon Day the city bubbles with a festive mood as a hundred cheerleading, dancing, and drumming teams perform along the roadside. What further boosts the mood is the impassioned humor-laced roadside encouragement of friendly, busy-body Osaka-ites. Brandishing signs, dressed up in creatively festive costumes, and calling out to runners as they pass by, the spectators enjoy the marathon even more than the runners. The Osaka Marathon is renowned for spectators engaging with the runners, and drawing a reflexive smile from them even as they become increasingly weary. Another Osaka Marathon institution is the MaidoAID food service at the 32.5km mark. Here a selection of Japanese foods, including takoyaki — a favorite local dish in a city famed for its delicious cuisine — sushi rolls, and pickles, that have been lovingly prepared by local residents is set out to the delight of runners. A warm exchange with the people of Osaka, who love to entertain others, is a compulsory component of running the Osaka Marathon, and contributes to the joy participants get from doing so. The Osaka Marathon EXPO is the largest of its kind in Japan. In addition to the check-in for runners, there are booths where the latest sporting goods from various manufacturers can be tried out

and/or bought, as well a variety of events, including informative pre-marathon lectures and an auction conducted by charity ambassadors. The Umaimon Ichiba food court offers a tasting of delicious foods from throughout Japan, making this an event that can be enjoyed not only by runners but also people with absolutely no interest in runners or running: no wonder the EXPO venue overflows with more than 100,000 visitors every year. Working as one of the 10,000 volunteers supporting the marathon is another popular draw: places are filled almost immediately after applications open. Volunteers might register runners, or provide first aid, water, and food to runners, among various other roles. Many runners have expressed their appreciation for the encouragement provided by the volunteers’ exhortation to “Keep it up!” at the water station, or “Congratulations!” or “Good run!” as they hand over medals at the finish with a smile after runners cross the finish line. “Running will always benefit someone”: the Osaka Marathon is also a charity marathon. A program has been created to enable not only runners but also spectators, volunteers, and any other people involved with the marathon to easily participate in charity fundraising with the aim of making the Osaka Marathon the world’s largest event in terms of people’s charity participation. There are seven

charity themes: to support your hopes in life; to assist your dreams; to support families; to conserve the environment; to provide clean water; for the sake of a bright future for children; and to preserve our beautiful city. All runners participating in the Osaka Marathon select a charity theme when they enter, and on the day of the marathon, they wear number cards and goods in the charity’s theme colors as they run. Beginning with the 3rd Osaka Marathon (Osaka Marathon 2013), a special category has been established for participating runners who collect more than 70,000 yen in donations. Other fundraising efforts include the sale of charity Tshirts produced in collaboration with young artists. For this latest Osaka Marathon “Number Cards with Nicknames” were offered, allowing spectators to cheer runners by their chosen name. The introduction of this new program led to energetic exchanges of “high fives”, assisted by the distribution of gloves printed with “Go!” on them. Through these efforts, charity participation has increased year on year, with more than 100 million yen in donations collected during the 2014 Osaka Marathon. Osaka is the second-largest city in Japan after Tokyo, and offers not only a very popular mass marathon (and an elite women’s marathon in January) but also delicious cuisine, shopping, amusements parks, and various other forms of entertainment for visitors to enjoy. A welldeveloped subway system makes it possible to travel anywhere in the city very conveniently. Come to Osaka to experience both the marathon and the cheering.

Result MEN: 1

Jackson LIMO

KEN 2:11:43

Yusei NAKAO

JPN 2:14:02

Sho MATSUMOTO

JPN 2:14:54

Yasuyuki NAKAMURA

JPN 2:15:46

Yasushi YAMAMOTO

JPN 2:17:01

Ser-Od BAT-OCHIR

MGL 2:17:21

Elijah SANG

KEN 2:18:22

Shingo IGARASHI

JPN 2:18:38

WOMEN: 1

Maryna DAMANTSEVICH

BLR 2:33:04

Hisae YOSHIMATSU

JPN 2:39:33

Haruka YAMAGUCHI

JPN 2:45:34

Kumi OGURA

JPN 2:46:17

Mitsuko HIROSE

JPN 2:46:33

Eiko UENO

JPN 2:48:06

Ayako KOMA

JPN 2:51:12

Maiko TANI

JPN 2:53:48

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Penang Bridge International Marathon, Malaysia

November

16 2014

Sixty thousand runners thronged the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge — the second one to be built from the mainland to Penang Island — for the rare opportunity to run on the longest bridge in South East Asia.

A spectacular display

Six-hour pacer running with fellow runners on Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah BridgePhoto: Yew KH

n the process they became part of the “Largest Marathon in Malaysia”, as accredited by the Malaysia Book of Records for fourth consecutive time since 2011.

It is a unique event: the only run in the world held entirely on a bridge. It is also the only time of the year when the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge is entirely closed off to traffic. ASICS became the title sponsor for the first time in 2014 after being the official apparel sponsor for the previous two years. As a popular brand, ASICS is one of the major attractions to lure runners by providing quality running vests to everyone who took part in the event. Such is the popularity of the run that it attracted 30,000 ‘early bird’ participants as soon as registration opened on 1 March — eight and a half months before race day. 100 lucky draw prizes were given away to winners including hotel stays, flight tickets and a cruise to Phuket and Krabi. As a way to maintain runners’ enthuisasm after they enter the race organisers offered running clinics and a medical

forum in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. These workshops helped runners to plan for the run. Subjects that were discussed and demonstrated included different types of running, planning training modules, appropriate attire and dietary planning. By the time registration closed in September runners from 71 countries had entered. More than 60% of registered runners were from outside of the state of Penang, including from other parts of Malaysia, neighbouring countries, and from all over the world. First off on race day were the 9000 runners in the full Marathon, at 01.30. The flag off was performed by the Chief Minister of Penang, The Right Honorable Mr Lim Guan Eng, as runners got underway with a spectacular display of fireworks. The 18,000 Half Marathon runners followed at 03.00 and 28,000 10km runners at 06.00. Last to start were participants in the Designer Village 7km Fun Run. In between race starts, runners were entertained by a concert and fashion show by Titan called “My Time Is Now”. Some of the best local artistes from Continued on page 33

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

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Penang Bridge International Marathon, Malaysia Result MEN: 1

Alex MELLY

KEN 2:19:50

Hosea

KEN 2:21:25

Joseph MUTINDA

KEN 2:21:29

Nelson Kirwa ROTICH

KEN 2:22:22

Joseph KARIUKI

KEN 2:23:12

Bernard MUTHONI

KEN 2:23:29

Joackim Kemboi KIPTOO

KEN 2:25:35

Robert Kiplagat KOSGEI

KEN 2:26:32

Peter Kipleting KETER

KEN 2:27:20

10 Cyprian Kiagor MWOBI

KEN 2:23:30

WOMEN: 1

Margaret NJUGUNA

KEN 2:58:42

Frida Jepkite LODEPA

KEN 3:04:12

Jane ROTICH

KEN 3:05:21

Viola Jepchirchir KIMELI

KEN 3:08:26

Cecilia Warutumo WANGUI

KEN 3:10:48

Susan Jemutai CHEPKWONY

KEN 3:15:08

Caroline KIGEN

KEN 3:19:51

Debbie CHINN

USA 2:25:47

Purity SEREM

KEN 2:36:10

10 Sun Nee NG

MAS 3:38:13

Half marathon MEN: 1

James MAREGU

KEN 1:06:29

Eliud KERING

KEN 1:07:49

Alex KIBARUS

KEN 1:08:10

WOMEN: 1

Jacklisne NZIVO

KEN 1:19:50

Noor Amelia MUSA

MAS 1:25:15

Susan KHOO

MAS 1:33:56

Fast moving runners on Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge-

Continued from page 31

Elite runners on the bridge

Kuala Lumpur and Penang entertained the crowd throughout the night and early morning. The prize giving ceremony was presided over by the Governor of Penang, T.Y.T Tun Dato’ Seri (Dr.) Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas, The Chief Minister of Penang, Penang State Ministers and various Government representatives. Proceedings ended with a lucky draw after which 62-year old foundry worker, Mr Ong Poh Soon, who had participated in the 10km Run, drove away in a brand new Honda City. Over 500 police personnel took care of the security of the runners and maintained a smooth flow of traffic. Medical officers from Penang Hospital and volunteers from the Red Crescent and the St John’s Ambulance Brigade were stationed along the entire route to ensure that any runners in distress received prompt medical assistance. A total of 15 water stations were set up along the bridge, serving water, isotonic drinks, bananas and bread for the runners. Prayer rooms (Surau) were also available for Muslim runners. Most runners from outside Penang had planned to spend a few more days in the area to enjoy the

beauty of the island’s capital city George Town — a UNESCO Heritage site, along with its vibrant culture and world famous cuisine. From awe-inspiring architecture, non-stop shopping, and mouth-watering cuisine, Penang is an authentic taste of the real Asia, where laid-back charm is woven into a tapestry of culture, heritage and natural beauty. The UK newspaper The Guardian named Penang one of the “Top 10 Must-Visit Destinations in 2014”. This accolade was followed by Lonely Planet naming Penang as the “World’s No 1 Destination for Food”. The Penang State Government has always strongly promoted sporting events as an integral part of their push for a “Safer, Cleaner, Greener and Healthier Penang”. The Marathon is part of a larger goal to make Penang, through culture and sport, a holistic international and intelligent city. See you at the Penang Bridge Half Marathon on 14 June 2015 and the next Penang Bridge International Marathon on 22 November 2015.

Penang Bridge International Marathon ■ The race will be run again on 22 November 2015.

■ For event information visit www.penangmarathon.gov.my

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

ay Sundpril 19 A 5 201

Kobe Marathon, Japan

November

23 2014

Thanks and friendship

“Thanks and friendship, 20 years after the earthquake” was the theme of the 2014 Kobe Marathon, and it literally shone through from the start. A sea of yellow-gloved runners in the full marathon provided the backcloth for the Mayor, in a striking red cap and jacket, to fire the starting gun at 9:00 sharp. Taken together they represented a sunflower: the symbol of the city’s regeneration. ou wouldn’t think that just 20 years ago, on 17 January 1995, Kobe was devastated by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Standing at the Marathon start line in the shadow of the modern City Hall skyscraper, with a gentle breeze and the sun shining, there was no visible trace of the charred and destroyed buildings or the suffering caused by the earthquake. But it cannot have been far from the hearts and minds of the thousands of supporters, volunteers, and runners at the race who experienced the tragedy that fateful year. This year’s marathon was to thank all those from Japan and overseas who supported and contributed so much to the rebuilding efforts. It was to build links of friendship and extend omotenashi (a truly Japanese concept which is often translated as “hospitality”) to visitors to Kobe. And it was to show the world the beautiful city which has risen from the ashes. Continued on page 37

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

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Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

Kobe Marathon, Japan Result MEN: 1

Haron Kimutai MALEL

KEN 2:13:45

Yuya TAKAYANAGI

JPN 2:19:59

Yoshinori SUGIMOTO

JPN 2:20:43

Kensuke TAKAHASHI

JPN 2:24:01

Syota JIGE

JPN 2:24:27

Keito HONAMI

JPN 2:25:27

Masahiro FUJITA

JPN 2:25:44

Yoshiteru TANO

JPN 2:26:56

Masanori KAMIYA

JPN 2:28:26

10 Yoshiyuki ASAMI

JPN 2:28:51

WOMEN:

Continued from page 35 The race takes the runners west through the city, in more or less a straight line, until two 90-degree turns take them past the iconic Tetsujin 28 monument in Shin-Nagata, an area that was particularly hard-hit by the 1995 earthquake. The finish line for the 1,783 quarter marathon runners comes just as the full marathon course starts to hug the coastline, and this year an impressive 97.9% of the quarter-course participants reached their destination. But the day is far from over for the full marathon runners, who can see the course stretch out in front of them and enjoy the serene beauty of Kobe’s scenery. The water lies to the left and mountains to the right as they continue west towards the impressive Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. When it comes into sight, they know the turnaround point is getting closer. The world’s longest suspension bridge is just before the 18km point, and runners get close to it before taking a U-turn to head back east along the coast towards their final destination on Port Island. The Kobe Marathon started in 2011, but Kobe has had a long history of long-distance races. The city

Kobe Marathon ■ For event information visit

boasts the longest relationship with marathons of any in Japan, being the starting point for the KobeOsaka Marathon Race held in March 1909, the first long-distance race in the country to bear the “Marathon” name. At that time such events were reserved for serious athletes but, as Japan has entered the running boom in recent years, marathons have become more accessible to young and old alike. The Kobe Marathon is no exception.

Hiromi SAITO

JPN 2:38:24

Riona ISHIMOTO

JPN 2:38:26

Chihiro TANAKA

JPN 2:41:15

Mildred Chebosis KIMINY

KEN 2:41:24

Mayuko OHATA

JPN 2:42:05

Ikue TABATA

JPN 2:46:44

Satoko UETANI

JPN 2:48:15

Junko OTANI

JPN 2:50:46

Miho IKEHARA

JPN 2:51:53

10 Ayaka HONMA

JPN 2:52:28

With a generous time limit of 7 hours keen runners from teenagers to octogenarians took part in 2014 and the percentage finishing was 97.8%, the highest in the race’s history. A staggering 86,516 people applied for just 18,000 full and 2,000 quarter-marathon places — runners were already winners just by getting to the start line. But don’t let this discourage you from applying: entries from overseas are accepted automatically, not subject to the lottery after which Japanese applicants wait several impatient weeks before learning if they have been accepted or not. As the reach of marathons has expanded, so has the support. The 4th Kobe Marathon brought 610,000 people out to cheer the runners on, 40% of the city’s 1.5 million inhabitants. From the very start to the very end the course is lined with supporters clapping, cheering, and shouting “FIGHTO!”; not to stir up trouble but to keep the runners going, as in Japanese the word means “Do your best!”. The support and feeling of community sets Kobe’s race of Thanks and Friendship apart, and it is clear that the whole city is spurring on every participant. Trains blasting their horns, posters of support by local schoolchildren pasted along the route, and even fishing boats with well-wishing flags hoisted high to lift the spirits of runners looking out to the sea. Runners are treated to wadaiko (Japanese drum) performances, cheerleading, Chinese dragons, brass bands and elementary school students dancing on trampolines along the way; all doing a fine job of distracting them from the aches and pains inevitable when running a marathon.

www.kobe-marathon.net The generally flat course has one particularly steep point — the ascent of the Kobe Ohashi Bridge which peaks at 37km into the race. At the top, you

are rewarded with a view of the finish line less than 1km away. But this is as the crow flies; as tantalisingly close as it comes, the path snakes off course and demands that runners keep going those extra few kilometres to make it up to a marathon. To compensate, there is a special facility in place: a boat which sprays a fine mist of cooling water over participants. The finish line finally comes back into view and this time it’s for real; the streets buzz with excitement, as runners’ bodies and minds surely do, with the prospect of crossing the line. The first man to do so was the Kenyan Haron Malel, setting a new course record of 2:13:45 and smashing his own personal best by four minutes. The 20-year-old Hiromi Saito came in as first woman with 2:38:24, just two seconds in front of second-placed 19-yearold Riona Ishimoto. The 2014 Kobe Marathon was an event of excitement, an event of passion, but also one of remembrance. A true event of thanks and friendship. Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

Race previews Novi Sad Half Marathon, Serbia 29 March 2015

ovi Sad is Serbia’s second city after Belgrade, with a population of around 500,000. It lies just 70km north-west of Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport, along the E75 Budapest–Belgrade Highway (it is 300km south of Budapest). The city is the University centre of the Vojvodina region in the northern part of Serbia, and plays host to two major races: the Novi Sad Marathon (held in October), and the Novi Sad Half Marathon (29 March 2015). Both races attract more than 1000 runners and start and finish in the same city centre location, in front of the City Hall.

The Half Marathon course is completely flat and goes through the old part of the city past the Orthodox Church and then along the banks of the river Danube. Runners pass the historic Pertovaradin Fortress (dating from 1692) and go through the University centre and some of the newer parts of town. Novi Sad is well known for the quality of its wine and very tasty food. Accommodation in small, pretty hotels is very affordable and bargain restaurants abound. For sightseeing it is worth exploring Fruska Gora, on the other side of the Danube, a wonderful hill well known as a natural beauty spot and for its famous vineyards and very old monasteries. Those runners who decide to run the Novi Sad Half Marathon will be able to enjoy the hospitality of the people and to take part in an interesting race. The city is peaceful and calm, with a relaxed way of life – an ideal place to come for a holiday.

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

metrogroup-marathon.de

Race previews Marathon Rotterdam, The Netherlands 12 April 2015 arathon Rotterdam is well known for the fast times recorded on its flat course, its professional organization and the enthusiastic supporters who line the route. Some of the world's top athletes will be at the start line on the bustling Coolsingel, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with ten thousand other runners who will also triumph, each in their own unique way.

of entries, all coming in a rush. Don’t hesitate: come to experience the magical atmosphere of finishing on the Coolsingel. Use your time while in Rotterdam to explore this surprising city, with its new architecture, festivals, shopping and rich variety of art and culture.

The marathon weekend is a wonderful blend of sport and festivity. No other marathon in The Netherlands can match the ambiance of Rotterdam. For this 35th edition there has been an unprecedented avalanche

• The New York Times article “52 Places to go in 2014” ranked Rotterdam 10th and noted the first-class architecture of the second city of The Netherlands.

If you need more reasons to choose Rotterdam, note that

Photo: John de Pater

• Rotterdam ranked eighth in the annual Rough Guide Travel Hotlist for 2014 alongside Rio de Janeiro, Sarajevo, Portland and Liverpool as one of the guide’s top picks for the year. • In November 2014 Rotterdam was crowned ‘best city in Europe’ at the Urbanism Awards. www.marathonrotterdam.org

1000km Promotions, South Africa Email: Km1000@mweb.co.za Tel: +27 12 541 2515 Emergency: +27 82 807 6810 www.1000km.co.za

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

Race previews Vodafone Istanbul Half Marathon, Turkey 26 April 2015

he Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has been organising a half marathon since 1987. The Golden Horn Half Marathon was held from 1987 to 1993 and successfully returned to the streets of Istanbul in 2010 after a 17year absence. Vodafone became title sponsor for the 9th edition and the race has now grown to accommodate 6000 runners from 38 different countries.

The start is at Balat, by the old Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn (Or-ahayim Balat Hospital) and runners head off in the direction of Eyup. They then pass along Ayvansaray Street, past Aya Dimitri

Church, through Balat and Sair Nedim Parks, Kadir Has University and Eminonu, along Kennedy Street, through Sarayburnu and Yenikapi Square. From here the runners return back to finish where they started through Feshane and past Eyup Anatolia High School to eventually reach the finish at Eyup Municipality. Registration is open to participants of 16 years of age or older on race day. There is also a 10km race held at the same time. For further information and registration see: istanbulyarimaratonu.org

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

RUNNING INTO HISTORY

40 years of R-bies Inc.

BIG IN JAPAN Everyone knows that the Japanese nation has a love affair with the marathon. But that emotional connection, perhaps unique to Japan, still needs to be nurtured. Read on below for an insight into how this happens. n Japan running was as an industry long before it was elsewhere. Including the USA where the ‘running boom’ launched. Fred Lebow freely admitted that he was stumbling in the dark when he took the New York City Marathon out of Central Park and onto the streets of the five boroughs, but he somehow emerged on the bright side of those roads.

Yet in Japan, literally the “Land of the Rising Sun”, marathon running was such a neat psychological fit that any agency which could bring it all together would be taking a great step forward for the sport worldwide. R-bies Inc. is an operation that encompasses publishing, entry and timing services, race organization and more. They have stood at the forefront of an industry with a one-of-a-kind reach — from the amateur fun runner all the way to the Olympic medalist — and celebrated their 40th anniversary with a party at the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel in Tokyo’s fashionable Shibuya district on 1 December.

At the elite level Japan’s men, and particularly the women, have won a string of Olympic and World Championships medals stretching back for decades. Apart from Kenya and Ethiopia Japan is the only other country to have had ten men running sub-2:10 for the marathon in one year. Domestically elite racing is a massively popular spectator sport, with live TV broadcasts of races televised nationwide almost every weekend from fall to spring and the Hakone Ekiden, a two-day university men’s road relay race starting and finishing in downtown Tokyo every 2 and 3 January, drawing TV audiences in the tens of millions. Japan’s small elite marathons likewise pull in large TV audiences as well as serving as aspirational lifetime goals for driven and talented amateur runners.

Continued on page 49

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

15 1 0 M AY 2 0 ARATHON M

Wizz Air SKOPJE/ Marathon Relay / 5 km

Marathon Marathon / Half

SKOPJEMARAT

HON.COM

City of Sk Skopje opje

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

Delegation of the Delegation European Union European

Macedonian agency Macedonian of youth youth and sport

RUNNING INTO HISTORY

40 years of R-bies Inc.

guests including 300 everyday runners invited from among RUNNERS subscribers and RUNNET users. More than 30 journalists attended a press conference on the 40 years of history shared by R-bies Inc. and the Japanese running world. Special guest Carlo Capalbo of the Czech Republic’s Prague International Marathon spoke on current trends in the global running scene as well as the keynote presentation in the Sports Event Session. Tokyo Marathon race director Tad Hayano, Takao Takamura of the Lake Yamanaka Road Race and Nikkei Newspaper sports writer Seiichi Yoshida took part in a panel discussion on the impact and contribution of running events to local communities and internationalisation.

Continued from page 47 At the amateur level running has always been big in Japan, but the launch of the Tokyo Marathon in 2007 set off a revolution that has seen an explosion in participation, particularly among women. With a field of over 30,000 Tokyo’s entry lottery easily pulls in more than ten times that number of hopeful applicants, a success that has inspired new large-scale marathons across the country in Osaka (see feature on p.25), Kobe (see feature on p. 35), Kyoto, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Yokohama. And there will be many more to come. No other country has a running culture as vibrant and expansive at all levels of the sport. For the last 40 years R-bies Inc. has played an active role in the growth and development of the Japanese running industry. Its flagship monthly RUNNERS magazine, now Japan’s market leader by a distance, began publication in 1976. It targeted the amateur market but uniquely catered to both the six-hour plus fun runners who flocked to the Honolulu Marathon every year and to the upper echelons of the amateur ranks. Founder and editor-in-chief Yukiko Shimojo ran the first Tokyo International Women’s Marathon in 1979, and the magazine has long featured a “My Training” series of interviews with amateur men who succeeded in breaking 2:30 for the marathon. Every year it also publishes rankings of the top 100 men’s and women’s marathon times by single-year age categories in a popular supplement to the magazine. It is a point of pride for amateur runners all over the country who strive year upon year to make those lists. Along with the success of Runners, R-bies Inc.’s RUNNET online race guide and entry and results service has grown to become Japan’s market leader with 1.7 million registered users and 25 million page views monthly. In addition to calendars and regional guides to help users find races RUNNET’s innovative features include a Race

Along with the launch of R-bies’ new RUN FOR THE FUTURE logo and corporate identity, the party featured an R-bies Expo that showed off the latest services for client races. Twenty celebrities and Olympians posed for pictures to introduce the new RUNPHOTO 2.0 service that automatically uploads runners’ race photos to their Facebook pages. Other innovations on show included the Ouen Navi service that allows users to track runners in real time, the Dore Hashiru app that helps users to find races, and the Yuzureru cancellation service to facilitate transferring entries to other runners.

Report section that allows users to rate their experiences at races on details from aid stations to scenery to crowd support. Scores are compiled and the highest-ranked events are given special distinction as the top 100 most popular races in the country, helping them to attract more entrants in future years. In tandem with RUNNET the R-bies subsidiary RECS race timing service has grown to become one of the world’s biggest, handling more than 2 million finishers a year. The massive growth of the amateur running market in Japan since 2007 and extensive experience of providing services for client races has made it possible for R-bies Inc. to get involved in organizing races of its own such as a popular 30km event geared towards people training to run the Tokyo Marathon.

The AIMS booth at the R-bies Expo was another popular attraction. Already claiming 20 member races within Japan, AIMS’ Japanese-language pamphlets detailed the benefits of membership and drew great interest from officials from races across the country. Former AIMS President Hiroaki Chosa congratulated R-bies on their contribution to the expansion and development of the Japanese running market and expressed his hopes for continued success. Within the next 10 years Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympics and more and more Japanese marathons will provide exciting new destinations for international marathon tourists. The Japanese running industry is set for further growth, and R-bies Inc. has assumed a commanding position to enable and support that growth.

At its anniversary party R-bies Inc. celebrated its first 40 years and kicked off its plan for the next 10. Twice the size of its annual award ceremony and year-end party, this year’s event hosted 600 Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

JOIN 65,000 RUNNERS IN

THE WORLDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LARGEST HALF MARATHON May 23rd 2015 Gothenburg, Sweden

RUN FOR CHARITY! To register visit goteborgsvarvet.se/en

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

IAU News RESULTS 21 NOVEMBER 2014:

EXECUTIVES

IAU 100km World Championships

President: Dirk Strumane (BEL) Vice President & Director of Competitions: Liesbeth Jansen (NED) General Secretary: Hilary Walker (GBR) Director of Communications: Nadeem Khan (CAN) Director of Protocol (coopted): Paco Rico (ESP)

Doha, Qatar The IAU 100km World Championships came to the Middle East for the first time. The venue was the Aspire zone in Doha, a part of the city devoted entirely to sport. The course was a 5km circuit within the facility. Two hundred runners represented a record 38 countries for these championships. A Masters 100km Championships and an inaugural Championship for the Gulf Countries were run concurrently. Vasily Larkin shared the early lead with Nojo Hideo. The chasing group contained most of the pre-race favourites: Steve Way (GBR), Giorgio Calcaterra (ITA) and Jonas Buud (SWE), along with a dozen other runners, including Max King of the USA. Temperatures were in the mid to low 20s but it was a brave move for Larkin to lead so early, and he was slowly pegged back. King took the lead at around 60km and Buud chased from the back, coming on strongly in the third quarter of the race to eventually get up into second place

Director of Statistics (coopted): Jürgen Schoch (GER)

MEN: 1 Max KING 2 Jonas BUUD 3 Jose Antonio REQUENAS 4 Hideo NOJO 5 Yoshiki TAKADA 6 Zach BITTER 7 Vasily LARKIN 8 Alberico DI CECCO 9 Zach MILLER 10 Fritjof FAGERLUND

USA SWE ESP JPN JPN USA RUS ITA USA SWE

6:27:43 6:32:04 6:37:01 6:39:21 6:46:47 6:48:53 6:50:38 6:51:14 6:51:30 6:55:31

Defending champion Amy Sproston was next to hit the front but in turn lost the lead to the 100km specialist Vrajic. Britain’s Ellie Greenwood took command over the chasing group and by 55km had placed herself firmly in the lead, which she held all the way to the end. Both others to make the podium ran through the field with a strong second half.

WOMEN: 1 Ellie GREENWOOD 2 Chiyuki MOCHIZUKI 3 Joasia ZAKRZEWSKI 4 Jo MEEK 5 Irina ANTROPOVA 6 Shiho KATAYAMA 7 Veronika JURISIC 8 Meghan ARBOGAST 9 Mai FUJISAWA 10 Pam SMITH

GBR JPN GBR GBR RUS JPN CRO USA JPN USA

7:40:48 7:38:23 7:42:02 7:43:37 7:44:26 7:49:41 7:51:08 7:52:12 7:54:28 7:59:11

13 men beat seven hours and 10 women went under eight hours – both were records which showed the strength of the field Aspire will host the IAU 50km World Championships from 2015-2017 on the same course. Next year the 100km World Championships will take place in Winschoten (NED)..

NEWS IN BRIEF

IAU Career Awards From 2014 IAU have initiated annual Career Awards to recognise individuals who have shown long dedication to the cause of ultrarunning. The awards for 2014 were made to: Bruce Fordyce (RSA), nine-times winner of the Comrades Marathon, he also won the London-Brighton race three years in a row. Fordyce is additionally an author and columnist on ultrarunning, and CEO of the South African Sports Trust. He has continued to participate in ultra events to fund charitable causes, including sports development projects in South Africa. Aki Inoue (JPN) has been the guiding presence behind the success of Japanese ultrarunning

Director of Organizations: Jan Vandendriessche (BEL)

Rita Nordsveen (NOR) led in the early stages of the women’s race. She was familiar with the course through having run it three weeks back at the 50km World Trophy Final. The chase group behind her included all the pre-race favourites and the Croatian trio of Marija Vrajic, Nikolina Sustic and Veronika Jurisic.

for over a decade. Japanese successes at world championships in both 100km and the 24 hour events, for both men's and women's teams, has been testimony to his tremendous hard work. Per Lind (NOR) is a cornerstone of Norwegian and international ultrarunning. Athlete, coach, team manager and editor Per is a master of many fields. He organized the 24-hour race in Hønefoss in 1986 and 1987 which were the first ultra races in Norway. He created the Norwegian Association of Ultrarunning, and headed it from 2005–2013. His lifetime of hard work in building the sport was recognised in 2013 with an Honorary Award from the Norwegian Association of Ultrarunning – and now in 2014 by IAU.

Africa & Oceania Representative: James Evans (RSA) Americas Representative: Lin Gentling (USA) Asia Representative: Bokjin Park (KOR) Europe Representative: Paco Rico (ESP) For more information contact: Nadeem Khan nadeem.khan@iau-ultramarathon.org

www.iau-ultramarathon.org Follow IAU on Twitter: @iaunews

DIARY DATES 11–12 April 2015 24 Hour World & European Championship, Turin, Italy

May 30–31 May 2015 Trail World Championships, Annecy, France

31 OCTOBER 2014:

IAU World 50km Trophy final Doha, Qatar Four years after his first win in Galway (IRL), Zimbabwe’s Collen Makaza regained the IAU 50km title, while Emily Harrison (USA) fulfilled expectations in the women’s race writes Jon Mulkeen. Conditions were even hotter than expected as temperatures rose to 30°C, so times were slower than in previous years. Great Britain’s Phil Anthony ran with Makaza for the first 35km, but over the next 5km Makaza opened up a one-minute gap. Anthony regained some ground in closing stages, but Makaza kept ahead to win by 45 seconds Harm Sengers of the Netherlands ran a negative split to take third. Having posted a time of 3:15:01 earlier this year, Harrison was the big favourite in the women’s race and she didn’t disappoint. Briton Joanna Zakrzewski led after 10km but Harrison bided her time before

overhauling her and opening up a winning margin of 53 seconds. MEN: 1 Collen MAKAZA 2 Phil ANTHONY 3 Harm SENGERS 4 Paul MARTELETTI 5 Gary OHANLON 6 Michael WARDIAN 7 Raivis ZAKIS 8 Wouter DECOCK 9 Tomoya SUGIMOTO 10 Thomas KLINGENBURG

ZIM GBR NED GBR IRL USA LAT BEL JPN GER

3:00:41 3:01:26 3:05:01 3:11:05 3:14:35 3:18:11 3:20:12 3:22:02 3:24:55 3:29:42

WOMEN: 1 Emily HARRISON USA 2 Joanna ZAKRZEWSKI GBR 3 Catrin JONES CAN 4 Rita NORDSVEEN NOR 5 Neza MRAVLJE SLO 6 Pamela VEITH GER 7 Valeria SESTO GBR 8 Svetlana TKACH MDA 9 Irina ANTRAPOVA RUS 10 Beverley ANDERSON CAN

3:32:30 3:33:23 3:37:57 3:45:21 3:48:42 3:48:51 3:49:59 3:53:04 3:53:59 3:57:22

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

Commencing at the harbour front, an awesome 42,195 kilometres through a vibrant and edgy city await you. A genuine city marathon, the Nykredit Copenhagen Marathon course takes you on a tour past numerous highlights and attractions. Join in for Copenhagen to experience a classic marathon in an innovative city!

Enter the race at copenhagenmarathon.com

WMRA News

Results

EXECUTIVES President: Bruno Gozzelino (ITA) Secretary: Adrian Woods (GBR)

4 OCTOBER 2014:

Treasurer: Nancy Hobbs (USA) At-Large Director: Galia Puhaleva (BUL)

35th Šmarna Gora race

Director of Marketing: Erhan Basoglu (TUR)

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Director of Organisation: Wolfgang Munzel (GER)

Director of Competition: Andrjrej Puchacz (POL) Director of Development: Tomo Šarf (SLO) Member of Honour: Pierre Weiss (FRA)

Runners from eleven countries contested this last stage of the WMRA World Cup. Petro Mamu and Andrea Mayr were practically sure of topping the final standings and they reinforced their superiority by winning this final race. Nobody dared to follow Mamu’s pace and he ran alone all the way to the finish. Andrea Mayr, the current European and World Champion, had already won the Smarna gora race three times and on this occasion she also broke the course record by 42 seconds. Local Mateja Kosovelj, 2013 Grand Prix winner and previous course record holder, finished second and Alice Gaggi, 2013 world champion and another former Smarna gora race winner, finished third. MEN: 1 Petro MAMU 2 David SCHNEIDER 3 Alex BALDACCINI 4 Emanuele MANZI 5 Mitja KOSOVELJ WOMEN: 1 Andrea MAYR 2 Mateja KOSOVELJ 3 Alice GAGGI 4 Sarah TUNSTALL 5 Antonella CONFORTOLA

ERI SUI ITA ITA SLO

41:59 43:45 45:05 45:14 45:22

AUT SLO ITA GBR ITA

48:04 51:44 52:15 53:28 54:32

Final World Cup standings MEN: 1 Petro MAMU 2 David SCHNEIDER 3 Alex BALDACCINI WOMEN: 1 Andrea MAYR 2 Mateja KOSOVELJ 3 Timea MERENY

ERI SUI ITA AUT SLO HUN

✽ The WMRA Council meeting in January will discuss the format of the 17th WMRA World Cup 2015. The number of races could be increased as several traditional and very wellknown competitions may seek to become stages of the WMRA World Cup. The points system will likely be amended to take these changes into account.

Member of Honour: Raimondo Balicco (ITA)

www.wmra.info

26 OCTOBER 2014:

57th Trofeo Vanoni mountain race Morbegno, Italy

Andrea Mayr

Arnaud Bonin, Cedric Fleureton and Julien Rancon won a second French victory in the men’s race, a feat otherwise achieved only by the host nation, Italy. The day started with regional races for children and young runners, followed by the women’s race at 11.00. 2013 World Champion Alice Gaggi won for the second time, falling short of the course record by only seven seconds. During the uphill section the Czech Pavla Schorna led followed by the Slovenian Mateja Kosovelj with Gaggi content to hold third position in front of her compatriot Samantha Galassi and a group of Irish and British runners. Gaggi chose her moment and overtook on the downhill. WOMEN: 1 Alice GAGGI 2 Petra SCHORNA 3 Sarah MCCORMACK 4 Charlotte MORGAN 5 Mateja KOSOVELJ

ITA CZE IRL GBR SLO

21:48 21:59 22:38 23:16 23:20

The 57th Trofeo Vanoni Relay event was held in the afternoon with more than 135 teams. Alex Baldaccini led his team in after the first leg with the day’s fastest stage of 29:27, while Cedric Fleureton held third place for the French. On the second stage the French Team moved into the lead and stretched their margin of victory to 69 seconds on the third leg. Behind them the twins Martin and Bernard Dematteis overtook all the other teams to haul their club, Podistica Valle Varaita, into second place. Atletica Valli Bergamasche, finishing a further 53 seconds back, took third ahead of a Slovenian team formed of the same runners who won the Trofeo Vanoni last year. 403 men and 64 women took part in the two senior races. Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

PARIS ST GERMAIN EN-LAYE ST GERMAIN-EN-LAYE

PARIS

28th

Austrian Women’s Run 31 May 2015 – VIENNA

Online registration opens on 7 March 2015 www.austrianwomensrun.com 54

Distance Running | 2015 Edition 1

LA COURSE

WMRA News 08 NOVEMBER 2014:

10th Obudu Ranch Mountain Race Cross River State, Nigeria and 2010, was second in in 2013 and third in

African Mountain Running Championship results

in 2009. Women’s winner Genet Yalew

(official team entrants only):

Second-placed Negera Dinkessa won in 2012

Kassahun retained her title for her third event win (she also won in 2011) ahead of this year’s World junior champion Stella Chesang.

CALENDAR 27 June

Smolyan, BUL

4 July

MEN: 1 Philip KIPLIMO 2 Isaac KIPROP 3 Petro MAMU 4 Geoffrey KUSURO 5 Frezghi TSEGAY

UGA KEN ERI UGA ERI

1:03:19 1:03:24 1:03:34 1:04:37 1:05:42

KEN

1:02:34

WOMEN: 1 Stella CHESANG 2 Rachel Zena CHEBET 3 Peres JEPCHIRCHIR 4 Pam DEBORAH 5 Joscah Moraa OBARE

UGA UGA KEN NGR KEN

1:01:31 1:03:03 1:05:04 1:10.09 1:10:34

2 Negera Abebe DINKESSA

ETH