The Dubai Marathon begins bright and early at 7am on Friday in Dubai. Ahead of the race Gary Meenaghan breaks down the basics.
*All event information is via event organisers and subject to change
What: 2015 Dubai Marathon
When: Friday, January 22
Where: Dubai, starting and finishing on Umm Suqueim Road across from Madinat Jumeirah near the Burj Al Arab, according to event organisers. Starts are at the Madinat Jumeirah end of Umm Suqeim Road and finishes arrive at the Police Academy end of the road. Viewing grandstands are positioned on Umm Suqueim Road just beyond Al Wasl Road. (More detailed race maps are available at the bottom of the page)
Start times: Marathon, 7am; 10km Road Race, 7.15am; 4 km Fun Run, 11am
Click here to see detailed maps of the three courses.
RECORDS
Men's world: 2 hrs 2 mins 57 sec
Women's world: 2:15:25
Dubai men's course: 2:04:23
Dubai women's course: 2:19:31
FIVE RUNNERS TO WATCH, MEN:
Kenenisa Bekele: The three-time Olympic champion and 18-time world champion will compete in his third marathon when he takes to the road in Dubai tomorrow. After setting a course record in Paris last April and finishing fourth in Chicago six months later, he arrives ready for his Middle East debut amid much anticipation. World-record holder for 5,000-metres and 10,000m outdoor as well as 5,000m indoor, he said his aim is to set a personal best, which would mean sub-2:05:04 seconds.
Lelisa Desisa: The Ethiopian, 25, made history in 2013 when he won the Dubai Marathon. His winning time of 2:04:45 was the fastest of five men who crossed the finish line under 2:05, an unprecedented achievement. Desisa triumphed in Boston in 2013 and New York City the following year, although neither time came close to that set on his debut. He has been running marathons for only two years, so he may have a better time in him.
Berhanu Shiferaw: The 21-year-old Ethiopian returns to the scene of his best marathon performance to attempt the event for the first time since 2013. Two years ago, Shiferaw chased winner Desisa to the finish, crossing the line three seconds later. His time of 2:04:48 was four minutes quicker than his previous best, but he has not competed internationally since. He arrives to contest the Dubai race intent on bolstering his reputation once more.
Feysa Lilesa: Making his debut in Dubai, the 23-year-old Ethiopian has impressive experience, having won the bronze medal at the world championships in 2011. He arrives in the UAE with the third-best time in the field, behind Desisa and Shiferaw, but has disappointed internationally in recent years, failing to finish in Moscow and Frankfurt in 2013. At last April's London Marathon he finished in 2:08:26 and will be looking to build on that tomorrow.
Girmay Birhanu: he rule book goes out the window when it comes to this 28-year-old Ethiopian. Birhanu made his marathon debut in Dubai in 2013, clocking a solid 2:09:48, and then completed three more marathons over the following six months. In a sport where elite athletes usually complete two in a year, his schedule was unusual. Although his stamina remarkably remained impressive, his times slipped slightly – yet he still finished third here last January with a time of 2:05:49.
FIVE RUNNERS TO WATCH, WOMEN:
Mulu Seboka: The reigning champion remained unbeaten throughout 2014 after following up her Dubai victory with successes in South Korea and Canada. Having set a personal best of 2:23:15 seconds in Toronto in October, the 30-year-old Ethiopian likely will have to improve upon it again if she is to successfully defend her title here. Both Aselefech Mergia and Lucy Kabuu have broken the 2:20 barrier in Dubai and will be looking to replicate their feats this weekend.
Aselefech Mergia Medessa: The Ethiopian has twice won the Dubai Marathon, in 2011 and 2012. Mergia's title defence was all the more impressive by the fact she not only set a course record, but that her time of 2:19:31 was set in a race that is seen as one of the most competitive. It was the only time when three women finished under 2:20. This is her first race since giving birth in July 2013.
Aliaksandra Duliba: Of the 10 women with the fastest marathon times, only one is not from east Africa. The Belarusian Duliba, 29, finished last year's Boston Marathon in 2:21:29. Only three women arrived in Dubai with faster personal bests. Winner of the Los Angeles Marathon on her debut in March 2013, the Minsk-born Duliba has gone from strength to strength, breaking her own national record in Chicago and finishing second in Toronto in October.
Meselech Melkamu: The 29-year-old Ethiopian set the third-fastest debut time when she ran the freezing 2012 Frankfurt Marathon in 2:21:01. The African record holder in 10,000m, she is intent on setting equally impressive marathon times, starting tomorrow. She finished second here last year in 2:25:23, but by the time she turned up in Boston, later in 2014, she was able to shave off close to four minutes. She has the third-best personal best in the field.
Lucy Kabuu: Flying the flag for Kenya, Kabuu, 30, has the best chance among African runners of ending Ethiopian domination of this race. The 2006 Commonwealth Games 10,000-metre gold medallist finished as runner-up in Dubai in 2012 despite running 2:19:34. She has placed highly in subsequent contests, including third in Tokyo last year, but she is yet to beat the time set on her Dubai debut.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS:
Gebrselassie debut in 2008
The anticipation surrounding the Dubai debut of Haile Gebrselassie, one of the most familiar faces in athletics, was significant. The little Ethiopian with the big smile had broken the world record only a few months earlier in Berlin and sponsors offered a US$1 million (Dh3.67m) bonus to anyone who could break it in Dubai. On the morning of the race, a rain cloud appeared and seemed to follow Gebrselassie like a halo, yet as he approached the split, his time was solid. The cloud remained, soaking him and hurting his chances, and his time of 2:04:53 was 27 seconds off the record. Seven years later, it is the 33rd-fastest marathon time.
Mergia’s brilliant finish in 2012
Ethiopian Aselefech Mergia arrived in Dubai as one of the favourites, having won the previous year. Her successful defence was made all the more impressive by the strength of the field. For the first time, three women in a race finished under 2:20, a global record that still stands.
Desisa’s sprint finish in 2013
Making his marathon debut, Lelisa Desisa came from back of the pack to win the title, crossing the line three seconds ahead of compatriot Berhanu Shiferaw. Close behind the two Ethiopians were another three athletes, making it the first race with five men running under 2:05. Desisa’s time was 22 seconds outside the Dubai record of 2012 winner Ayele Abshero.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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