News

Race news Taipei Marathon

Taipei runs full mass-participation event

9,000 run marathon, 19,000 half

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 16:00:00 +0000

Benefitting from the Taiwanese government’s early steps to get control of the COVID-19 situation and its population’s responsibility in sticking to the protocols, the Taipei Marathon achieved what no other large-scale race could: a full-sized mass-participation field with 9000 marathoners and 19,000 half-marathoners, and an international elite field, all within the 2020 calendar year.

Not a reduced field, not a micro race, but a big city marathon the way we used to know them.

International athletes had to undergo a two-week quarantine in their hotel rooms, which organizers had fitted out with treadmills, but while most of them including Japan’s Hiroko Baino reported negative effects from the treadmill running on their performances there was still a new men’s course record of 2:09:18 from Paul Lonyangata (Kenya) and a near-miss from women’s winner Askale Merachi (Ethiopia) at 2:28:31.

Fresh from breaking the 10000m national record two weeks ago local runner Chun-Yu Tsao also took two minutes off her own national record to finish 4th in 2:32:41. Baino struggled with leg pain mid-race and finished 6th in 2:45:53.

Behind them were tens of thousands of amateur runners doing what the rest of the world can only dream of doing – six, nine, twelve months down the road.

Race news

2021 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon will be last

Oldest Japanese marathon comes to an end

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 16:48:00 +0000

The Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon will be discontinued after next year’s 76th edition on 28 February 2021.

One of Japan’s three major men’s marathons, Lake Biwa’s position on the calendar as the last chance to qualify for Olympic and World Championships teams meant it has had a long history of being the place where Japan’s best marathoners earned to right to compete against the best in the world. But in recent years Lake Biwa has come under increasing pressure from the rise of the Tokyo Marathon where national records and other fast times have been run almost every year. Lake Biwa’s relevance and value began to be called into question. The Osaka Marathon is likely to replace Lake Biwa as a national team selection race in the future.

Founded in 1946 Lake Biwa is the oldest existing marathon in Japan. Along with the Fukuoka International Marathon and the Tokyo Marathon it is counted as one of Japan’s three top men’s marathons. But now its long, colourful history will come to an end next year when Olympic marathon trials winner Shogo Nakamura and others stand on its starting line one final time.

Starting and finishing on the track at Ojiyama Field, Lake Biwa has long been the final selection race for Olympic and World Championships teams. At both the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics two of the three men’s team members earned their places at Lake Biwa. At both the 1964 and 1968 Olympics all three members were chosen there. Its position on the calendar relative to Fukuoka and Tokyo meant the battles were always furious, and those who emerged victorious went on to take on the world.

There’s no question that Lake Biwa has been the site of countless classic races and a vital part of Japan’s marathon tradition, but in recent years its relevance has faded. One of the major factors in this was the Tokyo Marathon’s change to a faster course in 2017. In 2018 Yuta Shitara broke the Japanese national record in Tokyo, and two years later Suguru Osako followed Shitara’s lead and did the same. With that record of success Tokyo has become the first choice for Japanese men targeting fast times.

The outcome of that change for Lake Biwa, an elite-only marathon, was that the athletes who could have provided the fireworks started staying away. With the Tokyo Marathon having moved to Lake Biwa’s traditional date the first Sunday in March two years ago, Lake Biwa’s shift a week later meant it was now the same day as the Nagoya Women’s Marathon, putting it even further into the shadows. The race’s viability, financial and otherwise, came into question.

According to those involved, the Osaka Marathon is the most likely candidate to replace Lake Biwa as a national team selection event. With 35,000 people running on a downtown urban course it is the second-largest marathon in Japan after Tokyo. With that kind of modern prestige to it, Osaka is highly likely to pick up the selection race label.

Modernity has a way of burying history. The MGC Race, a one-shot selection race for the Tokyo Olympics, was a major success. Those in power are leaning toward using the same kind of single trials race for the 2024 Paris Olympics. With the coronavirus crisis an ongoing issue, this is a period of transition. The Japanese marathon world isn’t immune to those transitional forces, and we can only hope that its reorganisation and reformation produce even more exciting races.

Translator’s note: Lake Biwa was Japan’s first World Athletics gold label race. For high-level amateur men its sub-2:30 qualifying time was a major goal and mark of prestige. Fukuoka and Tokyo both have faster elite field qualifying times, but both have secondary marks that make it possible for slower people to run. Lake Biwa was sub-2:30, do or die.

Its position after ekiden season made it one of the leading options for marathoners shooting for national teams. A change to the Osaka Marathon, a month before the New Year Ekiden, will amplify the same problems faced by the Fukuoka International Marathon, which has looked at moving post-New Year Ekiden, and push more people to run Tokyo.

Race news Gifu Half Marathon

Gifu Seiryu Half to go ahead

Race capped at 7,000 runners

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 11:45:00 +0000

After Japanese races due to be held in Spring have consistently been cancelled or postponed the Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon, has bucked the trend.

After consultation with all parties involved the organising committee of the 10th anniversary Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon, scheduled for 25 April, will go ahead while taking appropriate precautions against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

As one of the measures to allow the race to be safely staged, the field size on race day will be cut to 70% of its usual level, 7,000 runners, to reduce crowd density on the course. The remaining 30%, 3,000 runners, will be given entry to an online half marathon to allow them to participate ‘virtually’. Priority will be given to people who were entered in the cancelled 2020 edition. The 3km race will be cancelled in order to further reduce numbers, and all entrants in that division will have their entry fees refunded. The organising committee thanked all runners for their understanding.

Race news Fukuoka International Marathon

Yoshida crosses finish line in 2:07:05

Second-fastest time ever by a Japanese man at Fukuoka

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 11:51:00 +0000

Bedan Karoki led out the pace at 2:58/km for those chasing the national record. There was a second-group paced at 3:00/km for everyone else in the field of about 100.

Ten men went with the A-group in the early going, eight Japanese plus the debuting Cyrus Kingori and Mongolian natiojnal record-holder Ser-Od Bat-Ochir. Prominent in that group were Yoshida, now 23, and the favourite, last year’s winner Taku Fujimoto (Toyota). Fujimoto said pre-race that he was going for 2:04:50, but while his training partner Karoki never got the pace that hot it was still steadily on track for 2:05 all the way until he stepped aside at 30km.

Along the way people fell off one by one. With 10 km to go it was just Yoshida and Fujimoto, and as Yoshida applied pressure Fujimoto fell away. Yoshida looked strong the whole way but his pace slowed to just over 2:06 pace at 35km and just under 2:07 at 40km.

He needed a big finish to stay under 2:07 but although he picked it up it was less than he needed. Yoshida crossed the finish line in 2:07:05 – the second-fastest time ever by a Japanese man at Fukuoka and ninth-best Japanese time ever. His victory made it the first time Japanese men have won Fukuoka three years in a row since 1989. In his post-race interview he was as calm, mature and professional as he had been in the race, assessing his performance matter-of-factly and looking like someone with a bright road ahead of him.

Only one other runner who went with Yoshida in the A-group made it into the top ten, with the large B-group working together to stay on 2:06/2:07 pace even after the pacing stopped at 30km. Naoya Sakuda was the first to break away as he surged to run down A-group straggler Yoshiki Takenouchi, Olympic team alternate Shohei Otsuka who had fallen early in the race and bled from his left knee, and Kenyan Michael Githae were next, with Sakuda’s JR teammates Natsuki Terada and Paul Kuira pulling away from the remnants.

As they all bore down on the fading Fujimoto they overtook each other and switched order with the tides of the marathon’s final 5km, but it was Otsuka who ultimately proved the strongest, closing to within 33 seconds of Yoshida for a 2:07:38 PB in his first time going sub-2:10 and with a bloody leg to show for it. As the alternate for the Olympic team, he now has a faster PB than the top two at the Trials. Only NR holder Suguru Osako (Nike) remains faster at 2:05:29. If any of the top three don’t make it to the main event, if there is one, today Otsuka proved that he’s their equal and that the team’s level won’t suffer if he has to take over someone’s spot.

The race showed the beneficial effect of pacing in the marathon, but there’s equally a lesson on the role of ambition, fearlessness and confidence. As in the record-breaking National Track and Field Championships a day earlier, the current generation of Japanese athletes showed they have enough of all three to go around.

Race news Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon

Kandie sets new world record in half marathon

57:32 in Valencia – three others also beat previous record

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 10:38:00 +0000

Photo: BRUNO ALMELA EGIDO

Kibiwott Kandie smashed the world record (subject to ratification) in the half marathon on 6 December, clocking 57:32 at the Valencia Half Marathon.

The 24-year-old Kenyan, who finished second at the World Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland, in October, knocked 29 seconds from the previous record of 58:01 set by Geoffrey Kamworor in 2019.

The world record was the target from the outset with the leaders covering the opening 5km in 13:37 and 10km in 27:25. Kandie, who was running his fourth half marathon of the year, began to push the pace in the 14th kilometre, bringing the leaders through 15km in 41:10, with fellow Kenyan Rhonex Kipruto and Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, the reigning world champion over the distance, on his shoulder. Over the next 5km Kandie and Kiplimo took turns with the lead until the final kilometre when Kandie made his decisive move.

Besides Kandie three more men beat the previous world record: Jacob Kiplimo (57:37), Rhonex Kipruto (57:49) and Alexander Mutiso (57:59).

In the women’s race, the winner was the Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba with a time of 1:05:18, followed by Sheila Chepkirui with 1:05:39 and then the 2019 winner Senbere Teferi with 1:05:51.

Among the Spaniards, the debutant Carlos Mayo achieved the second best time in history in the half-marathon with a time of 1:00:06, lowering the time achieved by Juan Antonio ‘Chiki’ Pérez (1:01:30) last year in the Valencia Half-Marathon. In the women’s category, the first Spanish national was also the debutant José Pérez, from CA Serrano, who was the first to cross the finish line in 1:12:57.

In the marathon, Evans Chebet (KEN) broke the Valencia course record with 2:03:00, making Valencia the third fastest marathon in the world (behind Berlin and London).

Three more men ran under the previous record of the event which was last set at 2:03:51, and in doing so completed a spectacular podium. Lauwrence Cherono (2:03:04) was second, Birhanu Legese (2:03:16) third and Amos Kipruto (2:03:30). In addition, there were 30 athletes who ran under 2:10:00.

In the women’s category, Peres Jepchirchir also broke the course record with her 2:17:16; Ayad Lamdassem broke the Spanish record with 2:06:35. 61 runners achieved the Olympic qualifying times.

The women’s podium was completed by Joyceline Jepkosgei (2:18:40) and Helalia Johannes (2:19:59).

Race news Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon

International elite bet on making history in Valencia

Birhanu Legese says his goal is to break the current world marathon record – Jepchirchir “very motivated”

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 15:34:00 +0000

© 2020 Extremephoto

On Sunday, 6 December, the Marathon and and Half Marathon Valencia Trinidad Alfonso EDP Elite Edition will experience what will be the great race of 2020, but also an event that may go down in history thanks to the impressive starting list they will have, which includes the man with the third best marathon record in the history of the marathon, Birhanu Legese, or the current world record for the half-marathon in women-only races, Peres Jepchipchir.

In fact, it has been the athletes themselves who have said that they are capable of breaking the world record in both the men’s and women’s marathons. “I think it is possible to run below the world record, I will try on Sunday,” said Birhanu Legese (2:02:48) at a press conference. “I am well prepared and the circuit is good for running fast.”

In the same line, Peres Jepchirchir (2:23:50) explained that she is “in good condition to run below my personal best. I know that the team is very good, but the preparation has been very good, I am very motivated and I have run two half-marathons with good marks and that has motivated me to go for more,” she said.

In this sense, Paco Borao, director of the race, was more cautious and said that in half marathons they look for “the greatest records, those of the world”, but he recognised that in marathons “it is very complicated because they are very fast, but the objectives are the race records and why not a world record. Here in Valencia we are always prepared to break records,” he said.

In the Half Marathon Valencia Elite Edition, one of the athletes who could do this is Rhonex Kipruto, debutant in this distance but world recordman of 10K with 26:24, he said that his goal is “to run and win”. “I know Valencia very well, I know well that records are broken and my preparation has been good, so I hope that his debut is also good,” he said. Also, Senbere Teferi (1h05:32) said that she was strong and that she saw herself capable of lowering the Ethiopian record that she holds.

In his speech, Paco Borao thanked all the public administrations, CSD, Ministry of Sports and Foreign Affairs, Embassies and consular corps, as well as the Spanish Federation and World Athletics who “have helped us so, so much to bring people, especially through these difficult times and also knowing they have had a lot of work these last months.” He continued: “The race is, from a health point of view, completely safe. The athletes have passed two PCR, they sleep alone, they eat in the room… We comply 100% with the health regulations and we want to show this to everyone.”

Marc Roig, coach of the international elite of this race, said: “I would like to highlight the difficulties that the selection of the elite athletes has had this year. As there were no competitions, all the athletes in the world wanted to be in Valencia, they wanted it before, because Valencia is the city of running, but it has been painful to have to say no for reasons of capacity, but those who are here are the best in the world.”

“There are notable absences, such as Geoffrey Kamworor, who was coming but had an accident that has made it impossible for him to be here despite having done everything possible to recover, and Letesenbet Gidey, the current 5000m record holder, who cannot be here due to the very complicated situation they are experiencing in their region of Ethiopia with a war that has not allowed him to leave.”

Roig ended with a request to everyone: “I want you to believe with me that on Sunday we are not only going to see one of the best races of the year, but also one of the best in history.”

Race news Fukuoka International Marathon

Hattori drops out of Fukuoka Marathon

2018 winner was favourite

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 15:01:00 +0000

Three days before race day favourite Yuma Hattori has withdrawn from the Fukuoka International Marathon on 6 December due to pain in his right calf.

Hattori won Fukuoka in 2018 and in September last year finished 2nd at Japan’s MGC Race Olympic marathon trials to secure his place on the Olympic team. In Fukuoka this time he had planned to target the Japanese national record of 2:05:29.

Through Fukuoka organisers Hattori released the following statement: “I have been forced to withdraw from the Fukuoka International Marathon. To the race organisers, the media, and to the fans who had been looking forward to cheering me on in the race, I apologise from the heart. This setback has made me realise the difficulty of just making it to the start line of a marathon in peak condition. I believe this experience will help me grow further and succeed in my future goals. One of those will be to return to the Fukuoka International Marathon as a more mature athlete.”

Race news Fukuoka International Marathon

Around 100 to run in Fukuoka

Elite race goes ahead with Hattori hoping for Japanese record

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 16:14:00 +0000

The 74th edition of the Fukuoka International Marathon will be held in the southern Japanese port city on Sunday 6 December with a largely Japanese elite.

In contrast to almost all other marathons in summer, autumn and winter 2020, the traditional event will take place with appropriate hygiene requirements. The “Fukuoka International” has been a purely elite run since its foundation.

For the upcoming edition the qualifying time has been increased to 2:25. The current list of starters includes around 100 athletes who will all start at 12.10 local time on the track of the Heiwadai Stadium. The parallel start of a second group in Ohori Park will not take place this year. Only athletes who are on the island have been allowed to run due to the quarantining requirements. Some “foreign” top runners resident in Japan, such as the 2:05 hour runner Bedan Karoki (KEN), will set the pace (but note that Karoki is also on the start list for the Valencia Marathon to be held on the same day).

The runner with the fastest current time was Ryu Takaku (JPN), who finished 8th in the Toyko Marathon at the beginning of March – shortly before the shutdown – in 2:06:45. He has withdrawn in the last few days due to an injury.

The 2018 winner in Fukuoka Yuma Hattori (2:07:27) should be the race favourite. He has announced that if the conditions are good he will attack the national record of 2:05:29. Taku Fujimoto (JPN) ran his PB of 2:07:57 at the 2018 Chicago Marathon and last year he crossed the finish in second place in Fukuoka (2:09:36) – but due to irregularities in the biological passport of El Mahjoub Dazza (MAR) he was promoted to become the winner.

Of the registered participants 24 have best times of under 2:11 hours and 34 under 2:13.

Date changes Great Ethiopian Run 10km

Race date for Great Ethiopian Run 10km (ETH) changed

Great Ethiopian Run 10km date change

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 11:28:49 +0000

The Great Ethiopian Run 10km (ETH) will take place on Sun 10 January 2021, not Fri 1 January 2021 as previously published.

Race news Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon

Yehualaw runs second fastest women’s half marathon ever in Delhi

15 seconds short of world record

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 10:37:00 +0000

Yalemzerf Yehualaw runs second fastest women’s half marathon ever at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2020
Photo: NITESH SINHA
© ADIMAZES PVT LTD/Procam International

Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw produced a stunning run to clock the second fastest women’s time ever over the distance when she crossed the line in the Indian capital in 1:04:46.

The 21-year old, who had to settle for third at the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships last month when she slipped around 80m from the finish, bounced back to take the $27,000 first prize and an additional $10,000 as an event record bonus.

In the men’s race, the event record – with the course having been changed significantly from previous years – also fell when Amdework Walelegn outsprinted his Ethiopian compatriot and two-time defending champion Andamlak Belihu to win in 58:53, the latter coming home in 58:54 and just missing out on an unprecedented third title.

A blistering pace was set from the gun in the women’s race by the Kenyan male pacemaker Alex Kibarus and several of the elite field were quickly dropped. Six women – three Kenyans: Irene Cheptai, 2019 world marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich and marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei; and three Ethiopians: two-time defending champion and event record holder Tsehay Gemechu, world record holder Ababel Yeshaneh and Yalemzerf Yehualaw – followed Kibarus through 5km in 15:27.

World marathon record holder and recent London Marathon winner Kosgei was forced to drop out midway through the eighth kilometre, holding her leg as she limped to the side of the road. A kilometre later, Gemechu also started to suffer and lost contact with the leaders although she hung on to eventually finish fifth. Chepngetich, Cheptai, Yehualaw and Yeshaneh went through 10km together in 30:49 as a thrilling race started to take shape. Cheptai was the next to fall away, becoming detached in the 12th kilometre with the remaining trio going through 15km in 46:15.

With just 3km to go, and within the space of a few hundred metres, first Chepngetich and then Yeshaneh found themselves unable to stay with the pace. However, Yehualaw continued to follow Kibarus, and once he dropped out with two kilometres to go it was just a question of how much she would take off Gemechu’s 2019 course record of 1:06:00. In the end she improved the mark by more than a minute, with a strong run over the final quarter of the race. Yehualaw won in 1:04:46 but Chepngetich also ran the race of her life to finish in a personal best of 1:05:06 and move up to equal-sixth on the world all-time list.

“My training since the world championships told me that maybe I could break the course record as I ran 65:19 there,” said Yehualaw, “but this was more than I expected. I hoped for a win here after just losing by a second a year ago. My plan was to push hard with 2km to go. It was also very nice weather,” she added, with early morning temperatures in Delhi around 12–14 degrees Celsius.

In the men’s race three pacemakers took the field through 3km in 8:22 and 5km in 13:57 – well under 59-minute pace – with Belihu always to the fore. The main pacemaker, Uganda’s Abel Sikowo, continued to forge ahead and passed 8km 22:17 and then 10km in 27:50, with eight men still directly in the wake of Sikowo who was doing an admirable job in keeping the tempo high. Just after 12km Sikowo dropped out and Belihu, along with Kenya’s Leonard Barsoton, dictated pace at the front for the next 2km although, as he was later to admit, this might have cost the defending champion dearly in the later stages of the race. Eight men passed 15km together in 42:00. By 18km the leading group had slimmed just slightly to six: the Ethiopian quartet of Belihu, Walelegn, 2017 and 2019 world 5000m champion Muktar Edris who was making his competitive debut over the distance, Tesfahun Akalnew, Barsoton and Uganda’s Stephen Kissa.

Akalnew started to falter shortly afterwards and with 2km to go Edris and Barsoton also started to drop off the back of the group. Belihu, Walelegn and Kissa passed 20km in 55:59 and just a hundred metres later Walelegn threw down the gauntlet. However, Kissa was still full of running and darted between the two Ethiopians with 500m to go. He held the lead for the next 300m before Walelegn found another gear and passed the Ugandan as he sprinted for the line.

Walelegn finished in 58:53, the third fastest time of the year and an event record by 13 seconds as well as a personal best by 15 seconds. Belihu was just one second in arrears and Kissa two seconds further back, both men also setting personal bests. “I had a few bad patches but in the final kilometre I felt strong. I was second in Delhi in 2018 and this is a much faster course with fewer sharp turns,” commented Walelegn, reflecting on the new circuit which incorporated two 6km laps. “I have to be happy as I ran a personal best." said Belihu. “After the pacemaker dropped out I pushed the pace but I think that might have left me with less energy when we sprinted in the last kilometre.” Belihu just fell short in his bid to be the first three-time winner in Delhi. In fourth place Edris ran 59:04, the second fastest debut over the distance ever, while Avinash Sable smashed the Indian record by more than three minutes when he ran 1:00:30 in tenth place.

Date changes

Race date for IDBI Federal Life Insurance Kolkata Marathon (IND) changed

IDBI Federal Life Insurance Kolkata Marathon date change

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 16:30:30 +0000

The IDBI Federal Life Insurance Kolkata Marathon (IND) will take place on Sun 7 March 2021, not Sun 7 February 2021 as previously published.

Race news Volksbank-Münster-Marathon

Münster has a Plan B for 2021

Registration for relay marathon opens on 10 December

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 15:33:00 +0000

This year everything was different – the coronavirus has changed the world of marathon running too. The Volksbank-Münster-Marathon had to be cancelled, for the first time ever after 18 successful years. Like many other race organisations, the Münster Marathon non-profit association is faced with heavy losses.

During the period when no races could take place, however, the organising team has not been idle. On the planned marathon date a slimmed-down alternative event was organised, where runners could run – just for fun – alone or in small groups. At the same time the first plans were put in place for the next edition of the “MüMa” on 12 September 2021.

The organisation team also co-operated with the organisers of the Cologne Marathon in the umbrella group German Road Races, in which Michael Brinkmann is a committee member, to develop a hygiene concept for mass running events in Germany and to agree it with the German Athletics Association. This concept has also been shown to the state authorities in Nordrhein-Westfalen, so that it also gets political support. In addition to the general preparations for next year’s race, the organising team is also developing a “Plan B” for an coronavirus-restricted event, so that the 19th Münster Marathon can go ahead as scheduled on 12 September.

Registration has been open for the Volksbank-Münster-Marathon for some time, and the registration will start at 1pm on 10 December for the Fiducia & GAD Relay Marathon. The chairman of Fiducia & GAD, Martin Beyer, said: “The Volksbank-Münster-Marathon is not one of the oldest, but it is one of the biggest and most popular marathon events in Germany. For many years the Fiducia & GAD Relay Marathon has been an integral part. It goes without saying that we will continue our engagement – for our connection to Münster and, together with the Volksbank Münsterland Nord to do something for the people of the region. Although the race was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus, many relay teams have kept their registered places for next year. We are delighted by that and hope that the event can take place as normal.”

The organising team has already found a new slogan for 2021: “Volksbank-Münster-Marathon: Deine Best(e) Zeit” (Your Best Time).

Race news Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon

“Course records could fall” at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon

Defending champions Belihu and Gemechu confident

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 14:08:00 +0000

ADHM 2020 - (L-R) Defending champion Tsehay Gemechu (ETH),marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei (KEN), half marathon world record holder Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH)
Photo: ADIMAZES PVT LTD
© Procam International

The topic of discussion at the traditional pre-race press conference for the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on Thursday was whether the course records could be broken at this year’s World Athletics Gold Label Road Race on Sunday (29). The response was resoundingly positive from everyone.

“I have been training very well, and I was disappointed with my fifth place at the World Half Marathon Championships in Poland last month, so I am in shape and very motivated to run well here,” commented the two-time men’s defending champion Andamlak Belihu, from Ethiopia.

“Last year, I was just four seconds outside the course record (59:06 set by Ethiopia’s Guye Adola in 2014) and I think I can find the difference.”

On Sunday, Belihu will be bidding for an unprecedented third successive title in the Indian capital but the course he will cover is radically different to the one he won on in 2018 and 2019.

To comply with prevailing health-related related measures, the runners will cover around 4.5 kilometres, starting at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, and then embark on two loops of approximately six kilometres, before returning to the finish outside the stadium by the same route.

“However, with smoother corners, less undulations and with the elite runners not having to contend with mass-race participants, I believe this is a faster course than previous years,” said race director Hugh Jones.

Belihu’s compatriot Tsehay Gemechu, who revised the women’s course record when winning in both 2018 and 2019 – it currently stands at 66:00 – concurred with the comments about course records being in danger.

“I am in shape to go even faster than last year,” said Gemechu. However, the defending champion will face an even stronger set of rivals on Sunday than the two outstanding fields she defeated in the past two years.

On the start line will be Gemechu’s fellow Ethiopian and world half marathon record holder Ababel Yeshaneh.

“I am coming here looking to show what I can do after finishing fifth at the World Half. I fell there (about three kilometres from the finish) and was very frustrated, finishing in tears, because I know I was in shape to win but you just have to pick yourself up and carry on. I have brought the shape I had in Poland to Delhi,” said Yeshaneh.

This year’s Airtel Delhi Half Marathon can boast of not one but two world record holders in the women’s race. Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei stunned the world when she broke the long-standing women’s world marathon record by more than a minute at 2019 Chicago Marathon, clocking 2:14:04, with Yeshaneh a distant second on that occasion although she still ran a superb personal best of 2:20:51.

However, at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February this year Yeshaneh prevailed in a world record 64:31 with Kosgei second in 64:49. More recently, Kosgei won the London Marathon on 4 October in 2:18:58. “After London, I took 10 days off, but I have since had six weeks very good preparation for this race. I have a good record in half marathons, but I am not going to make predictions about this race as it is a very tough field. Some of the ladies may be better prepared as they competed at the World Half Marathon Championships last month,” commented Kosgei.

Date changes Moy Park Belfast City Marathon

Belfast switches Marathon event to September

Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon date change

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 12:27:00 +0000

The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon (GBR) will take place on Sun 19 September 2021, not Sun 2 May 2021 as previously published.

A half marathon event will be held on the original 2 May date. According to the organisers this arrangement is for one year only.

Running news Fukuoka International Marathon

Covid conditions give locals a chance at Fukuoka

Student’s Lake Biwa time qualifies him for elite field

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 11:46:00 +0000

Local runner Chuo Iwasa (23), until this year a student, is looking for a big improvement in his personal best at the Fukuoka Marathon on 6 December.

In the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon back in March he ran a respectable 2:19:51. “Fukuoka is an elite race,” he said. “To be honest I didn’t think I had a chance.” But in a field of 94 limited by coronavirus conditions to only Japanese residents his Lake Biwa time earned him bib number 83 and he hopes to break 2:15. “Fast times will come later,” he said. “Before anything else I just want to enjoy this one.”

Still in his first year of full-time work, it’s a challenge for him to balance his job and training but: “I’ve been able to still train six days a week. I want to show younger athletes that you can still have a career in athletics even if you’re in the workplace.”

Race news Swedbank Tallinn Marathon, Half & 10k

Tallinn launches Black Friday merch sale

Up to 70% discount

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 11:26:00 +0000

The Tallinn Marathon is offering a flash sale of running t-shirts in its online store.

Some shirts cost as little as EUR 5.

The offer is valid from 23–27 November 2020.

The order will be posted on the working day following the order. Shipping costs will be added to the order.

The shop is at iseteenindus.jooks.ee/en/e-shop

Race news Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon

Kosgei and Yeshaneh will run in Delhi

World record holders added to field for Airtel Delhi Half Marathon

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 09:15:00 +0000

Photo: Seshadri_SUKUMAR
© Seshadri_SUKUMAR/Procam International

World record holders Brigid Kosgei and Ababel Yeshaneh have been added to an already outstanding women’s field for the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on 29 November, making this race without doubt the strongest women’s field in the history of the event.

At the Chicago Marathon in October 2019, Kenya’s Kosgei stunned the world when she broke the long-standing women’s world marathon record by more than a minute, clocking 2:14:04. Yeshaneh was a distant second on that occasion but nevertheless still ran a superb personal best of 2:20:51.

However, the tables were turned at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February this year when a head-to-head contest in the final stages of the race saw Ethiopia’s Yeshaneh prevail in a world record 64:31 with Kosgei second in 64:49.

In their most recent outings last month, the 26-year-old Kosgei won the rescheduled London Marathon in 2:18:58 while the 29-year-old Yeshaneh had to contend with misfortune and fell at the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships in Poland, with just over three kilometres remaining, which took her out of medal contention although she recovered quickly to finish fifth.

The women’s race also includes Ethiopia’s women’s course record holder Tsehay Gemechu – who will both be bidding for an unprecedented third consecutive victory – Yalemzerf Yehualaw and Netsanet Gudeta.

The in-form Yehualaw finished second in the ADHM 2019 and third at the 2020 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships last month while Gudeta was the 2018 world half marathon champion.

Race news Wizz Air Sofia Marathon

Sofia Marathon winners suspended

Accused of doping contraventions

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 12:33:00 +0000

The website of Radio Bulgaria reports that both male and female winners of the Sofia Marathon have been suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for doping contraventions.

Viktoria Khapilina (UKR) and Youssef Sbaai (MAR) both set new course records of 2:27:57 and 2:13:03 respectively in the race held on 11 October.

Their suspensions are subject to confirmation by World Athletics.

Date changes Sea of Galilee Tiberias Marathon

Race date for Sea of Galilee Tiberias Marathon (ISR) changed

Sea of Galilee Tiberias Marathon date change

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:30:11 +0000

The Sea of Galilee Tiberias Marathon (ISR) will take place on Fri 10 December 2021, not Fri 1 January 2021 as previously published.

Date changes

Race date for Bagan Temple Marathon (MYA) changed

Bagan Temple Marathon date change

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 15:43:21 +0000

The Bagan Temple Marathon (MYA) will take place on Sat 27 November 2021, not Sun 21 November 2021 as previously published.

Race news Osaka Women’s Marathon

Strict conditions for Osaka Women’s Marathon

Qualifying standard tightened – Spectators asked to stay at home

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 15:28:00 +0000

The organisers of the Osaka International Women’s Marathon have announced that the race’s 40th anniversary running will take place on 31 January 2021.

Along with strict anti-coronavirus health check requirements for all participants, the field size will be limited by tightening Osaka’s usual sub-3:10 qualifying standard to sub-2:50. Fans, supporters and locals will also be asked to watch the race on TV instead of turning out to cheer along the course.

A spokesperson for the organising committee commented, “We expect the sub-2:50 qualifying time to reduce the field size from about 500 to around 100. We had originally planned to have more runners for the race, but we hope that people can understand the necessity of these restrictions. We hope that the race will show greater than ever unity in women’s marathoning and its willingness to take on the challenges leading to the Olympics.”

The domestic invited elite athlete field is scheduled to be announced in late December. The race will begin at 12:10 on 31 January 2021 starting and finishing at Osaka’s Yanmar Stadium Nagai. The half marathon usually staged alongside the marathon has been cancelled for 2021.

Date changes Jungfrau-Marathon

Race date for Jungfrau-Marathon (SUI) changed

Jungfrau-Marathon date change

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 10:36:51 +0000

The Jungfrau-Marathon (SUI) will take place on Fri 10 September 2021, not Sat 11 September 2021 as previously published.

Race news Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon

Belihu and Gemechu to defend titles in Delhi elite-only race

Men’s course record holder Adola also returns to Airtel Delhi Half Marathon

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 14:08:00 +0000

Ethiopia's Tsehay Gemechu celebrates after crossing the finish line during the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in New Delhi on Sunday. Photo Piyal Bhattacharjee

Ethiopian pair Andamlak Belihu and Tsehay Gemechu are to return to the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon to defend the titles they won in 2018 and 2019.

The Ethiopian pair will both be aiming for an unprecedented third successive victory in the Indian capital.

“I have been training well in Addis Ababa for the last couple of months and I am very thankful to have the opportunity to race in Delhi, a city I always enjoy returning to and racing in,” commented Belihu, who will turn 22 just over a week before race day.

The 16th edition of the famous Indian race – a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race and one of the world’s leading half marathons – will take place on Sunday 29 November 2020.

The ADHM 2020 men’s field includes Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris – the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships 5000m gold medallist will be making his half marathon debut – and Bahrain’s Asian half marathon record holder Abraham Cheroben.

Belihu’s compatriot Guye Adola still holds the ADHM course record with 59:06 that the latter clocked in 2014, but Belihu has gone very close in the last two years with 59:18 and a personal best 59:10 in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Last year, Tsehay Gemechu improved her own women’s course record from 2018 by no less 50 seconds when she ran a stunning personal best of 66:00. Ideally, Gemechu would like to go even faster this year but, like so many runners around the world, her training and racing this year have been hugely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID-19 is a disaster which has affected everyone’s life all over the globe and, definitely, it has affected my training, not least in the early stages of the pandemic when we were all fearful of infection. Later, my coach and I decided to take care of ourselves, taking into account all the advice from the World Health Organisation, and I started my own individual training programme with my main goal of coming back to Delhi, although since September I have had some races on the track,” reflected Gemechu, who will turn 22 in December.

The women’s race also includes Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw and Netsanet Gudeta.

The in-form Yehualaw finished second in the ADHM 2019 and third at the 2020 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships last month while Gudeta was the 2018 world half marathon champion.

The ADHM 2020 will be unlike any previous edition with an estimated 60 elite international and Indian runners in action on the Delhi roads, with the traditional start and finish still in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The event will follow the highest level of safety and hygiene standards with bio-secure zones to ensure a COVID-19 free race.

Non-elite runners of all abilities will have the chance to participate virtually from any location, running at any time between 25-29 November via the ADHM App.

Race news Türkiye İş Bankası İstanbul Marathon

Kipyokei and Sang triumph in Istanbul

Field limited to 4000 with start bursts of four runners

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 11:39:00 +0000

Diana Chemtai Kipyokei and fellow Kenyan Bernard Sang won the women’s and men’s titles at the Istanbul Marathon on 8 November in 2:22:06 and 2:11:49 respectively.

The organisers had taken anti-covid precautions to ensure runners’ safety. The start and finish area was moved to a huge open space to ensure safe distancing between runners before and after the race. The mass field, limited to 4000, was separated from the elite race with groups of four runners starting every five seconds.

The course, changed for the start and finish to both be on the European side, involved a double crossing of the Bosphorus Bridge. This resulted in many athletes, Kipyokei and Sang included, running faster in the second half than the first, in which they had to ascend to the level of the Bridge.

Four women reached halfway in 1:11:42 but soon after Kipyokei only had Hiwot Gebrekidan alongside her. They continued together for another 17km after which Kipyokei went ahead to win by a margin of more than two minutes and beat her personal best by a single second in what was the second-fastest time ever run in Istanbul.

The men’s race was headed by a pack of nine through halfway in 1:07:15 and runners dropped off the pace one by one until only three remained. Sang, who had won the Izmir Marathon just five weeks ago, kicked ahead to win in a personal best of 2:11:49 ahead of Felix Kimutai and Hailu Zewde.

Race news Nagano Marathon

Nagano plans to run event on scheduled date in April

Limited to 8000 participants, no foreign runners

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 11:35:00 +0000

The 23rd Nagano Marathon will go ahead as scheduled on 18 April 2021, employing trial coronavirus countermeasures, writes the Nagano Marathon Organizing Committee.

To comply with government directives on crowd density the field will be limited to 8000 participants. First-come first-served priority will be given to runners who entered the cancelled 22nd edition of the race. All entrants are asked to monitor their health closely and to stay home if they feel unwell in the time leading up to the race. This event cannot be held without the help and cooperation of every participant in the field in making sure it goes off smoothly. Thank you for your understanding.

We are sorry to inform you that the Nagano Marathon Organizing Committee will not accept foreign entries for the 23rd Nagano Marathon, considering that the future for the relaxation of immigration restrictions is uncertain due to COVID-19. We sincerely apologize to those who were looking forward to the race. Priority entry for foreign runners entered in the 22nd Nagano Marathon’s priority will be carried forward to the 24th Nagano Marathon.

Race news Athens Marathon. The Authentic

Athens introduces virtual race medal

Special striking for virtual event

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 15:27:00 +0000

In 2019 the Hellenic Athletics Federation introduced a new medal series for the Athens Marathon The Authentic with the first medal of the series, dedicated to the history and evolution of the Marathon movement.

That first medal was signed by Alekos Fasianos, the world famous Greek artist who depicted the Battle of Marathon (490 BC) on the back side of the medal. One of the eight letters of the word “MARATHON” is highlighted on the medal each year, so that the entire word is formed by the end of this series.

The medal of the 2020 Athens Marathon was to have been dedicated to the “Imerodromos”, the soldier that carried the message of victory from the battlefield to Athens, and it would have been the offering of another world-renowned Greek artist, Kostas Varotsos.

Due to the covid-19 pandemic the 2020 Athens Marathon has been replaced by a virtual event being held from 8–22 November.

Those participating in the 2020 Virtual Athens Marathon will receive a different medal exclusively produced for this virtual event, so that the second medal of the historical medal series will be received by participants in the 2021 event.

Race news Eva Air Marathon

EVA Air Half plans for full marathon in 2021

Success of half marathon events leads to expansion

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 12:29:00 +0000

The 2020 EVA Air Half Marathon on October 25 attracted 20,000 runners registered for three categories, the half marathon (21.0975 km), 10 km and 3 km races. The number of participants was especially significant in the face of COVID-19 border restrictions.

The event gave runners the opportunity to enjoy some of Taipei’s most scenic cityscapes on a route winding from Ketagalan Boulevard to Dajia Riverside Park beside the Keelung River. In compliance with CECC (Central Epidemic Command Center) guidelines, organizers required all participants to get temperature checks before they entered the venue and wear masks except when they were running.

As an appreciation to all runners for their participation, EVA hosted a lucky draw for the event with economy class tickets for 10 of its international flights and 20 UNI Air domestic trips. Other sponsors also prepared exclusive gifts for the participants.

EVA is upgrading the event to a full marathon in 2021 after hosting three consecutive years of successful half marathons. The airline is making every effort to ensure that its half marathon and, next year, its marathon are professional, international events. EVA’s objective is to give more runners from around the world opportunities to become acquainted with Taipei’s beauty.

Race news Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Marathon

14,000 run in Auckland

Jones and Mason reach fastest marathon times

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 11:41:00 +0000

Conditions dawned near perfect on the morning of 1 November for the 2020 ASB Auckland Marathon and the 14,000 participants. The wheelchair categories first to head away from Devonport at 05.55 followed five minutes later by the ASB Marathon competitors.

In a year without precedent around the globe, this was a day of celebration as thousands of Kiwis took to the Auckland streets in the five different races on offer, with young and old, fast and not so fast running it their way, many as part of the Charity Superstar Programme raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and delighting in the chance to run across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Daniel Jones won for the first time in Auckland. The 30-year-old headed to Kenya earlier this year for a five-week training camp which thanks to the global pandemic turned into a five month stay at altitude. The Wellington Scottish runner put that work to good use as he won by almost five minutes, after having finished as runner-up in 2018.

“It is a pity we don’t have internationals here but it is amazing to get that win" said Jones. We are one of the lucky countries where racing is underway. It is an awesome turnout, I think I can speak on behalf of everyone when I say it is just good to be breathing hard again!”

In the women’s marathon three-time defending New Zealand champion Alice Mason made no race of it, settling into a strong rhythm amongst the men and going through the 10k mark in tenth overall. Thereafter she found herself all alone throughout the 42km distance.

“It got a bit lonely, but it was alright," said Mason. “I haven’t raced here before and the first 15 or 16k is undulating, but after that it was pretty nice running.”

In the Half Marathon Olympian Camille Buscomb took the women’s race while Cameron Graves smashed his way to a new race record of 1:05:24 in winning the men’s. Buscomb described conditions that in the end proved challenging as the temperatures warmed up on course. She won by almost five minutes.

Race news Türkiye İş Bankası İstanbul Marathon

Istanbul Marathon to go ahead on tailored anti-COVID course

4000 runners will compete on ‘pandemic special’ route

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 11:33:00 +0000

While many major marathons in 2020 were cancelled or only for elite athletes, Istanbul Marathon meticulously completed all the preparations for the 42nd edition.

The outcome was a decision to run the N Kolay 42nd Istanbul Marathon on 8 November with only 4000 42k runners on a “pandemic special” course.

Instead of the usual course that started with an intercontinental run on the 15th of July Martyrs Bridge on the Anatolian (Asian) side, this year it starts from the Yenikapı Event Area, which allows all participants to take full health and hygiene measures.

The 42K runners start in Yenikapı for the first time this year and tour the Historical Peninsula. After Dolmabahçe and Beşiktaş Barbaros Boulevard they cross the Bosporus from Europe to Asia and then back from Asia to Europe in the event’s first-ever double crossing.

Virtual races are being staged in parallel with the physical event.

Race news TCS New York City Marathon

Star line-up for virtual NYC marathon

Over 28,000 registered participants

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 16:04:00 +0000

© New York Road Runners

1 November was the final day of the Virtual TCS New York City Marathon and the originally scheduled date of the in-person marathon.

Runners from locations all over the world participated including thousands hitting the streets of New York. Throughout the virtual event window, from 17 October – 1 November, more than 28,000 runners registered to be part of the global virtual event.

Top professional athletes, Olympians, Paralympians, celebrities, charity runners, and runners of all ages and abilities took part. The virtual marathon’s all-star lineup included running champions Des Linden, Deena Kastor, Meb Keflezighi, Tatyana McFadden, Daniel Romanchuk, Stephanie Bruce, and Emily Sisson. Renowned TV personalities Amy Robach and Willie Geist, as well as former professional athletes Tiki Barber and James Blake, all ran to support charities and impactful causes.

As part of the virtual marathon runners chart their own marathon courses. To capture the feeling of running the TCS New York City Marathon’s iconic course many runners finished at the official finish line in Central Park. New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio celebrated and greeted runners as they completed their 26.2-mile accomplishment.

Race news

Lake Biwa plans to go ahead in February

Tentative date depends on COVID situation

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 13:56:00 +0000

With race after race cancelling or postponing, the organizers of the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon announced plans for next year’s 76th running to go ahead on 28 February 2021.

This is a week earlier than its traditional date due to the Tokyo Marathon’s move to March. The planned date comes with the caveat that, “depending on the future situation with regard to COVID-19, there may be changes to the race’s operation, including the possibility of cancellation.”

That said, it looks like the organisers plan no additional restrictions on their event’s field beyond the normal qualifying times and requirement for national federation approval. In the past that has typically meant a field of under 200 finishers from Japan and abroad. For the domestic field, with no Beppu-Oita or Tokyo Marathon, there’s sure to be record depth. as between the three races this year 29 men went sub-2:10 and 50 sub-2:12.

For international men, if it actually happens, Lake Biwa will be one of the only elite spring marathons in the world. In contrast to the 2020 Fukuoka International Marathon and 2021 Nagoya Women’s Marathon, both of which restricted their fields to those already in Japan, Lake Biwa appears to be open to any internationals who meet the standards, have federation approval, and are willing to make the trip.

At the moment immigration restrictions would prevent that from being an easy option for most nationalities, but as it works on its athlete COVID protocols for the Tokyo Olympics it’s quite possible that changes to Japan’s policies could open the door to a legitimate international field at Lake Biwa. With the race’s application deadline standing at 31 December there’s just two months for those changes to happen one way or the other.

Race news B.A.A. Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon will not take place before autumn 2021

No date set yet for coming year

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 13:08:00 +0000

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that the 125th Boston Marathon, traditionally held on the third Monday in April – Patriots’ Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – will be postponed until at least the fall of 2021.

The B.A.A., which has been meeting regularly with its COVID-19 Medical & Event Operations Advisory Group to determine when and how the Boston Marathon can be held again, will begin working with local, city, and state officials, sponsors, organizing committee members, and other stakeholders to determine if a fall 2021 date is feasible.

“With fewer than six months until Patriots’ Day and with road races prohibited until Phase 4 of the Massachusetts reopening plan, we are unable to host the Boston Marathon this coming April,” said Tom Grilk, C.E.O. of the B.A.A. “By shifting our focus to a fall date, we can continue to work with stakeholders to adjust the in-person experience for runners and supporters alike. Prioritizing the safety of participants, volunteers, spectators, and community members, we continue to assess all elements of the race including a potential reduced field size or weekend date.”

No 2021 date has been selected, however, the B.A.A. will work with local, city, and state officials and members of its COVID-19 Medical & Event Operations Advisory Group to establish under what conditions the next live, in-person Boston Marathon can occur. Before the end of the year, the B.A.A. seeks to announce a new date. Other details such as when registration may open and the field size, pending local regulations and the event plan, will also be forthcoming. Information regarding other 2021 B.A.A. events, including the B.A.A. 5K, B.A.A. 10K, and B.A.A. Half Marathon, will be announced at a later date.

“We are optimistic that the Boston Marathon will continue its tradition of celebrating the spirit of community and athletic excellence next fall. We know there will be many questions and we will look to address them in the coming months ahead,” Grilk said.

The 2020 Boston Marathon, originally scheduled for April 20, was held as a ten-day Virtual Experience after being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Date changes BMW Helsinki Half Marathon

Race date for Helsinki Half Marathon (FIN) changed

Helsinki Half Marathon date change

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 14:32:49 +0000

The Helsinki Half Marathon (FIN) will take place on Sat 12 June 2021, not Sat 5 June 2021 as previously published.

Running news Fukuoka International Marathon

Fukuoka announces reduced elite field

Almost entirely local athletes as fewer than 100 run

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 10:53:00 +0000

The Fukuoka International Marathon, scheduled for 6 December, has announced an almost entirely domestic field of less than 100 which includes only five Japan-based foreign-born athletes plus an all-Japan-based Kenyan pacing crew led by Bedan Karoki.

Included are Ryu Takaku (2:06:45 in Tokyo this year), 2018 Fukuoka winner Yuma Hattori and Taku Fujimoto who was bumped up to become the 2019 Fukuoka winner after the subsequent suspension of the Moroccan who crossed the line first for biological passport violations. In all the field includes 11 current sub-2:10 men and seven of last year’s top ten. Hattori has said publicly that he’ll be going for Suguru Osako’s 2:05:29 national record. With pacing support from teammates Karoki and Fujimoto, his former Toyo University teammate Takaku there with him, and no dirty athletes to effortlessly tear him in half at the end, if the weather is good his chances will be too.

Shizuoka-based Kenyan Michael Githae is the top international in the field with a best of 2:09:21 from Lake Biwa in 2018, but sub-60 half marathoner Paul Kuira still hasthe potential to improve on his 2:11:58 best, and likewise for former Takushoku University ekiden team captain Derese Workneh. Workneh’s teammate Cyrus looks promising in his debut with a 1:01:31 for 4th at last year’s Gifu Seiryu Half.

A name to look out for in the Japanese field is Taiki Suzuki, 9th last year in 2:12:09 in his marathon debut. Yuya Yoshida can build on his inspiring but at-the-time-career-ending 2:08:30 debut at Beppu-Oita this year. Shohei Otsuka may also have more in him than his 2:10:12 best from Beppu-Oita two years ago.

Race news Mainova Frankfurt Marathon

Over 4500 run in Frankfurt Marathon virtual event

Runners from 56 nations – Over 700 registrations already received for next year

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 14:49:00 +0000

Photo: Mainova Frankfurt Marathon
© Mainova Frankfurt Marathon

For many runners the last Sunday of October is traditionally reserved for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon.

Even when there is only a virtual race due to the pandemic. A total of 4674 participants took part, 1680 of them women – and from all over the world.

The numbers show the significance of the oldest German city marathon: Runners from 56 nations took part: 11 per cent of all participants. The English were most enthusiastic with 52 runners, as were the Italians and Poles – 46 runners each – and athletes from Kenya, Peru, Afghanistan and China pulled on their running shoes too.

1084 Frankfurt residents themselves ran the marathon distance, 1700 ran the half while 1208 runners tackled the 10km and 682 5km. Each runner alone, but somehow still together. The hashtag #runtheskylineathome united the participants and it didn’t matter who ran the fastest.

Race director Jo Schindler called it “overwhelming”, how many runners have already registered for the autumn marathon in Frankfurt in 2021. Over 850 signed up in the first 24 hours after registrations opened. “We have never yet had so many registrations the day after the race. That gives us great support for our efforts to bring back a great marathon and street festival on 31st October 2021. It is terrific to see how loyal and vibrant our Frankfurt Marathon community is even in times of crisis. That is a great inspiration and motivation for the year ahead,” said Schindler.

Race news Lausanne Marathon

Lausanne succumbs to coronavirus resurgence

Renewed increase in cases forces cancellation

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 10:10:00 +0000

Lausanne Marathon 2019, 27 October 2019. Leading peloton of the 2019 marathoners.
Photo: Jean-Bernard Sieber
© Agence de presse ARC

There will be no Lausanne Marathon in 2020.

Faced with the resurgence of coronavirus cases, the Lausanne Marathon committee, in consultation and in agreement with the Department of Economy, Innovation and Sport of the Canton of Vaud, is forced to cancel the race of this Sunday.

A “covid-compatible” race had been planned limited to fewer than 1,000 runners, with a strict health policy to ensure the health of runners and volunteers, but the evolution of the public health situation does not allow the event to continue.

The Lausanne Marathon committee said “Our thoughts are with the marathoners who have
prepared for months for this deadline that we were keen to offer them. They go
also to our faithful volunteers who were in a hurry to bring this edition to life, and to our sponsors and partners.”

Race news Lago Maggiore Marathon - 33 KM - Half Marathon - 10 KM

Lago Maggiore Marathon is cancelled

Organisers: “Our dreams of the last three months are not to be”

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 12:46:00 +0000

Sport PRO-MOTION A.S.D., the organiser of the Lake Maggiore Marathon, has announced that the event on Sunday 1 November 2020 is cancelled, due to the strong resurgence of the Covid-19 health emergency.

The decision was unanimously taken this morning by the local institutions and municipalities involved (Verbania-Baveno-Stresa), having noted the sharp increase in infections from Covid-19 that the area is currently experiencing. For public health reasons, it was decided that the conditions for the event no longer exist.

“While remaining optimistic in life and for the future, we are devastated and deeply sorry for what is happening,” said Paolo Ottone, President of Sport PRO-MOTION A.S.D. “We believed in the race until the meeting this morning with the authorities. All the organising staff have been working hard in recent months, without ever underestimating the Covid19 problem, indeed making it the priority of every operational plan implemented to be able to organize the SPORTWAY Lago Maggiore Marathon in safety, based on current government regulations and the Fidal protocol that we would have respected to the letter.”

“As always, we worked with great enthusiasm and ability,” continued Ottone, “We demonstrated this by changing the route originally planned from Arona to Verbania just three weeks ago due to the collapse of a section of the SS33 just outside Arona. We also demonstrated on that occasion that we do not lose heart, but immediately find a solution. We can only take note of the decision and start to prepare for 2021 – from Arona to Verbania, on the most scenic route in Italy.”

Sport PRO-MOTION A.S.D. announced that in the next few days each registered participant will be notified of how to transfer their registration fee to the 10th SPORTWAY Lago Maggiore Marathon to be held on Sunday 7 November 2021.

Race news Mainova Frankfurt Marathon

Frankfurt Marathon continues partnership with Mainova

Contract extended until 2024

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 11:48:00 +0000

The Mainova corporation and the Frankfurt Marathon have announced they will continue their sponsorship agreement until 2024. The regional energy supplier has been title sponsor of the oldest German city marathon since 2016.

After the cancellation of the mass marathon this year due to coronavirus – a virtual race will take place on the scheduled date – Mainova will remain a partner of the classic race on the River Main for at least four more editions.

Race director Jo Schindler said: “It is a welcome and significant signal that Mainova is standing by us for the long term. In times such as these, where in many cases sport sponsorship is being reduced and some race organisers worry whether they can continue, such support should not be taken for granted. The extension of our cooperation gives us the security we need to be able to plan a wonderful marathon in the years ahead.”

Mainova is the biggest energy provider in the federal state of Hessen and supplies electricity, gas and water to more than a million people.

The 39th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon will take place on 31 October 2021.

Race news Zagreb Marathon & Half

Virtual Zagreb race held

On traditional Zagreb Marathon weekend

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 10:30:00 +0000

Due to the deteriorating epidemiological situation in Croatia, the organisers were forced to make a difficult decision and cancel this year’s Zagreb Marathon for the first time in the history of the Croatian state, just three weeks before it was scheduled to take place.

Despite the short deadline, the desire to mark the traditional date of the running festival in Zagreb on the second weekend of October triumphed and the Virtual Zagreb Marathon 2020 was organised, which took place over two days, October 10 and 11, 2020.

Three races could apply: virtual Garmin 10K, half marathon and marathon. The runners, our participants, who had been preparing for many months, were still able to test their abilities and form through an individual performance. All the results were collected, processed and the order was published on the race website.

The winners of the marathon race were Zvonimir Vlahović with a score of 3:18:33 and Marija Simeonov with a score of 4:31:11. In the half marathon, the first place in the men’s competition was taken by Marin Desnica in 1:27:38 and in the women’s marathon by Nikolina Petričavić with 1:52:21. The virtual Garmin 10 K also has winners and these are Tea Faber for 37:12 and Igor Mikuš for 46:02. The winners also received valuable prizes that are not only virtual, but also gifts from the partners of the Zagreb Marathon, Intersport H d.o.o., Garmin Hrvatska and Gaz Nutrition. All other participants will receive a unique T-shirt of the Virtual Zagreb Marathon on their address, as a sign of remembrance and this year marked by unique events.

Race organisers said: “Although we are aware that it is certainly not the same as when you hear the starting gun, and in difficult moments during the race you have a lot of support along the track and in competition, we are glad that real athletes did not lose motivation to achieve their goals. Now we are left to look forward to 2021 and hope that this year will be an exception. We are already planning the 29th Zagreb Marathon, October 10, 2021, which will be marked by the joy and satisfaction of many participants, as befits an event like this.”

Date changes Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon

Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (IND) postponed

Mass-participation event cancelled

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 11:39:00 +0000

The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (IND) will take place on Sun 29 November 2020, not Sun 18 October 2020 as previously published.

The event will be held with elite runners only.

Running news

2017 London Marathon winner doping ban confirmed

AIU: “no physiological explanation” for high haemoglobin concentration

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 09:28:00 +0000

Daniel Wanjiru, winner of the 2017 London Marathon, was provisionally suspended in April but has now had his ban confirmed by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) until 8 December 2023.

Wanjiru’s agent is considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, claiming that “no prohibited substance has ever been found and we believe that Daniel is innocent.”

The AIU’s finding was that Wanjiru’s high levels of red blood cells had no “physiological explanation”. He was tested 16 times between April 2017 and 2019 but in his 14th test – on 9 March 2019 – he showed elevated levels of haemoglobin concentration which according to AIU “could not be explained by any other cause than blood manipulation” and that it was “highly likely” a banned substance or method had been used.

Race news Comtrade Belgrade Marathon

Permission refused for Belgrade Marathon

Dejan Nikolic reports disappointment from Belgrade

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 11:46:00 +0000

File photo

Unfortunately the 33rd Belgrade Marathon, scheduled for 18 October 2020, will not be run as a physical event.

We did not get permission from the Serbian Health authorities to go ahead. It was judged as an increased risk – even with all measures we were ready to implement and adjust.

Instead of 25,000 participants in three running events we were ready to go ahead with 4000 people or less and not to hold the Fun run and many other accompanying smaller social events. Of course, we had planned the starts in many waves and so on and so on… but in vain.

On the other hand I went to Budapest and saw that they were lucky enough to get the permission to put the race on – in exactly the same way as we had planned to organise our Belgrade marathon. There was good weather in Budapest too, and the success was complete in those circumstances.

The irony is that the Covid19 situation in Hungary is much worse than in Serbia – but we must now just have a virtual 33rd Belgrade marathon.

We were denied permission on the third time of asking, just two weeks before the race. We had hopes that something would change in positive way for us – but it did not happen. We had made a detailed plan which was entirely comprehensive and coherent with the measures already in place for all kind of gatherings, inside or outside.

Another irony is that in Serbia it is not allowed for more than 30 people to gather together outside, but up to 500 people are allowed to do so in cinemas or theatres. We had thought that if Budapest and Sofia were going ahead – two capital cities of two neighbouring countries both less than 400km away – then we could go ahead as well. We were wrong.

Race news SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne

Lucerne tells Covid: “YesWeRun”

10 runs in 10 Swiss locations planned

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 11:41:00 +0000

After cancellation of their flagship event, originally scheduled for 25 October, the Swiss City Marathon Lucerne organisers put together the “YesWeRun” series for September/October with their partners Coop, ASICS, Emmi, Generali, Lucerne Cantonal Hospital and MSD.

The series comprises:

· 10 small running events organised by the SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne.

· 10 different locations in German-speaking Switzerland.

· attractive short distances (4.2–6km) with time measurement.

The first six such events were held in September and showed that events can be held if the protection conditions are met – Corona-compliant events do work! So far the corona-related adjustments have met with a great deal of understanding among athletes. The athletic performance was also not affected. The joy of their own performance could be seen on everyone at the finish. Thanks to a simple setting, the limitation of the number of participants, the free choice of the start time and the contact tracing of all participants and helpers, the events meet the framework conditions specified by the Federal Council and the BAG. The protection concept was developed in accordance with the applicable requirements and is based on the framework concept of Swiss Runners.

Thanks to the Virtual Challenge from 24-25 October, the SwissCityMarathon community will also be encouraged to run at home. Thus, despite the cancellation of the major event in 2020, the athletes can enjoy a real “marathon week”.

The remaining four “YesWeRun” events will be run in the Zug and Lucerne region, the first of which will take place on Tuesday 20 October in Cham (ZG). Runs will then follow on 21–23 October on the Alpenquai in Lucerne, around the Rotsee and in the Horw community. Here, the runners have additional starting options over the distances of 4.4–6.3km. You can register online at www.yeswerun.ch

Race news SPAR Budapest Marathon

Swedish runner completes 500th marathon virtually

In Budapest in spirit on 70th birthday

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 10:31:00 +0000

The Swedish runner Jan Paraniak had been preparing for the last two years to run his 500th marathon in Budapest on 11 October, on his 70th birthday.

The 35th SPAR Budapest Marathon would have been the 20th time he had run this race. But of course, Covid put paid to attending in person.

The race organisation had offered a ‘virtual’ SPAR Budapest Marathon in parallel for those who couldn’t attend the physical event due to the closure of the Hungarian border. Jan registered himself for this along with 18 fellow Swedish runners. Jan had been assigned the special race number “500” alluding to his achievement and as a token of appreciation.

He designed his own course for the race in Huddinge, Sweden, and started at the same time as the field of the 35th SPAR Budapest Marathon set off. Jan added flavour to his event by preparing Hungarian goulash and offering the Hungarian alcoholic tonic Unicum to the finishers.

Race news Victoria Falls Marathon

Victoria Falls goes virtual

Real-time Remote Racing™ promises closest link yet to original route

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 14:04:00 +0000

Victoria Falls Marathon race director John Addison writes:
We have decided to do this year’s event on 13 December as VIRTUAL.

Thanks to the amazing new features of the SportSplits Tracker app with REAL-TIME REMOTE RACING™, you can #RunVicFalls the virtual way from anywhere in the world.

This is absolutely incredible technology. It’s in real time, on the same route as the real event, with all the key points coming up on your phone as you pass them: the Bridge, the Zambezi River, the Big Tree etc.

Race news Wizz Air Sofia Marathon

424 run in Sofia

Khapilina and Sbaai triumph

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 10:28:00 +0000

The Wizz Air Sofia Marathon was run on 11 October with 2443 starters and 2355 finishers over all three distances (Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km). Viktoriya Khapilina (UKR) and Youssef Sbaai (MAR) finished first out of the 78 women and 346 men who started the Marathon.

Naom Jebet and two others reached halfway in 1:14:13 – well inside the course record of 2:32:35 – but by 30km the pair were 51 seconds ahead of the rest. Jebet fell away in the closing stages as the Ukrainian went on to win in 2:27:57, taking six seconds off the PB she set when winning the Krakow Marathon last year. The top three women all finished inside the previous course record.

In the men’s race Youssef Sbaai and Radouan Nouini were given the same time with Sbaai given the verdict. Six men went through halfway in 1:06:46 but as the pace increased the Moroccan duo only had Mohamed Ali of the Netherlands for company – but by 30km he too had been dropped. Sbaai and Nouini forged ahead in the last 10km and were still locked together as they both crossed the finish line in 2:13:03.

Race news Košice Peace Marathon

Local heroes seize their chances

200 run in Košice on revised course

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 10:19:00 +0000

The oldest marathon in Europe, the 97th edition of International Peace Marathon in Košice, was staged despite all pandemic restrictions in Slovakia.

Organisers accepted 200 runners for the marathon, other events were cancelled. They also changed the two-lap city course to smaller 4.2 km course which was run ten times in the city centre.

The only foreign participant, Czech sub 2:40 runner Petra Pastorová (44) won the women’s category in 2:52:11. She was only the second Czech women’s winner since 1993. Second, the Slovak Sylvia Sebestian (43) won her fifth national title in a time of 3:04:28. Spectators around the course (also under restrictions) saw Marek Hladik win his first national title and become the first Slovak winner in 21 years. In total 187 runners started and 179 finished.

Race news

Novi Sad Marathon held in miniature

20 runners cover course distance

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:03:00 +0000

A delayed race was held on 11 October over a two-lap course with 20 runners from Novi Sad taking part, all of whom had run for several years in previous editions.

The number of runners was limited due to the measures in force and everything was organised in accordance with the measures prescribed by the authorities.

The event was covered by Radio Television of Vojvodina.

The 10km and 5km race, which had been planned for Sunday 13 September, had to be cancelled because a ban on gathering more than 30 people at sports events on the territory of Novi Sad was in force.

Race news Vienna City Marathon

Worldwide anniversary race of Kipchoge’s sub two hour time

Runners in Prater Park, Vienna and worldwide try to run as far as possible in 1:59:40

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +0000

12.10.2019 Wien
Photo: Leo Hagen
© VCM/Leo HAGEN

The Vienna City Marathon will celebrate the first anniversary of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge and Eliud Kipchoge’s historic marathon in Vienna during this weekend and on Monday.

The Kenyan became the first athlete to break the two hour marathon barrier a year ago in Vienna. He clocked 1:59:40.2 on the Prater Hauptallee on 12th October 2019.

The Vienna City Marathon (VCM) will organize the “VCM Tribute to Eliud Race” on Monday, 12 October. The challenge is to cover as much distance as possible during a set time of 1:59:40.2. There will be two separate races during the afternoon and in early evening in the Prater Park, the venue of Kipchoge’s unique race. While these races are almost sold out, runners all over the world have the opportunity to participate in a virtual event which runs from Saturday until Monday.

You can run or walk for 1:59:40.2 with family, friends or alone wherever you are. Whether it is a half marathon or an even longer distance, you can track your activity and upload your distance with a GPS sports watch or a running app. The challenge ends on Monday at 8.30 pm (Central European Time). At this time you will need to have entered the distance you have covered. Please follow your local Covid-19 rules when you choose the location of your race.

By taking part in the “VCM Tribute to Eliud Race” runners will support a VCM charity project. The organizers support the running and health initiative “The Daily Mile Austria“, which is active in primary schools and kindergardens. Runners who enter the virtual race will receive an individual start number with their name and the signature of Eliud Kipchoge to download and print. They will also receive a certificate with a signature of Eliud Kipchoge to download and print. While they will be included in the results list of the “Tribute to Eliud – Global Race“ they also become part of the “Tribute to Eliud“ community.

Next year’s Vienna City Marathon will take place on 12 September.

Race news Tokyo Marathon

Tokyo shifts to October

Both elite and mass races to be held

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 11:47:00 +0000

As widely expected, next year’s Tokyo Marathon has been postponed.

The Tokyo Marathon 2021 will be held on Sunday 17 October 2021, and deliver elite and mass races together in the original field size.

To create momentum leading up to the Tokyo Marathon 2021 related events will be held in early March 2021 (over about a week around 7 March). Events will include a virtual marathon for global participation as well as running events within Tokyo.

Details will be announced in December 2020.

Future Schedule (provisional)

December 2020: Announcing Tokyo Marathon 2021-related event details

January 2021: Entry deferral selection (2021 or 2022) by the registered runners of the Tokyo Marathon 2020 (excluding elite athletes)

March 2021: Launching Tokyo Marathon 2021-related events (surrounding March 7)

Announcing race information for Tokyo Marathon 2021

17 October 2021: Tokyo Marathon 2021

Race news

Cape Town: a new virtuality

Organisers promise to “take Cape Town to the world”

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 15:40:00 +0000

The Sanlam Cape Town Virtual Marathon, taking place Sunday, 18 October may not feature spectators, roadside bands and the general spirit the event’s official race app will make up for it in leaps and bounds.

“When we say that we’re taking Cape Town to the world, we mean it,” says Sanlam Cape Town Virtual Marathon General Manager Barry van Blerk. “From the start ceremony and the city’s iconic landmarks, to the cheers and vibe… it’s all neatly packaged in what is undoubtedly the most advanced virtual event app in running right now.”

Sydney Mbhele, Chief Executive of Sanlam Brand says: “This is Sanlam’s seventh year as headline sponsor and we’ve seen the race grow from strength to strength. Despite what the world is going through, the marathon is going ahead and is still able to make a positive impact on the lives of so many – both the runners and the organisations that benefit from the proceeds of the race.

“While participants in the Sanlam Cape Town Virtual Marathon, Half Marathon and Peace Runs run along their favourite routes – whether chosen for scenery, the ability to smash a personal best, or the best coffee shops along the way – SA’s top athletes will go head to head on three pre-designed marathon routes in Cape Town, Pretoria and Potchefstroom.

“The Elite Invitational will comprise the best field seen in the marathon, with top names like Stephen Mokoka, Bongmusa Mthembu, Charne Bosman and Ann Ashworth. It will be broadcast on SABC 2 between 06.00 and 09.30 on 18 October – the first time that a virtual marathon is broadcast live on TV.”

Race Director, Renee Jordaan adds: “Camera crews will follow the elite Invitational race on the three respective routes while the broadcast itself will also include a host of human interest stories and virtual race updates from across the globe. We have been working closely with the SABC team, and look forward to a live broadcast production as unique as the virtual event itself.”

Says the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, “We are excited to have runners from across the world experience Cape Town through the power of technology. This is more than just a standard virtual race; it is a true hybrid event that marries technology with a thrilling sensory experience.”

Participants will be required to run with the Sanlam Cape Town Virtual Marathon app, which will track their progress and final results on the global leaderboard. Runners the world over have already started downloading the app and doing their demo runs to complete their phone set-up, with some calling it “the best virtual run experience so far.”

Runners can be a part of it by entering the marathon, half marathon, or 10km / 5km Peace Runs at www.capetownmarathon.com. Entries close on 11 October.

Race news Lago Maggiore Marathon - 33 KM - Half Marathon - 10 KM

Change of course for Lago Maggiore

Subsidence forces alteration to original race route

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 07:18:00 +0000

The Lago Maggiore Marathon in Northern Italy, one of the few races due to go ahead in the coming weeks, has had more obstructions to contend with than just the coronavirus.

With less than a month to go before the race on 1 November, the race organisers had to change course, quite literally, because of lakeside road subsidence blocking the intended route.

The race is due to go ahead, with an amended course, on the planned date with 800 runners in both the Marathon and the Half Marathon and 500 in the 33km race.

Race news Tokyo Marathon

Tokyo “will be run in autumn 2021 with full field”

Announcement expected on Friday

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 09:36:00 +0000

An involved source reports that the 2021 Tokyo Marathon, previously scheduled for 7 March, has been moved to an autumn date next year with a full field size of 38,000.

The postponement is a result of the ongoing coronavirus crisis but the organisers do not plan to reduce the size of the event. The decision has been approved by the board of directors of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation and a formal announcement is expected to be made on 9 October.

The move puts the 2021 Tokyo Marathon in the aftermath of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. According to the source, the original March date was seen as simply not feasible given the current status of the coronavirus crisis. The move will allow the race to be held without a reduction in the number of participants. The Foundation was keen not to reduce the field for a second-straight year. One consequence of the coronavirus crisis has been a reduction in the event’s income from sponsors.

This year’s Tokyo Marathon in March was held as an elite-only competition as the mass-participation race was cancelled just two weeks beforehand, with entrants given the option of shifting their entries to either 2021 or 2022. Since then, marathons and road races all across the country have cancelled, announced one-year postponements, or scaled down the size of their events. As the largest marathon in Japan an announcement that Tokyo plans to go ahead with a full field may help to slow down this domino effect.

The Foundation originally planned to make a final decision about next year’s race by August of this year. That decision was delayed in order to make it possible to make a decision informed by the latest government policies regarding public events. Government policies currently call for events to reduce the maximum number of people present by 50% through the end of November, with the subsequent level still under study. Based upon that timeline and its impact on preparations the Tokyo Marathon organizers decided the planned spring date was not feasible. Foundation spokespeople had previously said that they were examining all options but did not plan to hold another elite-only race.

Race news Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon and We Are Houston 5K

Houston goes virtual in 2021

Participants will have various registration options including ‘unique’ virtual experience

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 08:46:00 +0000

In response to the ongoing public health concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Houston Marathon Committee (HMC) announced today that the 49th annual Chevron Houston Marathon and 20th annual Aramco Houston Half Marathon will be held as part of the 2021 Virtual Houston Marathon Running Events.

“The decision to cancel the 2021 Chevron Houston Marathon is incredibly disappointing for everyone, but it is the right course to follow because of the pandemic,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “I know thousands of people from all over the world have trained for this race all year, and they were looking forward to qualifying for other races or beating their personal bests. They can still do that virtually. While the experience may not be the same, know that Houston will be cheering for the participants’ every mile. We are a resilient city, and we are proud of the Houston Marathon.”

The Houston Marathon Committee has been working closely with city and state officials over the past months to align preparations with current guidelines and any foreseeable future framework that may be in place at the time of the event. After thorough review and discussion, HMC in conjunction with these partners have determined to make the difficult decision to transition the traditional in-person events to virtual at this time.

“At this time, we recognize that there are many unknowns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, but the safety and well-being of our runners, volunteers, partners, spectators and local Houston community will always be our top priority,” said Wade Morehead, Executive Director of the Houston Marathon Committee. “While we are unable to celebrate the 2021 event together in the heart of Downtown Houston, we will be cheering for our runners around the world as they participate in a unique virtual race experience, embracing the incredible spirit of our RunHOU community.”

All participants who are currently registered for the 2021 event will be able to opt for the unique 2021 virtual race experience which includes a discounted registration for the Chevron Houston Marathon 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2022; defer their entry to one of the following two years (2022 or 2023); or donate their entry to the 501 c(4) non-profit organization, the Houston Marathon Committee. Participants currently registered for the 2021 Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon or the We Are Houston 5K presented by Aramco and Chevron will receive detailed email instructions on how to complete their registration selection.

The 2021 virtual event experience will take place over the span of ten days, where runners will have the option to complete their race distance anywhere and anytime between Jan. 8 – 17, 2021. All virtual participants will receive a participant box pre-race filled with sponsor gifts and messages to help them cross the finish line. Finisher items will be mailed post-race within two weeks of Jan. 17, to participants who submit their completed race distance timing information via their participant account.

Registration for the 2021 Virtual Houston Marathon Running Events is currently open. Runners can commit to their goals and register for their 2021 virtual Houston experience at the following link: http://haku.ly/39a6b735

Race news

Kitata and Kosgei triumph in London

Slowest winning time in seven years

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 12:02:27 +0000

The lead runners and pace runners competing in the rain in the Elite Women's Race. The historic elite-only Virgin Money London Marathon taking place on a closed-loop circuit around St James's Park in central London on Sunday 4 October 2020. Photo: Thomas Lovelock for Virgin Money London Marathon For further information: media@londonmarathonevents.co.uk
Photo: Thomas Lovelock/London Marathon
© London Marathon Events

Shura Kitata and Brigid Kosgei claimed the elite men’s and women’s titles at the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon as Eliud Kipchoge’s remarkable marathon winning streak came to an end on the rain-splattered roads around St James’s Park.

Kitata triumphed in a thrilling three-way sprint ahead of Vincent Kipchumba and Sisay Lemma, with the struggling four-time champion Kipchoge nursing a blocked ear and a sore right hip fading back to eighth place in the final stages. Kitata became only the third Ethiopian winner of the race and the first since 2013 in the slowest winning time for seven years.

By contrast defending champion and world record-holder Brigid Kosgei dominated her opposition yo win by three minutes. Despite the rain, Kosgei felt it had been a “wonderful” experience as she celebrated a second London Marathon crown to go with her two Chicago victories. Behind her the US athlete Sara Hall produced a powerful finish to prevent a Kenyan one-two as she made up 44 seconds on the last of almost twenty 2135m laps to overtake world champion Ruth Chepngetich in the final metres.

Two Britons, Jonny Mellor and Ben Connor, made the Tokyo Olympic qualifying time.

Meanwhile 45,000 other marathon runners were going for it on their own each of them targeting a socially-distanced 26.2-miles on a course of their choosing on the day (4 October) as they aimed to raise funds for their chosen charities. Runners from 109 countries entered the virtual marathon and as of 18:00 more than 25,000 had completed their own unique London Marathons.

Race news Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon

Valencia Marathon elite field

Mass event remains cancelled but top runners will compete

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 14:04:00 +0000

The Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP will be held as a top-level elite race event on 6 December as well as including a half marathon event. There will be a group of elite athletes who will approach the world records for both distances.

This event has been made possible thanks to the financial support of businessman Juan Roig through the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation, over which he presides. The Foundation is the main collaborator for both races as part of its drive to reactivate sporting events in Valencia. The loyalty of sponsors and collaborators will help this event to take place and continue to promote Valencia around the world.

A maximum of 300 professional runners will be invited from around the world. Both male and female athletes will be pursuing qualifying times for theTokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021.

There will be another 50 athletes looking to give their best in the Half Marathon event held in parallel with the Marathon on 6 December, but not held concurrently. The organisation will create a healthy zone around the event and will take exceptional safety measures to guarantee a great sporting event with minimal health risk. Races will be run on a reduced circuit coordinated with local authorities to reduce the impact on the city and the health risk.

The event will also serve to host the Regional Marathon Championship including 25 Valencian-federated athletes.

Race news Košice Peace Marathon

Košice slashes field to 200

Only domestic runners to take part

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 13:55:00 +0000

At the last moment, with only days to go, the Košice Peace Marathon (SVK) has restricted its marathon field to 200.

Organisers said in a statement: “We regret to say that, according to the current regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic, which entered into force on 1 October 2020, we have had to significantly reduce our marathon field. Only 200 domestic runners will take part.

“We apologise to everyone for the complications caused and thank you for your support so far. We are doing everything we can to ensure that the oldest marathon in Europe, in its 97th year, can at least take place in such a minimised form.”

Race news Athens Marathon. The Authentic

Athens Marathon The Authentic cancelled

Announcement from the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) and the Athens Marathon Organising Committee

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 11:27:00 +0000

Library photo
Photo: Clairy Moustafellou
© clairy moustafellou

The Athens Marathon has been cancelled. The organisers have issued the following statement:

It is with great sadness that we announce the cancellation of the 2020 Athens Marathon scheduled to take place on 7-8 November 2020. All possible efforts were made during discussions and cooperation with the relevant Greek Health Authorities in order to make sure that every possibility for this annual Historic Race to go ahead was explored.

Even by following very strict rules and regulations, staging only the Marathon Race and not the shorter races, reducing the number of participants and having all participants to go through a COVID-19 test before the race (at SEGAS’ expense) was not enough. It seems that even such measures would not secure the absolute safety of runners’ health, which is the top priority. Taking into consideration all the above, we are extremely sorry to announce that the 2020 Athens Marathon will not be held.

Within the coming days the Athens Marathon Organising Committee will contact each of the registered runners via personalised email to inform him or her about the options they have, either deferring registration to next year’s event (2021Athens Marathon) or receiving a full refund of the entry fee already paid.

We are optimistic that after this pandemic is over we will all run together in our races in 2021, a very important year for Greece since it coincides with the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution. Furthermore, and still being in 2020, we wish to inform you that we are proceeding with launching of a new, Special Edition Virtual Race, to be announced within the next days. It is going to be a race for all, full of surprises, that will allow you to test yourself either running alone on the route of your choice, or being joined by a small number of friends and/or family members. The Athens Marathon Organising Committee has decided to proceed with such a Virtual Race, sharing the quest of the international running community for alternative ways in race running participation and offering a way of benefitting from all the hard training they have done over the past few months.

We thank all parties that contributed towards the excellent preparation for the event, and especially OPAP S.A., the Athens Marathon Grand Sponsor, as well as the Attica Region, the Cities of Athens and Marathon, the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the rest of our Sponsors and Supporters. But most of all we thank and applaud the protagonists of the Athens Marathon; the staff members, the thousands of volunteers and participants that through all these years have shown such love and confidence for the Athens Marathon, turning it into a unique race of international status.

Race news Ravenna Marathon City of Art

Ravenna to go ahead

City of Art Marathon will take place as scheduled

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 14:10:00 +0000

It’s official: the Ravenna City of Art Marathon will take place as planned on Sunday 8 November 2020.

And on the same day, in addition to the 42.195 km distance, also the Ravenna Half Marathon (21.0975 km).

The 2020 edition of Good Morning Ravenna 10km will be postponed to 21 March 2021, with the third edition of Dogs & Run held in conjunction. To allow a more natural event, which has always been a party based on fun and the pleasure of being together with friends, it was decided to choose a date when, with the arrival of spring, issues related to Covid-19 should be less worrying.

Race news

Rotorua Marathon fields 2000

New Zealand’s oldest marathon goes ahead, but Auckland runners cannot take part

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 11:02:00 +0000

The 2020 Rotorua Marathon, originally due to take place on 2 May, was held on 26 September with 2000 runners spread among the marathon, half-marathon, 10km and 5.5km events.

Athletics New Zealand, which organises the event, had to postpone from May because of coronavirus restrictions at that time. Since then New Zealand has been cited for the effective action it has taken against the spread of the virus which resulted in low rates of infection and few deaths. New Zealand’s “second wave” came as early as August with a reappearance of infections after 100 days without any transmission being detected.

It wasn’t until the Government’s decision to ease restrictions two weeks before the race that the 56th edition was confirmed. However, remaining restrictions in Auckland meant that runners from New Zealand’s largest city could not take part.

The Rotorua Marathon, with a route covering a lap of Lake Rotorua, is Oceania’s oldest marathon and dates back to 1965.

Race news Košice Peace Marathon

One week until Košice

Europe’s oldest marathon goes ahead

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 08:53:00 +0000

There is a week to go until the 97th edition of Europe’s oldest marathon, founded in 1924.

The Košice Peace Marathon takes place on 4 October under the auspices of the President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Čaputová and will be limited to 1000 participants for the marathon distance.

Performances in this race can count towards qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. Leading runners are Miharu Shimokado (JPN, 2:27:54) and Viktoriya Khapilina (UKR, 2:28:03). There are a few marathon debuts in the men’s race including Mohamed Ali (NED, 1:03:09) and Pierre Denays (BEL, 1:03:54).

This edition of the Košice Peace Marathon is dedicated to Derek Clayton (78), the first man who ran under 2:10. He competed in Košice 50 years ago. Lochlan Clarke, a young Australian student living in Košice, will symbolically run in his footsteps. Peter Polak (72) will run his 44th Košice Peace Marathon and there are 61 members of Diamond Club, who have each completed the Košice Marathon 25 times or more.

Race news Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon

Beppu-Oita cancelled

Virtual event in lieu of 2021 race

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 14:56:00 +0000

With no end to the coronavirus crisis in sight, the organising committee of the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon has made the decision to postpone the race’s 70th running from its planned date of 7 February 2021 to 6 February 2022 in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus among athletes and others involved in the event.

A virtual marathon will be held In lieu of the 2021 race, between 1–14 February 2021. Runners can complete the distance within the competition window no matter where or when they run. It can be run it all at once, in two parts on the weekend or even over the course of a week after work.

Those who don’t meet Beppu-Oita’s usual qualification criteria of a sub-3:30 time on a JAAF-certified course will be able to take part, receive a bib number and race t-shir,. The race will be capped at 5000 entrants.

Beppu-Oita is one of Japan’s most historic elite marathons with a small mass-participation field added relatively recently.

Race news Milton Keynes Marathon & Half Marathon

Reimagined Race course attracts 1000 runners

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 13:57:00 +0000

The Rightmove MK Marathon Weekend had record entries at the beginning of March so it was quite a blow when the early May event had to be postponed until September.

As it became more and more unlikely that large running events would be able to resume in September the MK Marathon team started exploring alternative safe race options. They came up with the ‘Reimagined Race’: not a virtual race but a measured and certified race route taking in the beautiful lakes and scenery of Milton Keynes.

Six courses had to be measured for the Fun Run, 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon and also the Marathon Relay. This was possible because of the many cycleways and public footpaths that pass under or over the roads. The race featured GPS timing technology with built-in turn-by-turn voice navigation using the RunGo app for round-the-clock service between 6-19 September. It was a London Marathon good-for-age and Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Championships qualifying event.

Race Director Andy Hulley added “The courses were accessible whenever the runner wanted to race – any time of the day or night. No weather concerns, no early bus rides, no long waits at the start line… no hassle. We also chose the beautiful Willen Lake event lawn to start all races, as it offered good parking, toilets and a cafe.”

The thousand runners who took part in the Reimagined event all ran the same course, with GPS timing, leaderboard and prizes. The feedback from runners has been fantastic. “I wasn’t going to enter but I’m so glad that I did. Thank you for creating such a brilliant event,” said Luke Chambers.

Three and a half thousand other runners also took part in a Virtual Race over the same two-week period on a route of their choice.

The Rightmove MK Marathon Weekend 2021 has been set for 2–3 May and entries are now open.

Race news OMT Beirut Marathon

Beirut organisers launch charity run for explosion victims

Global virtual 5km for Lebanese Red Cross

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:08:00 +0000

It’s been over a month since the explosion that scarred Beirut like never before and Lebanese people continue to reel under the catastrophe that has hit the country.

For Beirut to heal its wounds and start its recovery path, massive and wide-reaching help is needed. Hence, Beirut Marathon Association is organising a global virtual non-competitive 5km charity race in support of the Lebanese Red Cross, which has done the much needed emergency and humanitarian work on the ground and continues to first handedly aid victims of the explosion.

Registration started on September 17th and will continue for three weeks while donors can run at their convenience between 1 and 8 October. Minimum fee is USD 30 (25 EUR) with the option to donate more to the cause. All proceeds will be donated to the Lebanese Red Cross.

Register & donate here bit.ly/3c3ND0F

Race news Vienna City Marathon

Vienna Marathon moves to autumn

Continuing uncertainties jeopardise April date – September should offer improved Covid situation, hope organisers

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:57:00 +0000

Photo: Leo HAGEN
© Leo Hagen

The Vienna City Marathon is the second major international marathon which has been moved from a spring date of 2021 into the second half of the year.

The race is now scheduled for 12 September.

This spring, organisers had to cancel Austria’s biggest one day sporting event due to the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the ongoing uncertainties during the pandemic there was too much risk continuing to plan with a race on 18 April 2021, organisers explained. The first major race that was moved from spring into the autumn in 2021 was the London Marathon. The Vienna City Marathon is a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.

The world is still in a state of upheaval and constant change due to the coronavirus pandemic. This especially applies to organisers of major events. That led to the decision to postpone the upcoming Vienna City Marathon from April to 12 September 2021.

“In accordance with health experts and those in charge for the City of Vienna, we are convinced that on this date in September we will find an improved overall Covid-19 situation and be able to organise a major marathon in Vienna. We want to hold an event that offers a thrilling experience and inspires the participants and spectators – a race like the one we staged in 2019 or in the years before. Moving it to the second half of 2021 is the more honest answer to the difficult situation and brings more reliability and planning security, also for the participants,” reads a statement of the organisers.

“Our goal is to organise the Vienna City Marathon safely but also with a great atmosphere. However, we cannot carry out the extensive conceptual and preparatory work for the marathon under unknown and constantly changing regulations. We want to organise running events and will do so according to the current rules. For our major event, the Vienna City Marathon, however, moving it to September is the more realistic way," says Vienna City Marathon Race Director Wolfgang Konrad.

“I am delighted that the Vienna City Marathon 2021 is planned to take place in an attractive and customary manner. The event mobilises Vienna and the Viennese population. As a tourist magnet with strong economic effects, the event is of great importance beyond sports and health promotion. It is clear that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, events like the Vienna City Marathon have to cope with great challenges. However, in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, holding the event in September 2021 offers a clear perspective. We hope that the marathon can be held on this new date on the well-known route, which passes numerous tourist attractions of Vienna,” says Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig.

The date of the Vienna City Marathon is usually fixed for several years in advance. “It would not have been feasible to wait and hope for the next few months. We could then have found ourselves in a position urgently trying to find a new date in the autumn of the same year. The move required coordination with the City of Vienna, the police, public authorities and other event organisers in order to keep the course through the entire city and the finish area in the Ringstrasse/Rathausplatz area available for the races and for the set-up work,” says Gerhard Wehr, Managing Director of the Vienna City Marathon. He thanked the City of Vienna as well as the sponsors and partners for their support and cooperation.

“We hope that the current circumstances and regulations will continue to allow running events to take place. We look forward to every event that can go ahead. This is what our heart beats for, and this is what we will continue to do with all our commitment,“ Vienna race organisers announced.

Online entry for the Vienna City Marathon 2021 will start in autumn 2020.

AIMS news Fukuoka International Marathon

Fukuoka Marathon will take place on 6 December

Reduced field of under 100 runners

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 14:18:00 +0000

Photo: Helmut Winter
© Helmut Winter

Fukuoka International Marathon has announced that this year’s race will go ahead as scheduled on 6 December.

Usually a two-tier elite/sub-elite men’s race with a field of around 400, this year’s race will be cut back dramatically.

Along with an elite invited field of probably 10 men, the field this year will be limited to the 80 fastest applicants with marathon qualifying marks under 2:25 and the 10 fastest with half marathon bests under 1:04. This eliminates the B-group.

Most notably for the event’s “international” self-designation applications will be “limited to runners who are able to enter and stay in Japan as of 14 September, the day on which applications open.” That all but eliminates anyone who is not a Japanese citizen or already a resident, even in the event of liberalisation of Japan’s restrictive anti-COVID immigration policies between now and race day. How that’s going to apply to the invited athlete field remains to be seen but Fukuoka is definitely capable of putting together a field that meets World Athletics gold label requirements using only Japanese and Japan-based African athletes.

Race news Raiffeisen Bank Bucharest Marathon

Bucharest Marathon goes on

Statement from race organisers – Elite run only

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 13:56:00 +0000

In an unpredictable and challenging year, the athletics competitions had to, unfortunately, take a long and an undesired break. Most of the running events postponed or even cancelled their 2020 editions. Therefore, we consider ourselves being lucky for having the possibility of still holding the event.

This time, it will be a bit different: instead of a mixed pro- and amateur mass running event (with several distance races), Bucharest will host a single race – the marathon, for professional runners only.

The race itself is a fast one (the race record is 2 hrs 10’), benefiting from a flat 10.5 km loop. The entire track will cover the very heart of the city, while the car traffic will be completely closed during the race. The race map and elevation are available on the event’s website – www.bucharest-marathon.com.

Nevertheless, Bucharest Marathon holds the World Athletics Bronze Label and is an Olympic qualifying event, as certified by World Athletics.

Regarding safety and health measures, the event fully complies with the Romanian legislation in force and respects the World Health Organization and World Athletics guidelines for mass gatherings and athletics competitions, in the context of COVID-19. For example, all athletes and their staff will be transported from and to the airport using private buses, everyone will be hosted in a single hotel (close to the Start / Finish point), will be offered sanitary kits (masks, gloves, disinfectant gel etc.). A complete list of measures and rules is to follow.

Please note that athletes and staff attending competitions in Romania have a special treatment. That means that they are not required to isolate or quarantine themselves for 14 days (prior the event and starting the moment they arrive in the country), no matter where they are coming from. But they must have the proof of a negative result on a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test. This is also a World Athletics requirement.

Registration to the event is free of charge and each runner will receive a complete race kit and services. The event prizes and bonuses are also published on the event’s website.

Bucharest Marathon 2020 is an event organized together with the Romanian Ministry of Youth and Sport, the National Olympic Committee of Romania and Romanian Athletics Federation.

Race news Halfmarathon Altötting

Germany’s largest race so far

Günther Vogl explains how Altötting Half Marathon kept the show on the road

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 10:48:00 +0000

At the 29th Altötting Half Marathon everything was different from the previous events.

To avoid contact with participants start-numbers had to be sent by post. No late registrations were allowed. The children’s race had to be cancelled. Neither victory ceremonies nor showers were allowed. We had to change the start and finish locations to a large parking and festival area. Participants had to run the first and the last 1.5km on a bike path which connects the city with the forest in in which the rest of the race is run. We had to start a few runner at a time every 3–4 seconds.

Participants had to wear masks before the race and maintain 1.5m separation between each other – which was controlled by several volunteers. On the course they could run without a mask and there were no limits as to distancing while overtaking. The number of water stations had to be reduced from six to two at which 250ml water bags were placed on a table where the runners had to grab them by themselves. After having crossed the finish line finishers had to put on new masks which were distributed by the organisation.

The finish area was affected by the Corona restrictions as well. Bananas, water bottles, energy bars etc were all handed over in a pre-packed bag to avoid any contact. Even the finisher medals had to be grabbed from a table. All volunteers, like the participants, had to wear masks all the time and many of them protective gloves as well.

All in all it was an extreme effort but the positive feedback of the happy and satisfied participants confirmed to us that our organisation had done an extraordinary job.

The hot weather (25ºC) limited the performances. Local hero Josef Diensthuber won in 1:11:19 while the women’s race was dominated by Charlotte Taylor-Green who finished in 1:18:45 – more than 3 minutes outside her personal best. It was impossible to invite international runners but the National Anti-Doping Agengy still conducted tests.

Measurement TCS New York City Marathon

50th anniversary of New York Marathon measurement

Original course remeasured using Jones Counter

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 11:30:00 +0000

David Katz (left) and Phil Greenwald (right) finishing the re-measurement of the original New York City course on the eve of the race's 50th anniversary
Photo: David Katz
© David Katz

From the world’s most prestigious events like the New York City Marathon or the World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games to the modest small town 5k – they all depend on an obscure mechanical device to ensure the accuracy of the course: the Jones Counter.

The Jones Counter, and variations of it, have been used to ensure the accuracy of nearly every major road race in the world for more than 40 years. Even though the marathon is one of the oldest events in athletics, the method and tools of accurate measurement only started to evolve in the 1960s thanks to the pioneering work of Briton John Jewell and Ted Corbitt of the US.

Jewell did extensive research on the various methods of measuring road courses and published a groundbreaking paper in 1961. Shortly thereafter, Corbitt travelled to the UK to compete in the London to Brighton road race which Jewell had meticulously measured. Corbitt and Jewell worked together to refine the process and Corbitt brought the techniques back to the USA where he published the “Measuring Road Running Courses” article in 1964 for the Road Runners Club of America.

The concept is simple: use a counter similar to the one found on a surveyor’s wheel to measure the number of rotations of a bicycle wheel. But each rotation is in excess of two metres and a much finer degree of resolution was needed. At first this was achieved by numbering each spoke on the front wheel and using them to count fractions of a revolution – but this was a tiresome procedure. It was only several years later that someone developed a reliable and readily-available device to do the job. That person was Alan Jones, a computer engineer for IBM living near Binghamton, New York.

“In 1970 I ran in my first road race – advertised as 20 kilometres,” Jones recalls. “While I didn’t run a fantastic time I knew it was faster than seemed possible. I did a rough calibration of my car’s odometer, and then drove over the course. I found it to be about 11.4 miles instead of the 12.4 it should have been.”

This incident spurred Jones’s interest in measuring a course using the calibrated bicycle method advocated by Jewell and Corbitt, but adding his own crucially important technical modification.

“I got hold of a revolution counter but I needed a way to revolve it as the wheel turned. I went to a bike shop and found an odometer that I hooked to my counter by filing the circular shaft on the counter into a square cross-section and attaching it to the gear. The device was then slipped over the front axle of my bicycle.”

Jones set up a calibration course as the measurement method required but, using the new counter he had devised, was able to directly calculate the conversion factor from recorded digits to metres. There was no longer any need for laborious spoke-counting before every measurement reading.

Corbitt certified the New York course in May 1972. Within a year Veeder-Root had stopped making the counter Corbitt was providing, which gave one count per wheel revolution. So he wrote to Jones asking if he could supply 30 counters.

“I really didn’t want to get involved so I asked my son, Clain – who was nine years old – to help. He was able to do a bit of the work and I paid him one dollar for each one. As time went on Clain took over more and more of the business. I mailed the first counter to Ted in September 1973. By the end of the year all 30 counters were gone but even before then Ted wrote to ask me to put together another 30.”

“On 5 January 1974 Ted sent me the first certification application done with a Jones counter other than my own. Business picked up and Clain got a telegram in the spring of 1976 from the Montreal Olympics asking for four counters.”

The counter was used to measure the Montreal Olympic Marathon course and has been used to measure nearly every Olympic Marathon course since.

The pandemic has caused the cancellation of nearly all road races including the 50th anniversary TCS New York City Marathon. While the celebration has been delayed a year one aspect was celebrated. On 8 September 2020 Olympic marathon measurer David Katz remeasured the original marathon course run completely within Central Park. It was exactly 50 years ago to the day since Corbitt’s first measurement, and a way to honor Alan, Ted, John and the New York City Marathon.

Race news Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon

Top runners seek records, Olympic qualification in Valencia

Elite-only event replaces cancelled mass race

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 13:25:00 +0000

Within a week of cancelling the mass race the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP has announced that it will hold a top-level elite-only event on 6 December 2020.

The event will be held together with a separate half marathon race also only for elite runners. It is expected that both races will include elite athletes who will approach the world records for both distances.

This elite edition will be possible thanks to the financial support of businessman Juan Roig through the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation, over which he presides. The Foundation is driving this top-level double event within the #EActíVateSport strategy that it launched to promote the reactivation of sporting events in Valencia.

This elite edition will be held for about 250 professional runners who will be attempting to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021. This year, due to the COVID-19 crisis, only the London Marathon, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2020 like the Valencia Marathon, will also offer top-level international competition at the Marathon distance. Participants in the MyBest42 elite programme will be in the hunt of the Olympic qualification as well as another 50 athletes looking for their best in the Half Marathon.

The two races will not be held concurrently. The organisation plans to create a health zone around the event and will take exceptional safety measures to minimise any health risk. The races will be held on a reduced circuit coordinated with local authorities, to reduce the impact on the city.

Race news BMW Berlin-Marathon

2:01:39 Challenge

Virtual event will see runners test themselves against Kipchoge’s world record

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 11:48:00 +0000

On 26–27 September 2020 countless athletes worldwide will take on the 2:01:39 Challenge – in which they cover as many kilometres as possible in two hours, one minute and 39 seconds.

2:01:39 is the world record time set by Eliud Kipchoge in 2018 at the BMW Berlin-Marathon.

Everyone is invited to participate during the specified period by using the free 20139 Challenge App – whether you set out in running shoes, on inline skates or by hand bike or wheelchair. The app will be available for Android and iOS devices starting in mid-September. In addition to classic tracking and a sharing functions it will provide specific rankings. Furthermore, coordinated running charts and audio commentaries will create an alluring live experience. Every single participant can join in the #berlin42united community.

The 2:01:39 Challenge is also attracting elite athletes. On 27 September a quartet of top German runners and a trio of inlineskaters will attempt to crack the time of 2:01:39 hours over the marathon distance in a relay around the area of the Berlin Victory Column – to achieve this requires an average 10km pace of 28:49.

Race news Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon

Valencia Marathon cancelled

Statement from organisers

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 10:57:00 +0000

The Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP Organisation, run by SD Correcaminos and the Valencia City Council, regrets having to make the decision to cancel the 40th edition of the popular race scheduled for 6 December.

The uncertain situation due to COVID-19 forced us to forgo hosting the 30,000 participants that bought all places available for the 2020 edition.

As happened with the Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP a few weeks ago, registered runners will be contacted in the next few days to start the process of choosing, from 15 September, the options regarding their entry:

• Exchanging their entry for a place on the 2021 edition (5 December 2021).
• Requesting full refund of the cost of their entry (excluding the voluntary charitable donation, which was paid to Save the Children, this year’s charity, as planned).
• Renouncing refund of the entry fee for the event as a token of support to the Organisation, while enjoying preferential registration at the price set for the first tranche of entries available for 2021.
• Participating in a remote way in the 40th Anniversary by running the 4.0 Valencia Marathon where desired, receiving at home the Luanvi shirt and a medal for this edition among other gifts and surprises (all details to be announced soon).

Three months before the scheduled date for the event, we started the cancellation process to respond to the concerns of all participants and not to make things worse for those runners who had to schedule their trip and accommodation in Valencia.

Race news Mainova Frankfurt Marathon

Frankfurt Half Marathon Invitational on Sunday

Top German runners Arne Gabius und Katharina Steinruck will race at exhibition centre

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 14:05:00 +0000

A half marathon for elite runners only will be staged in Frankfurt next Sunday: The Frankfurt Half Marathon Invitational will be organized by the Race Director of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon Jo Schindler and his team as well as Christoph Kopp, the Berlin based elite athletes manager. Only top runners living in Germany were invited.

Germany’s marathon record holder Arne Gabius as well as Melat Kejeta and Katharina Steinruck, who have both achieved the qualifying times for the Olympic marathon in Japan next year, will be among the competitors. The race is a German qualifier for the World Half Marathon Championships which are scheduled for 17 October in Gdynia, Poland.

The Frankfurt Half Marathon Invitational will be run on a 3k circuit in the Frankfurt trade fair centre, which is closed to the public. “It is the ideal venue for us to provide secure surroundings and to fulfill all current requirements with regard to the Covid situation. Unfortunately we are not allowed to have spectators,” said Jo Schindler, who received support from the city and the county to stage this half marathon. It was only last month when the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, had to be cancelled due to the Corona pandemic. “Now we are very happy that we are able to organize a race in this difficult year. This is very motivating,” said Jo Schindler.

“It is great that this race can go ahead and I am looking forward to returning to Frankfurt. I have of course excellent memories of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon,” said Arne Gabius, who clocked the German national marathon record there in 2015 with 2:08:33. His half marathon PB stands at 62:09. Since Arne Gabius will use Sunday’s race as a test for the London Marathon, where he intends to break the Olympic qualifying time of 2:11:30 on 4 October, he is not the favourite.

Amanal Petros currently holds the national lead in the half marathon with a time of 62:18. If he shows a solid performance on Sunday he would surely be selected for the World Championships. Germany’s national marathon champion from 2019 is Tom Gröschel. He ran 64:09 in the winter and needs to improve by at least nine seconds in Frankfurt to get the national qualifying time for Gdynia.

The qualifying standard of 74:00 was no issue for Melat Kejeta, when she ran a fine 68:55 in Ras Al Khaimah (UAE) in February. Normally she would be the overwhelming favourite on Sunday, however it remains to be seen in what sort of form she will come to Frankfurt.

Katharina Steinruck could not run a half marathon earlier in the year due to the Corona crisis. However she showed good form despite the restrictions, when she clocked 32:41 in a Berlin 10 k race in June. She missed her PB by just two seconds. “I am happy to be able to run a half marathon now. And to make it even better: this happens in my hometown. I have to thank the organizers for making this possible,” said Katharina Steinruck, who has a half marathon PB of 72:23. To qualify for the World Championships she would need a time of 74:00.

Race news Košice Peace Marathon

Košice carries on

Europe’s oldest Marathon shows its resilience

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 09:59:00 +0000

With a month left until the start of the oldest marathon in Europe registration of runners for the Košice Peace Marathon was stopped on 1 September. The organisers’ full attention is now focused on managing important hygiene and security measures.

The 97th edition of the race, incorporating the Slovak Marathon Championships, will be divided into seven time-varying start waves, making it possible for almost 5000 runners to set off safely from the start.

The marathon holds the World Athletics Silver Label and will be an an opportunity for runners to achieve Olympic qualifying times. The elite field is being recruited only from Europe this year due to Covid 19 quarantining requirements.

Race news

Malta Challenge downsizes 2020 edition

One-day event substitutes for full three-stage race

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 15:14:00 +0000

The Malta Challenge Marathon, a 3-day event in which the stages total the marathon distance, has been postponed.

On the planned race date of Sunday 29 November the 1st Malta International Challenge ‘1/2’ Marathon will be staged. This ‘1/2’ Marathon, as the exact third stage of the full “Challenge” is an alternative for those runners who would otherwise be disappointed.

The 30th Malta International Challenge Marathon will take place on Friday 26, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 November 2021.

Race news Swiss Irontrail

Swissalpine changes guard

Veteran Tuffli retires, Caviezel takes over

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 14:40:00 +0000

Founder and longtime president of the Swissalpine marathon organisation Andrea Tuffli
Photo: Wilfreid Raatz

There will be a changing of the guard at the Swissalpine. Tarzisius Caviezel, will take over the presidency of the Swissalpine Association from founder and longtime president Andrea Tuffli.

“The time has come for a succession plan,” says Tuffli. When he launched the Swissalpine in 1986 as an ultramarathon over 67km with an altitude difference of more than 2200m, many thought it crazy. Although there were high alpine mountain runs in Switzerland back then, a run in such terrain and over such a long distance was new in Europe. However, the Swissalpine quickly established itself and became known internationally as the ultimate challenge.

That Tuffli is now giving up management of the club is not only due to his age of 78 years. At the end of July this year a new Königslauf, the K68, was launched at the Swissalpine. The new route was met with universal enthusiasm.

The K68 will establish itself as the new Swissalpine classic over the next few years. The framework of the Swissalpine with the K68, the K43 and the K23 is largely fixed. After the slimmed-down event held this year on 27 July the supporting and adventure programme will be restarted in the future if Coronavirus conditions allow it.

Caviezel, with roots in Davos, will take over the presidency of the Swissalpine Association on 1 January 2021. Since the beginning of 2013 and until the end of the current year he has been working as Landammann (Chief Magistrate of the Canton). “Caviezel has excellent connections in politics, business and sport,” says Tuffli. From 2004 to 2011 Caviezel held the presidency at HC Davos.

“The Swissalpine is a brand that is associated with Davos and belongs to Davos,” notes Caviezel. He makes no secret of the fact that he had some doubts when the T88 was started in St. Moritz in the previous two years. “For this year’s 35th event we decided to go back to our roots and that the Swissalpine is a pure Davos event,” Caviezel notes with satisfaction. This is also important because it guarantees support from Destination Davos Klosters. "We have to pull out all the stops to ensure that events like these, which originated in Davos and have grown successfully over decades, continue to be held here,” emphasises Caviezel. “As a Davos trademark, the Swissalpine is not yet as old as the HCD and the Spengler Cup, but it is also an excellent brand.”

Caviezel describes the K68, newly launched this year with start and finish in Davos, as the supreme discipline of the Swissalpine – “a dream run over four passes and through eight valleys. We will stick to this concept. ”The future Swissalpine President personally followed the events at the K68 premiere on 25 July on the Fanezfurgga at 2580m altitude. “The K68 is tough and rough . But all the runners and spectators I spoke to were enthusiastic about the new route,” says Caviezel. “I was also fascinated myself; you have to experience it up close.”

Originally, Gian Gilli was expected to succeed Tuffli as president, and the Engadiner is a proven and experienced specialist in major sporting events. But as part of the new concept for a purely Davos event Gian Gilli voluntarily resigned from the office. It also makes perfect sense to him that the Swissalpine Davos Association can be led into the future by a personality strongly anchored in Davos.

Race news Tokyo Marathon

Next Tokyo Marathon for autumn 2021?

Organisers ‘considering a range of forms’

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 10:21:00 +0000

An involved source has said that the Tokyo Marathon organisers are considering a contingency plan to hold next year’s race in the autumn of 2021 if the coronavirus crisis makes it impossible to hold the event on its scheduled date of 7 March.

The organisers hope to make a final decision in October based on their assessment of likely future conditions. The Tokyo Marathon Foundation has already stated that it does not plan to hold another elite-only race and does intend to go forward with a mass-participation race.

Only elite athletes were allowed to run the 2020 Tokyo Marathon, with mass-participation entrants given the option of shifting their entries to either 2021 or 2022.

Race news Wizz Air Budapest Half Marathon

Budapest battles on

Race director Árpád Kocsis sketches effects of the pandemic in Hungary

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 10:16:00 +0000

As race director I managed to survive – but we are lucky here in Hungary. Since July we have been able to organise events without any participation limit. So we have run four postponed events – although the participation is 40–60% down on last year.

We have designed our own virtual race software and we have already organised four virtual events with 13.000 entries. We plan to do more. I am sure that in future we will have to combine real and virtual events.

This first weekend in September we will hold the Budapest Halfmarathon. Our national border is closed so there will be no foreign runners (apart from those who are resident here). We hope to get 8000 runners – although last year we had 15,000.

This period is a big struggle for us but we will win – as marathon runners.

Race news

MCMO hosts live event

300 run at MCB Quantico – 1,600 virtual runners

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 14:00:00 +0000

The Marine Corps Marathon Organization (MCMO) hosted its first live event for 2020 on Saturday 22 August.

More than 300 runners from 16 US states gathered aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico to participate in the Belleau Wood 8km, Quantico 12km and Recon Ruck. An additional 1,600 registered for the virtual version of the events.

“We worked really hard to create a safe environment for our runners, staff and volunteers by making significant changes, taking necessary precautions and implementing new protocols including masks, hand sanitizers and social distancing measures,” said Rick Nealis, MCMO Race Director.

Runners assembled in socially-distanced corrals at 6ft (1.8m) apart and left in small waves, with five runners starting every minute from 6–7:30 a.m. Pre-event communication and signs near the Start/Finish lines encouraged runners to “do their part” and practice social distancing throughout the event, avoid group photos and physical contact, wear a mask when not running and wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.

Hand washing stations and hand sanitizers were placed throughout the event site and near port-a-johns, the information booth and hospitality queue. All finishers received a branded MCMO face mask before collecting their medals and pre-packaged post-race goodies.

Race news Napoli City Half Marathon

Napoli Running to restart in February

On 28th February 2021 the race will kick off the 2021 RunCzech Running League

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 10:15:00 +0000

The countdown for the Napoli City Half Marathon has started. The registrations are officially open for the 8th edition of the race, scheduled for the 28th February 2021.

Napoli Running, a project of RunCzech, is ready to restart and with all health and safety measures advised by the Italian Institutions and FIDAL (the Italian Federation of Athletic), will organise an event which organisers call a “must” in the international calendar of road running.

The success of the 2020 edition, the last international mass participation event which took place in Europe before the lockdown, is still in the minds of the 7,000 runners, including 1500 visitors from 61 countries around the world.

The event has an economic impact on the Naples metropolitan area of approximately 4 million euro (4.7m USD), and is seen by more than 500 million viewers worldwide.

The Napoli City Half Marathon 2020 celebrated remarkable performances by the winners, Kenyan Henry Rono (RunCzech Racing) in 1:00:04 (a course record) and the compatriot Viola Cheptoo in 1:06:47, second fastest performance of all time on Italian soil.

2021’s route will start from Viale Kennedy and the Mostra d’Oltremare, and will lead the runners through the most fascinating areas of the city, running along the coast for more than 15km.

Organisers promise compliance with all the health and safety measures advised by the Italian authorities to ensure a safe event.

Race news Volksbank-Münster-Marathon

Münster gets moving on cancelled race date

Informal running keeps marathon in view

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 11:32:00 +0000

“Volksbank Münster Marathon – it’s a bit different this year” is the motto on Sunday, 20th September.

This was the originally planned date for the 19th edition of the popular Volksbank Münster Marathon in Germany. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the organising team had already announced its cancellation at the beginning of July. Since then, almost all large marathons in the autumn have been abandoned, in the hope that by next year normality will have returned.

The date will not pass without some running being done, though. The organisers are calling on runners to get moving on 20th September in a VMM-themed outfit: an old or current promotional t-shirt, a finisher shirt or whatever the creativity of runners allows.

People can run in Münster, in the surrounding area or wherever they happen to be. Runners in Münster might well encounter many others with the same idea, perhaps also the organisers and Münster celebrities. Of course, the current social distancing rules are to be followed at all times.

The most creative photographs of the day, which should be posted on Facebook or Instagram by 27th September, could win interesting prizes. Those who do not use social media can also send their picture to info@volksbank-muenster-marathon.de. The winners will be notified by the end of October.

The Marathon’s homepage is already accepting registrations for next year’s race.

Race news TCS Amsterdam Marathon

Modified Amsterdam programme cancelled

Rise in coronavirus infections

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 10:06:00 +0000

The 45th edition of the TCS Amsterdam Marathon scheduled for Sunday 18 October 2020 has been cancelled. Despite the significantly modified programme, the Municipality of Amsterdam has decided not to grant a permit to the organiser, Le Champion, in light of the rising numbers of coronavirus infections in the capital.

The international nature of the marathon and increasingly complex travel options have also been deciding factors behind the decision. In normal times, 140 different nationalities would show up at the start in the Olympic Stadium. Le Champion fully supports the decision taken by the Municipality. The bib numbers for the participants registered so far will be transferred to the 46th edition on Sunday 17 October 2021.

Since the coronavirus outbreak in the Netherlands, Le Champion has had to cancel over 20 events. “We get people moving, but that’s on hold for now. We’re now doing all we can to offer alternatives, some of which are virtual.”

About this, Josu Devasia, Country Head of title sponsor Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) said: “We are fully committed to our partner Le Champion and have built a virtual racing app. We hope that all participants will join in the virtual race in the week of Sunday 18 October.” The registration package for the Virtual TCS Amsterdam Marathon has been designed so that the Amsterdam atmosphere can be felt remotely.

Race news BMW Berlin-Marathon

Berlin’s challenge to runners

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 15:31:23 +0000

Despite the cancellation of the BMW Berlin-Marathon this year, countless athletes will be active on 26–27 September taking part in the 2:01:39 challenge – to cover as many kilometres as possible in 2:01:39.

2:01:39 is the world record time that Eliud Kipchoge set at the BMW Berlin-Marathon in 2018. No matter where you are in the world, anyone who is interested can become part of the #berlin42united community through the #20139 Challenge. A sense of community and enjoyment of the sport motivates people to set personal bests, which are then consolidated in a ranking.

All of this costs the participant nothing except their sweat and muscle power. The 2:01:39 Challenge App provides the corresponding support. The free app will be available for download for iOS and Android devices from mid-September.

In addition, subject to official approval, on 27 September a team of German elite runners will form a relay team to try to break the time of 2:01:39 over the marathon distance around the Berlin Victory Column (Siegessäule) at the 1km point of the Berlin Marathon course. Due to the current coronavirus situation viewers can only follow this action, which takes place in compliance with the current hygiene regulations, on the screen. The event catchphrase is: “Berlin is moving” and will be broadcast live on rbb television from 09.00 to 11.30 local time.

Race news BMW Helsinki Marathon

Helsinki Marathon goes ahead

Protective measures in place

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 14:00:00 +0000

The Helsinki Marathon (FIN) will be held as planned on 22 August.

Protective measures are in place as follows:

• Participants will be divided in smaller start groups
• There will be enough space in start groups/start area to keep distance to other runners
• Start and Finish area will be built to be more spacious than normally
• We kindly instruct our runners to keep a safe distance to other runners. We hope you all will show understanding for the exceptional practicalities that in the end enable the event during these challenging times

Based on the guidance given by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare it is not allowed to participate in a public event if you have any symptoms related to illness caused by coronavirus (including fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, fatigue, rhinitis, nausea, diarrhoea, or a sudden loss of smell and/or taste). “If you have any of these symptoms, you cannot take part in the event,” warned race organisers.

Race news 3 Country Sparkasse Marathon

Three-Country Marathon cancels

Border-crossing event abandoned

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 11:14:00 +0000

The Sparkasse 3-Country Marathon – starting in Germany, traversing Switzerland and finishing in Austria – has been cancelled for this year’s edition due on 4 October.

Registration fees are transferable for the 2021 or 2022 editions. The 2021 race will be held on 10 October.

Race news Ehime Marathon

Ehime cancels

No event in 2021

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 11:08:00 +0000

The Ehime Marathon, scheduled for February 2021, has been making preparations to face the challenges presented by the spread of the novel coronavirus but has come to the conclusion that it would not be possible to ensure the safety and well-being of runners, volunteers, medical staff, local residents and everyone else involved in the race. Accordingly, next year’s 59th edition has been postponed by one year.

“The Organising Committee are announcing this decision in August prior to the opening of registrations in order to minimise the inconvenience caused to participants and those who help make the race possible.We extend our apologies to each of them,” said the organisers.

Race news Tui Palma Marathon Mallorca

Palma cancellation

Organisers cite security and social responsibility

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 13:40:00 +0000

Organisers of the Zafiro Palma Marathon (ESP) and the Palma City Council have announced that the event scheduled for 11 October 2020 has been cancelled on grounds of security and social responsibility.

The organisation had been working for months to plan and implement health and social distancing measures but it proved impossible to guarantee these measures throughout the course using open public space in a city like Palma.

Race news Ohme-Hochi 30km Road Race & 10km

Ohme 30km to skip 2021

World’s biggest 30km joins other Japanese races already cancelling next year’s plans

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 08:53:00 +0000

The organisers of the Ohme 30 km Road Race have announced that next year’s 55th edition scheduled for 21 February will not be held, with the next planned running bumped back one year.

Organisers cited the difficulty of ensuring safety and security during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. “We have carefully discussed the situation with the different organisations involved, but given the nature of a large-scale event with 20,000 participants we decided that it would not be possible to do it in a safe and secure way at this point,” they explained. The Ohme-Hochi event is the largest 30km race in the world.

The 2020 event was held in February amid concerns that it should be cancelled in the midst of the initial spread of the coronavirus in Tokyo, but with measures including the use of masks and disinfectants and a ban on high-fiving it was held without incident.

One of Japan’s most popular races, Ohme joins the Marugame Half Marathon, the Kumanichi 30 km, and six Japanese marathons with fields of over 8000 in already cancelling next year’s race. Ohme was previously cancelled in 1996, 2008 and 2014 – all due to heavy snow.

Race news

Paris cancels

Uncertainty over travel continues – Automatic re-registration in place

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 20:41:00 +0000

The Paris Marathon, postponed from its original April date first until 18 October and then 15 November, has been cancelled.

The next event will be in April 2021. The organisers posted the following notice on the event website:

“After having tried everything to maintain the event, we see ourselves obliged to agree with the City of Paris to cancel the 2020 edition of the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris and the Paris Breakfast Run. Faced with the impossibility for many participants to make themselves available for 14/15 November, and in particular those coming from foreign countries and encountering travel difficulties, it was therefore decided to meet them in 2021 for a Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris organised in a more relaxed way.

“Along with the City of Paris, we are going to do everything possible to offer you an even more beautiful next edition, worthy of the reunion of all enthusiasts with the streets of the most beautiful city in the world.

“Runners registered this year are, if they wish, already registered for the next edition. Otherwise they will receive a credit corresponding to the amount of the bib and any options taken out, or a refund after a period of 18 months.”

Date changes Pushkin Marathon

Race date for Pushkin Marathon (RUS) changed

Pushkin Marathon date change

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 09:42:19 +0000

The Pushkin Marathon (RUS) will take place on Sun 6 September 2020, not Sat 5 September 2020 as previously published.

Race news Mainova Frankfurt Marathon

Frankfurt Marathon cancelled

Organisers ‘fought for alternatives’ but found cancellation inevitable

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 09:31:00 +0000

Together with the state of Hesse and the city of Frankfurt, the organiser motion events GmbH has decided to cancel the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon 2020. The 39th edition of the oldest German city marathon should have taken place on 25 October.

Race director Jo Schindler said: “Compared to the hardships this global pandemic is causing people, states, institutions and companies, the cancellation of a sporting event is less significant. Sport, especially my beloved running sport, is the nicest thing in the world. But it must not lead to endangering life. We did not make this rejection easy and fought for solutions and alternatives to the end. Now we have to say soberly that the cancellation is inevitable.”

Last year, the event attracted 27,052 athletes. Until the corona-related uncertainty registrations for the 2020 marathon were 15% up. But the 39th Mainova Frankfurt Marathon will now take place on 31 October 2021.

The Corona Contact and Operating Restrictions Ordinance of the State of Hesse severely restricts the hosting of major events until October 31, 2020. These remain prohibited, unless the organisers can ensure that the minimum distance requirement, the hygiene guidelines and the personal registration of all those involved in the event are observed. “In our case, this also includes the spectators,” explains Race Director Schindler. “But unfortunately we cannot guarantee this recording of the audience with their location and time with hundreds of thousands of spectators on a 42.195 km route across Frankfurt.”

Race news SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne

Swiss City mini-race series

10 different locations throughout Switzerland

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 12:17:00 +0000

After cancellation of their flagship event, originally scheduled for 25 October, the Swiss City Marathon Lucerne organisers have put together the “YesWeRun” series with their partners Coop, ASICS, Emmi, Generali, Lucerne Cantonal Hospital and MSD.

The series comprises:

· 10 small running events organised by the SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne.

· 10 different locations in German-speaking Switzerland.

· attractive short distances (4.2–6km) with time measurement.

· held between 1 September – 23 October 2020.

· held during the week with individual starts between 17:30 – 19:30, depending on location.

· 100-300 participants per event in accordance with official conditions

· Participation fee CHF 12.00

1 – Adliswil (ZH): 1 September 2020

2.YesWeRun – Dielsdorf (ZH): 3 September 2020

3.YesWeRun – Langnau (BE): 8 September 2020

4.YesWeRun – Oberwil (BL): 10 September 2020

5. YesWeRun – Neuendorf (SO): 15 September 2020

6.YesWeRun – Lucerne Region: 17 September 2020

7. YesWeRun – Cham (ZG): 20 October 2020

8.YesWeRun – Luzern Alpenquai (LU): 21 October 2020

9. YesWeRun – Luzern Rotsee (LU): 22 October 2020

10. YesWeRun – Horw (LU): 23 October 2020

AIMS news Islandsbanki Reykjavik Marathon

Reykjavik Marathon cancels

Current regulations “make race impossible”

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 13:52:00 +0000

Jonar Hildur, race director of the Islandsbanki Reykjavík Marathon reports that the 2020 race, scheduled for 22 August, has been cancelled.

“Recent changes here in Iceland have made it impossible for us to go forward with this event and fulfil the most recent requirements of the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management which went into effect on the 31 July. Registered participants have been sent an e-mail with further instructions.

“We hope to have the next race on the 21 August 2021.”

Race news Kyoto Marathon

Japanese races cancelled into 2021

Kitakyushu, Kyoto, Koga Hanamomo all abandoned

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 13:17:00 +0000

Three Japanese marathons in Spring 2021 have announced cancellation. The Kitakyushu and Kyoto Marathons, both AIMS members, are usually held in February.

The third – the Koga Hanamomo Marathon – usually takes place in mid-March but is now cancelled for the second year in a row because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The 2021 Kyoto Marathon will be held as on online-only marathon. By using a phone app runners can run the online marathon whenever and wherever they like.

The organisers said: “To date 142,347 runners have traversed the streets of Kyoto and smiled at its riches. We hope that the online marathon will motivate you all and serve as a bridge across these troubled coronavirus times to a better day to come.

“We’ll also be holding a running event at the marathon’s start point at Nishi-Kyogoku Sports Park on its original date, 21 February 2021. Details on both it and the online marathon will be published on the race website in early September.”

The Kitakyushu Marathon organisers said: “Founded to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kitakyushu’s incorporation as a city, after seven successful editions we have been making preparations for the Kitakyushu Marathon’s eighth running in February next year. While moving forward we have come to the conclusion that we cannot guarantee the safety of everyone involved in the event [so] have unfortunately decided to cancel our 2021 race.”

Race news Mt. Fuji International Marathon

Mt Fuji cancels

Last remaining Japanese race over 5,000 runners

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 10:46:00 +0000

The organisers of the 29 November Mt. Fuji International Marathon have announced that this year’s race has been cancelled.

In light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis organisers had previously postponed opening race registrations, but in consideration of the health and safety of local residents in Fujikawaguchiko who would serve as race volunteers, and of the inevitability of crowded conditions at the start and at water stations, the decision was made to cancel.

In place of the marathon, the organisers plan to stage a virtual race in November. Runners from all over the world will be able to participate, and organisers are working on plans to make it an experience worthy of the Mt. Fuji name. Details will be announced in late August on the race website.

With 7200 finishers last time, the Mt Fuji International Marathon was the last remaining Japanese marathon in 2020 with over 5000 finishers that had not yet cancelled. Only the Fukuoka International Marathon on 6 December and Hofu Marathon on 20 December are still standing among the country’s top-tier events.

Race news Half Marathon Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich

Valencia Half cancelled

Last SuperHalfs race to abandon 2020 plans

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 14:29:00 +0000

© Extremephoto

The 2020 Medio Marathon Valencia Trinidad Alfonso EDP, scheduled for Sunday 25 October has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

The event was the final race in the inaugural year of the SuperHalfs series – all of which have now been cancelled and/or postponed into 2021.

All registered runners will receive instructions from the organising club SD Correcaminos on the options available regarding their 2020 race entries and how to proceed with their chosen option:

1. To swap the 2020 entry for a place in the 2021 edition (24 October 2021).

2. To request a full refund of the entry (with the exception of the voluntary charitable donation, which will be paid as planned to PayaSOSpital, this year’s charity).

3. To donate the entry fee as a token of your solidarity with the Race Organisation.

“Although all of our plans are delayed we keep our focus on working hard to set up an innovative running series that will bring together five of the world’s most beautiful half marathons with the aim of promoting running, environmental sustainability and tourism,” said a spokesperson.

SuperHalfs Race Calendar 2021

27/03/2021 – Prague

09/05/2021 – Lisbon

19/09/2021 – Copenhagen

03/10/2021 – Cardiff

24/10/2021 – Valencia

Race news Swiss Irontrail

Swissalpine finds success with new safety concept

Block starts and masks allow 2000 runners to participate

By Wilfried Raatz | German Road Races

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 14:06:00 +0000

Start under Corona conditions at Swissalpine
Photo: Wilfried Raatz
© wus-media / Wilfried Raatz

The 35th edition of the traditional Swissalpine running spectacle was the acid test for larger running events since the coronavirus struck.

The relief was clear to see for Andrea Tuffli, the Founder and President of Swissalpine. “The concept, which we had completely redeveloped within two months and coordinated with the cantonal administration and the municipality of Davos, has proven itself. The start and finish area is the most important sector; here we were able to sign the maximum number clearly with block starts of 300 runners and a minimum of helpers from the organisation,” said the 78-year-old, pioneer of the Swiss mountain running and trail scene.

“The block start system with a responsible protection concept worked well, not least because of the discipline of the participants. I can imagine using this system next year, hopefully without masks.”

Swiss Athletics President Christoph Seiler came to get an idea of ​​a major event in which almost 2000 runners competed over the two days of the event. “Davos sets an important example in the running calendar, which has been severely affected by the corona pandemic. It is impressive what Andrea Tuffli and his team have accomplished in a short time.”

Race news Danang International Marathon

Danang goes virtual after new Covid outbreak

Four new cases cause cancellation of race

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 13:51:00 +0000

The Manulife Danang International Marathon, scheduled for 9 August, has been replaced by a virtual event. Organisers circulated the news to registered participants after detection of four new confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Danang City after 99 days without social infection in Vietnam.

The race statement read: “Our long-standing mission has always been to provide a unique running experience at one of the most magnificent marathon courses in Asia for thousands of runners from across the world. However, we – as the organiser of the Manulife Danang International Marathon, can only do this when we can guarantee the safety for all participants, the running community, the host city as well as the locals.

“Our preparations for the race have been ready and this year’s medal is awaiting our runners. But, as [the source of] the new reported confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Danang City remains unknown, in order to ensure the health and safety of all participants, we regret to inform you that Manulife Danang International Marathon 2020 will be officially cancelled.

“We have decided to change the Manulife Danang International Marathon 2020 into ‘Virtual Race’ format.”

The Vietnamese Government has sealed off the city from outside visitors and is organising the evacuation of 80,000 people, many of them tourists, as a precaution against the further spread of the virus. To date Vietnam has had 420 cases of infection and no deaths, although the condition of one of the four new cases is reported as critical.

Race news Haspa Marathon Hamburg

Hamburg abandons 2020 plans

Required contact tracing for thousands of spectators impossible

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 11:28:00 +0000

Major Hamburg sporting events, which had been postponed to late summer and autumn 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic will no longer take place this year but will be postponed to 2021.

The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the organisers of several major events in Hamburg agreed after intensive discussions. Sports senator Andy Grote said: “This decision is painful for all of us, but unfortunately unavoidable. I am impressed with the great energy with which the organisers have worked out modified concepts in order to be able to realise the major sports events in Hamburg under strict consideration of infection protection. However, we found that the legal framework for holding larger events will remain very severely limited until at least 31 October. The hygiene regulations applicable in any case and the necessary contact tracking could not have been ensured at events with thousands of spectators, so we had no other choice.”

The next Haspa Marathon Hamburg will take place on 25 April 2021.

Race news Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon

Kagawa-Marugame cancelled

Abandonment of top winter half marathon sees disruption continue into 2021

By Brett Larner | Japan Running News

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 11:20:00 +0000

Organisers of the 75th anniversary Kagawa-Marugame International Half Marathon scheduled for 7 February 2021 have announced that it will not take place.

“After careful consideration we determined that, with no visible end to the coronavirus crisis in sight, for the health and safety of participants, volunteers, staff, medical and rescue personnel, fans along the course and everyone else involved with our event, our 75th running must be postponed for one year,” said the event organisers.

“We hope for a solution to the coronavirus situation and look forward to welcoming you all to our next race on 6 February 2022. We will be busily preparing for that day and thank you all for your continued support of the Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon.”

This is the third major Japanese race of 2021 and the first World Athletics label race in 2021 worldwide to cancel. Marugame is Japan’s premier winter half marathon. It was the site of a new Japanese men’s national record and four other national records at this year’s edition, and a key tuneup every year for top-level Japanese athletes competing in the Tokyo Marathon, Lake Biwa Marathon and Nagoya Women’s Marathon.

Race news NN Marathon Rotterdam

NN Marathon Rotterdam postponed until next year

Rescheduled ‘with pain in our hearts’

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 11:14:00 +0000

The 40th edition of the NN Marathon Rotterdam has been postponed again due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

It is now scheduled to take place on 10-11 April 2021. Every individual runner with a place in the 2020 edition will be able to use their place in the rescheduled event. All participants have already received an e-mail with further information.

“The restrictive guidelines related to COVID-19 made it impossible to organise the event in a way that traditionally fits the NN Marathon Rotterdam,” said the organisers. “It is a difficult decision for us but our main priority continues to be safeguarding the health of our participants, volunteers, spectators and stakeholders.”

The race organisation is currently working to develop a “revolutionary” app that simulates the experience of running the NN Marathon Rotterdam. Runners will be invited to experience the app in due course.

Race news

Marine Corps Marathon goes to virtual-only

No mass events to be held

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 13:33:00 +0000

The 2020 Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) Weekend events scheduled for Friday, 23 October to Sunday 25 October in Arlington, Virginia and the US capital will shift to virtual-only status due to ongoing public health concerns and the guidelines of local governments.

“We explored various approaches to safely execute a live event and held numerous meetings with Marine Corps leadership, local government and public health officials,” said Rick Nealis, director of the Marine Corps Marathon Organization (MCMO). “We understand this is disappointing news for many, but we could no longer envision a way to gather together in compliance with safety guidelines. While we are unable to celebrate in-person this October, we [will] bring the 45th anniversary event to the homes of runners around the world through a rewarding and engaging virtual experience.”

Race news Movistar Madrid Medio Maratón

Medio Maraton de Madrid cancelled

Concerns remain too serious to go ahead with event likely to attract 20,000

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 11:29:00 +0000

The 2020 edition of the Movistar Medio Maraton de Madrid has been cancelled due to coronavirus-related health and safety concerns for the athletes, spectators, volunteers and staff.

After being postponed from March 29th to October 4th, finally the organisation made the decision due to the current situation worldwide and the uncertainty about a massive event with almost 20,000 participants.

The Carrera ProFuturo 5K, the Expo and other side events have also been cancelled.

“Safety is the main concern and we look forward to hosting the 20th edition on April 11 2021,” said the organisers.

Race news Halfmarathon Altötting

Hygiene plan for Altötting

Race to go ahead with drastic reduction in facilities

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 10:30:00 +0000

Organisers of the Altötting Half Marathon in Bavaria have announced its plans to allow the race to still go ahead in compliance with strict safety regulations.

“In close coordination with the [state] health department, we have developed a hygiene concept that allows up to 1000 participants on the routes of the 21.1 km and 6km race on 13 September,” said the race organisers. There will be no fun run.

Everything is slimmed down: no award ceremony, no changing rooms, no showers. The advertised medals or participant gifts will not be issued but there will be replacement medals for the 1000 approved participants.

Registration will close after 1000 entries have been received. There will be no late registrations.

The registration deadline is moved forward by one week (to 30 August) to have time to send start numbers by post. The increase in registration fees due from 1 July has been withdrawn due to the cutback in services. An option for clothes storage in emergencies (e.g. for runners arriving by rail) is still to be discussed.

Main coronavirus precautions:
· Use mouth protection in the warm-up area (Dultplatz is available, observe distance rules).
· Running without a mask, but the mask must be put on again in the finish area. We provide masks in case someone loses theirs while running.
· Delegation of monitoring personnel (e.g. dispersing groups)
· Start numbers will be sent by post.
· Flying start / no mass start, or small groups. As a result, strong equalization. Only approx. 500 runners each on the half marathon or 6km route.
· Reduce stations in the forest to 2. No catering for 6 km. Dispensing of packaged water (bags), dispensing on tables etc. at least 3-4 meters apart, only one bag per table, then refill. There is no electrolyte, no bananas etc. Personnel with MNS and gloves. Dropped bags will be destroyed (after contact with the runner).
· The address etc. of the participants must be made known via the registration system. For reports about companies / schools, this can easily be requested (or must be specified as a required field when registering)
· Do not bring accompanying persons
· All participants will be informed about the rules (e-mail, homepage)
· Information to all participants via facebook and e-mail: Each participant must meet the following requirements:
There are no health restrictions or symptoms of illness. There was no contact with an infected person for at least two weeks. The hygiene measures (keep your distance, regular washing and disinfecting your hands) are observed.
· Awarding of medals at the finish: medals are placed on a table where the runners take them themselves (supervision by staff)
· Finish line arrangements: There is no electrolyte. Delivery of fruit, energy bars and water in a bag. The runner has to keep moving and cannot sit down. No banks etc. Due to the strong equalisation at the start and the strong reduction in the number of participants no crowds are to be expected.
· Atmospheric mile: music bands etc. only in the outside area, so as not to attract spectators.
· Urinal: yes, but max. 3 people at a time. Staff supervision, also to disperse groups forming when queuing
· Toilets in the three adjacent schools.
· No late registrations
· No award ceremony
· No showers
· No hand in of clothes
· No sports fair
· No childcare
· No warm-up program
· No pasta party
· No stilt walkers etc .
· No changing rooms
· no children’s run
· no balloons
· no Dixi toilets
· No massages at the finish
· no meals in the registration area

Race news BMW Berlin-Marathon

Berlin organisers thank runners for loyalty

85% of registered participants choose to transfer to next year in lieu of refund

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 11:57:00 +0000

When the BMW Berlin Marathon, planned for 26-27 September 2020, was cancelled participants were offered two options.

These were: first, the transfer of the personalised race entry to the BMW Berlin Marathon next year on 25 September (skaters) and 26 September 2021 (wheelchair athletes, handbikers and runners); second, 100% repayment of the participation fee. Participants had until the end of last week (10 July) to select one of the two options. SCC EVENTS is delighted, and very grateful, that 85% of the runners have decided to transfer their personalised race entries to next year’s BMW Berlin Marathon 2021.

As managing directors of SCC EVENTS, Christian Jost and Jürgen Lock were in awe: “We have always been aware of the strong community spirit of the BMW Berlin Marathon. This enormous spirit grows from event to event, but the figure of 85% of the athletes choosing to transfer their race entries fills us and our team with pride. SCC EVENTS would like to thank all its participants for their great loyalty.” In this sense, all signs for the BMW Berlin Marathon 2021 are set to green.

Race news Košice Peace Marathon

40th anniversary of women in Košice Peace Marathon

1980 was first event with female runners

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 11:44:00 +0000

40 years ago women ran in the Košice Marathon for the first time.

There had already been pioneering female marathon runners from the mid-1960s so it was time for things to get put into motion in Košice as well.

On 5 October 1980 women lined up at the start in front of IAAF President Adrian Paulen and World Peace Council President Rómeš Čandra. Fourteen of them reached the finish line – twice as many as in the men’s first race in 1924. There was no lack of competitive drama either as Šárka Balcarová crossed the finish line first with a mere six-second lead over Vlasta Rulcová.

The men’s field in 1980 had over 1000 entrants but, as so often, expectations went unfulfilled. Two-time Olympic champion Waldemar Cierpinski, just two months after his victory in Moscow, was clearly running out of gas at the end of the season. He dominated the first part of the race, but was unable to finish. As a result, the Soviet Union’s Alexej Ľagušev became the surprise winner. Home-grown runner Pavol Madár also had his day. Finishing fourth overall he became the Czechoslovak champion, and with a time of 2:15:44 recorded the fastest time of his career.

The diversity and quality of the field was evidenced by 12 countries being represented among the first 20 men’s finishers, 28 runners finished in under 2:20 and the 100th runner to reach the finish line tallied a respectable time of 2:35:25.

Race news Vienna City Marathon

Running together restores feeling of fun in Vienna

“At last!” exclaim runners as pop-up creates special mood

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 11:40:00 +0000

Leo Hagen
Photo: Leo Hagen
© Leo Hagen/VCM

It was smaller than usual, with new rules, but it was finally a “real” run again.

The VCM Pop-up-Run over 5km and with 250 runners was held in the evening of 15 July in the Prater as the first popular running competition in Vienna after a break of several months.

Dividing runners over several starting time slots created a special mood. The word “finally” was on everyone’s lips: finally the joy of running together, coming together, being allowed to crossing the finish line or cheer for others. It was a re-discovery of people doing the same thing and having fun doing it.

“Hardly ever have we looked forward to an event as much as we did today,” said Vienna City Marathon managing director Gerhard Wehr. “We created a concept for this run so that – with responsibility and the common sense of the runners – we could carry out an event that is fun for the participants. Coming together for a common sport is simply beautiful and the core of what we do. You can see this all the more clearly when events still cannot take place due to Covid-19.”

Because several start time windows were used the results were open until the end. The atmosphere grew until the final run, especially thanks to the Cheering Zone of the adidas Runners Vienna.

The runners were obviously in good shape. This fits with a survey of runners from 139 countries, which showed that during the period of the strictest coronavirus conditions people ran more than they had before. Runners who had previously been active once or twice a week recorded significantly higher training volumes. Many of them have probably discovered running for the first time and have also developed a desire to participate in competitions.

No more than 64 participants were allowed per slot, who were free to choose their starting time. This way there was a very relaxed and contactless starting process. For the starting grid there were markings at a distance of one metre on the main avenue. The Covid-19 rules were sent to all participants in advance by mail and were displayed on signs on site. The members of the organising team wore mouth and nose protectors and, in areas such as the drinks counter, gloves. The event concept was approved by the authorities, so that a small event could be organised.

“We would like to thank all helpers, runners and fans who created a great atmosphere and followed the Covid-19 rules with sensitivity and common sense,” said the organisers. “We want to motivate you to keep running so we are already planning the next VCM pop-up run this summer.”

Race news Vienna City Marathon

Vienna pop-up run

250 runners on the Prater Hauptallee

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 10:32:00 +0000

After months of cancellations and virtual challenges, the first “real” run for amateur runners will take place in Vienna on Wednesday 15 July.

Start and finish are on the Prater Hauptallee at the scene of Eliud Kipchoge’s “1:59 finish”.

250 runners will start from 17.30 in five 15-minute start time ‘windows’. For the starting line-up marks are placed on the main avenue at a distance of 1 metre apart. The course is a measured 5km lap. Participants can freely choose their start time within the slot. Results will be according to net timekeeping. Registration is closed.

“More people than ever have run in the past few months, but events where the runners come together in a race were simply missing,” said Gerhard Wehr, Managing Director of the Vienna City Marathon. “This run is the smallest sporting event we have ever organised, but the anticipation is huge. We are aware of the overall situation. We have created a concept for this run so that we can responsibly carry out an event that is fun for the participants.”

• Food: At the finish there are drinks (in bottles) and the ice cream reward.
• Use our PET collection containers to recycle the bottles.
• No showers, changing facilities or luggage storage
• The stadium pool offers an ideal opportunity for refreshment in the immediate vicinity. The ticket office closes at 19.00, the pool at 19:45.

Race news

Paris postponed again

Automatic re-registration for revised date

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 11:26:00 +0000

The Paris Marathon has been rescheduled for a second time.

The race originally planned for April was postponed until October, but the organisers have now announced a new date of 15 November.

The race organisers said: “In order to be able to organise the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris in the best possible conditions we decided, in concert with the Paris City Hall and the Paris Police Prefecture, to postpone the date of the event. The new date is now set for 15 November 2020. The Paris Breakfast Run will be held on Saturday 14 November. Of course, we will take into account the evolution of the situation and will scrupulously respect the directives of the health authorities and the State services with which we work closely.

“Each registrant will receive an e-mail by the end of July detailing the practical details. This email will specify that all participants in the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris will be automatically registered for the 15 November 2020 edition. Those registered for the Paris Breakfast Run will be automatically registered for 14 November. Those who are not available on this date will have 15 days to communicate it and consequently benefit from a credit usable until 31 December 2021 to participate in any ASO event. After this date, if the credit has not been used in full, they will be reimbursed for the remaining sums in the bank account used for registration.

“We are well aware of the inconvenience caused by this exceptional situation and the impact on your organisation. We thank you for your patience and will do everything we can to welcome you in the best possible conditions.”

Race news Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Chicago cancelled

Safety is highest priority, say organisers

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 10:42:00 +0000

On Monday 13 July event organisers and the City of Chicago announced the decision to cancel the 2020 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and all race weekend activities in response to the ongoing public health concerns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Each registered participant will have the option to receive a refund for their 2020 race entry or to defer their place and entry fee to a future edition of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (2021, 2022 or 2023).

2020 Bank of America Chicago Marathon registered participants will be contacted via email with additional information and the opportunity to select one of the options. For further information see: https://www.chicagomarathon.com/cancellation/cancellation-faqs/

Race news Mainova Frankfurt Marathon

Frankfurt suspends registrations

Guarantees on distancing and tracking put race in jeopardy

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 15:24:00 +0000

Because major events are prohibited in Germany until the end of October if they cannot guarantee that the hygiene regulations and distance rules can be observed and that contact tracking of participants and spectators can be guaranteed, the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon team temporarily closed registrations from 18 June.

“We are in close contact with the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and for Sports in order to come to a final decision regarding our event,” said the race organisers. “Unfortunately, the 39th Mainova Frankfurt Marathon planned for 25 October has become unlikely due to recent developments.”

“We will proactively inform you through all our channels (website, newsletter, social media & Co.) as soon as we have new information. Until then we ask that you refrain from inquiries. Unfortunately we cannot say with certainty when we will reach a final decision in consultation with and in agreement with the City of Frankfurt and the State of Hesse.”

Race news Copenhagen Half Marathon

2020 Copenhagen Half cancelled

Organisers “have no choice” but to cancel the event due to ongoing COVID-19 crisis

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 10:32:00 +0000

Geoffrey Kamworor breaks the Half Marathon World Record with a time of 58 minutes and 01 seconds during the Copenhagen Half Marathon in Denmark © Sports Photographer in Copenhagen Matthew James Harrison

With less than three months to go, organisers confirmed the cancellation of the Copenhagen Half Marathon on 13 September.

“We don’t believe it will be possible or responsible to hold a race the size of Copenhagen Half Marathon in the heart of Copenhagen in 2020,” says Dorte Vibjerg, CEO of the organising Club Sparta.

In the 2019 race Geoffrey Kamworor smashed the world record with 58:01 and the mass race attracted a sell-out field of 25,000 runners for the first time. “After last year the Copenhagen Half Marathon really grabbed the attention of foreign runners and the international community so that this year 42% of the registered runners are foreigners,” added Vibjerg. “This means they will need clarification in relation to flight tickets and accommodation so we have decided to provide clarity now by cancelling the event.”

All participants who were registered will be able to transfer their registration to next year’s race on 19 September 2021 or get a full refund of the entry fee paid. “By transferring their entries to 2021, runners will be helping to protect the future of the event,” Vibjerg concluded.

This means that of the five races which make up the “SuperHalfs” series that was launched for 2020 four have been cancelled. The Valencia Half Marathon is still scheduled to go ahead on 25 October 2020 but the situation is changing daily in every country and government advice is being updated. Forthcoming races in the Series are now scheduled as follows:

25/10/2020 – Valencia

27/03/2021 – Prague

09/05/2021 – Lisbon

19/09/2021 – Copenhagen

03/10/2021 – Cardiff

Race news Halfmarathon Altötting

Altötting hopes to run in September

DIscussions with local health authorities ongoing

By Günther Vogl | Halbmarathon Altötting

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 12:30:00 +0000

While large events have been cancelled in Germany until the end of October the Altötting Half Marathon is making efforts to run its 29th edition in modified form on 13 September.

Günther Vogl, the main organiser of the Altötting Half Marathon said: “We are trying to run at least a slimmed down version. We have to discuss this with the health department. We will also offer a virtual run. Details will come as soon as we know more.”

The international OMV half marathon has been held in Altötting, “in the heart of Bavaria”, for 29 years. What started small is now one of the top half marathons in Germany.

We look forward to your participation and wish you an accident-free journey to Altötting. We remind you that in the area covered by ​​the Südostbayernbahn rail network participants can travel to Altötting for free.

Race news Athens Marathon. The Authentic

Athens Marathon The Authentic sticks to its date

Reorganisation for pandemic conditions

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 12:23:00 +0000

Photo: Picasa

The Greek Athletics Federation SEGAS announced on 1 July that, based on current data, “Athens Marathon. The Authentic” 2020 will be held as normal on 7–8 November 2020 with its co-organisers the Attica Region, the Municipality of Athens, the Municipality of Marathon and the EOE and a major sponsor, OPAP SA.

Athens Marathon 2020 will include the following competitions:

Marathon: Participants in the Marathon will be divided into two different (A & B) races with 5000 participants each and an hour difference between their start times. The distribution of the runners in the two races and in the corresponding starting block will be decided by the Organising Committee. It is noted that the Marathon Road will be held on Sunday, November 8, while the exact start times will be announced in the near future.

10km road race: On Saturday 7 November, 10km participants will also be divided into two different (A & B) races with 5000 participants each and an hour difference between their starts.

5km road race, ZERO WASTE FUTURE: The same logic applies as for the 5km on Sunday 8 November: two 5km (A & B) Races with 5000 participants each and a difference of at least one hour between their starts.

Note that Athens 2020 Marathon will not include the Children’s races (neither on the route nor at the Panathinaiko Stadium) or the Special Olympics Hellas Race. This is for better implementation of the protocol.

Registration limits for all the races have been revised and because they are now split into two separate groups the official t-shirt of the race will be an integral part of the registration for each participant.

Registrations for the Athens 2020 Marathon will start on Friday, 3 July 2020 at 12.00, exclusively through the event website. SEGAS has drawn up a special Cancellation Policy for this year’s event which encourages runners to consult before proceeding with their registration.

President of SEGAS, Kostas Panagopoulos commented: “The successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece, as a result of the timely adoption of correct measures and their consistent observance by the majority of Greeks, but also the approval by the State Health Protocol for Out-of-Stage Games of SEGAS, allows us to open registration for the Athens Marathon 2020.

“The Race will be very different this year since the observance of the Health Protocol, imposes fewer runners, more starts, distance keeping, meticulous protection measures in each process and for each step. The special planning of the Games has been completed and with the help of all – and especially the runners – the observance of the measures will ensure the desired result.

“In Greece, where it was born, the Marathon will be re-launched in 2020 after the pandemic.”

Race news hella hamburg half marathon

Hamburg half marathon… at Stonehenge

Over 4,600 take part in digital event

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 08:19:42 +0000

Photo: Ian Berry-Bowers

The hella hamburg halbmarathon is one of the biggest events of its type in Germany, with over 12,000 participants. This year there were indications of a new record number of runners, but then the coronavirus arrived…

But the event was not just postponed until next year. Instead a digital alternative was created. The concept was simple: Instead of a mass start on the Reeperbahn each participant runs their own half marathon – wherever they like! All runs on the originally planned date for the event count. Times and distances were recorded on a custom app and uploaded. Donations went to the long-standing charity partner of the race, the Hamburg parents’ initiative for children with rheumatism. More than 4,000 EUR was collected.

The digital event can be seen as a complete success. Over 4,600 runners all over the world took part. The first results came in shortly after midnight. An Australian running crew ran past the Sydney Opera House rather than Hamburg’s Elbe Philharmonic to immortalise itself in the finishers’ list. In England the course for one runner passed Stonehenge.

The desire for a real race seems to have been huge. The pasta party, group starts, properly marked start and finish lines – sometimes with banners and medal ceremony, water points… the enthusiasm of our runners knew no bounds.

Next year everything should return to normal. The 26th hella hamburg halbmarathon takes place on Sunday 27 June 2021. Registrations are already open.

Race news Haspa Marathon Hamburg

Hamburg suspends registrations

Uncertainty continues to dog race organisers

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 13:55:00 +0000

New registrations for the Hamburg Marathon (GER) have been suspended in ongoing uncertainty over legal liabilities around the event.

At a state press conference on 30 June the City of Hamburg made no binding statements or regulations regarding the approval or prohibition of major sporting events.

“With regard to how the flow of spectators in public spaces can be controlled or limited in order to ensure that social distancing and hygiene guidelines are observed along the route, it remains unclear whether and to what extent we as organisers become responsible for this,” said the race organisation. “As long as there is no clarity on this question we have suspended registration for the Haspa Marathon Hamburg and the Haspa Half Marathon Hamburg on 13 September 2020 until further notice. We will keep you updated and expressly thank you for refraining from making enquiries or speculations, and for your patience.”

Race news Volksbank-Münster-Marathon

Münster Marathon cancelled

Fear of new outbreaks – “No alternative to cancellation”, say organisers

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 13:26:00 +0000

Photo: Karsten Ziegengeist
© Karsten Ziegengeist

The Volksbank-Münster-Marathon (GER) has been cancelled.

“With the ban on major events until the end of October 2020 and to protect athletes, helpers, spectators and the population of Münster we have to cancel our 19th Volksbank-Münster-Marathon on 20 September 2020,” said the organisers in a statement. “As marathon organisers we do not want to be the trigger for a new hotspot – therefore there is unfortunately no alternative but to cancel the race.”

The 19th race will take place on 12 September 2021. Registrations for the 2021 marathon can be made online from 16 August 2020.

Organisers said that full refunds would be available, but asked participants to transfer their registrations to next year or to donate part of their registration fee, as the race organisation is staffed by volunteers and still faces substantial costs for the cancelled race.

Race news Prague International Marathon

RunCzech cancels Prague events

Others remain on course

By Carlo Capalbo | RunCzech

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 14:54:00 +0000

We were ready with our races. Everyone was in place. Our team. Our volunteers. Our partners and suppliers. Everything was ordered and most of it in our warehouse. And then? COVID.

We hoped against hope that autumn would be better. But it was not to be.

Even though that situation is getting better, we will not be allowed to organise mass participation events in the centre of Prague. So after carefully scrutinising all possible scenarios and consulting with competent institutions we have to cancel Prague races in 2020. These are the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon (the first race of the SuperHalfs series), the Volkswagen Prague Marathon and the Birell Prague Grand Prix. All runners registered for these races will have the option to transfer their entries to 2021 or 2022 with no additional costs.

We take comfort knowing that Czech government officials had the foresight and the wisdom to take action designed to keep us safe – and we take comfort knowing that we will run again.

Indeed, our EuroHeroes races, the Mattoni Half Marathons in Karlovy Vary, Ceske Budejovice, Olomouc, Usti nad Labem, as well as the Mattoni Liberec Nature Run are all still on. Their size should make it possible for us to host them within mandated crowd-size limits. And we want so badly to see everyone there. To know that the sport is still alive. We are also staging new running events at unique venues, like airport runways or brewery premises – all in compliance with crowd size restrictions.

Race news Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running

Baxters Loch Ness Marathon cancelled

First cancellation in 18-year history

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 13:45:00 +0000

Record number's of runners take part in the 2019 Loch Ness Marathon. The 26.2 mile route starts just outside the village of Whitebridge at the western end of Loch Ness and follows the south bank of the Loch along a picturesque route to finish in Inverness.
Photo: Reuben Tabner
© Reuben Tabner

Organisers of the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running have today announced the cancellation of the 2020 event due to the challenges posed by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

Established in 2002, the event attracted a record 9,500 participants in 2019 with 60% of marathon runners coming from outside Scotland and 17% from overseas. The cancellation is the first in the event’s 18-year history. The event raised over GBP 1m (EUR 1.1m) for charity in 2019.

Following consultation with partner agencies, sponsors and stakeholders over the past few months during lockdown, the difficult decision was made based on the safety and welfare of all those involved in the event. The uncertainty over travel restrictions for the large number of participants who travel to Inverness and the Highlands from around the UK and abroad was also taken into account.

All those with a place in the 2020 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running will automatically be transferred to the 2021 event, scheduled to take place on 3rd October. All participants have been contacted by email today with further information.

Commenting on the decision, Malcolm Sutherland, Event & Race Director of Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running, said: “I would like to extend my thanks to all those signed up for the 2020 event for their patience and support during this uncertain and very challenging time. “It has been a difficult decision and not one we have taken lightly however the health, safety and welfare of our participants, volunteers, staff, charities and stakeholders is at the heart of everything we do and will always remain our priority. We feel it is our responsibility to protect everyone involved including our emergency services and local community which has always been so supportive.

“The Baxters Loch Ness Marathon is a highlight of the UK running calendar with one of the most spectacular marathon routes in the world and has also gained a reputation as one of the most memorable. We pride ourselves on offering a very special Highland experience and we are concerned this would be lost were we to stage the event with all the necessary physical distancing measures and other restrictions in place. Instead, we will put our efforts into ensuring the 2021 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running is an outstanding experience for everyone.

“We also understand the many weeks of training required to prepare for this event, that many of you will be starting your 12-week training programme and many are fundraising for charity. We will therefore be working with our partner charities – Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer Scotland, Cancer Research UK and the Highland Hospice and a host of other charities – to maximise fundraising in 2021.

“We really hope those due to take part this year will join us in 2021 – we can’t wait to see you then.”

Race news TCS New York City Marathon

New York cancelled

World’s biggest mass marathon victim of COVID-19

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 09:47:00 +0000

The 2020 TCS New York City Marathon, set to take place on 1 November has been cancelled.

New York Road Runners in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of the City of New York decided to cancel the world’s largest marathon due to coronavirus-related health and safety concerns for runners, spectators, volunteers, staff, and the many partners and communities that support the event.

“Cancelling this year’s TCS New York City Marathon is incredibly disappointing for everyone involved, but it was clearly the course we needed to follow from a health and safety perspective,” said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. “Marathon Day and the many related events and activities during race week are part of the heart and soul of New York City and the global running community, and we look forward to coming together next year.”

NYRR will be connecting directly with runners registered for the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon by 15 July with more information regarding the cancellation resolution details, including the option to receive a full refund of their entry fee or a guaranteed complimentary entry in either 2021, 2022, or 2023. Runners who gained entry through a charity or tour operator should reach out beginning 1 July to that organisation for the options available to them.

This year’s marathon was set to be the 50th running of the event, which began in 1970 and has grown to become the world’s largest marathon with 53,640 finishers in 2019.

Runners registered for the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon and others from around the world will be invited to participate in the third annual TCS New York City Marathon – Virtual 26.2M taking place from 17 October through to 1 November.

The 50th running of the TCS New York City Marathon will take place on 7 November 2021.

Race news BMW Berlin-Marathon

No rescheduled event for Berlin

Final abandonment of contingency planning

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 14:45:00 +0000

There will be no rescheduled event to replace the cancelled BMW Berlin-Marathon in 2020, its organisers said today.

Events with 5,000 participants or more are prohibited by the responsible authorities in Germany until October 24, 2020. Hopes were raised earlier this week that a replacement race after that date might be possible, if satisfactory hygiene measures could be put in place, but the race’s organisers today drew a line under these considerations.

SCC Events, the race organisers, said in a statement: “We worked hard on the development of a hygiene concept and held countless discussions with our experts, the responsible authorities and service providers, among others. A comprehensive feasibility analysis showed that an event such as the BMW Berlin-Marathon could not be held under the current specifications – also not after October 24, 2020, especially not with the high expectations we all have for this event. Naturally, we support the containment measures, as the health of everyone is of utmost importance to us.

“The BMW Berlin-Marathon will therefore not take place on September 26-27, 2020 due to force majeure, and it is also not possible to hold the event at a later date this year.”

Jürgen Lock, Managing Director of SCC Events, added: “Due to the weather conditions alone and the ever shorter days, it would be very difficult to hold the BMW Berlin-Marathon with its various competitions and event formats this year. Then there is the uncertainty about which regulations will apply at a later date. The question of whether athletes will be able to travel internationally again by then can also not yet be answered.”

Registered participants will be contacted this week and offered the opportunity of a full refund or a transfer to next year’s event on September 25–26 2021.

Race news Haspa Marathon Hamburg

Hamburg plans to make the Marathon happen

Most significant international mass marathon since beginning of coronavirus pandemic

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 15:05:00 +0000

A popular section of the Haspa Marathon Hamburg course next to the river Elbe
Photo: Hoch Zwei/Haspa Marathon Hamburg
© Hoch Zwei/Haspa Marathon Hamburg

The Haspa Hamburg Marathon is scheduled to go ahead on September 13 with both elite and mass races. The news was announced by the organizers at a press conference today where they also set out a comprehensive hygiene policy, based on international expertise.

With these guidelines in place, it should be possible for 10,000 marathon runners and 4,000 participants in the half marathon to compete on September 13. If this does go ahead, given the current situation caused by the Corona virus, the race in Hamburg would most likely be the first significant international marathon to take place with an elite and mass field since the start of the pandemic. The event is a Gold Label road race, a distinction awarded by World Athletics, the governing body of international athletics.

“We are optimistic that the Haspa Hamburg Marathon will be started on 13 September. We have the plans and the infrastructure required. We will now make detailed plans together with the city to realize the race,” said chief organiser Frank Thaleiser.

The Haspa Hamburg Marathon was originally planned for April 19 but, as with every other spring marathon, the event could not take place on the scheduled date because of the coronavirus. After discussion with the Hamburg city council the organisers postponed the event to September 13. Organisers said that the city supports their plans for the race in late summer.

Last week chancellor Angela Merkel met the presidents of Germany’s federal states and the decision was agreed that major events would not be permitted to take place until the end of October, but exceptions to be allowed for events where contact tracing and adhering to hygiene regulations are possible. Individual federal states are also permitted to set their own regulations.

“I am looking forward very, very much to this race. It was a frustrating situation when all events were cancelled. I stopped training for a while. But now there is a major goal again,” said Germany’s top marathon runner Philipp Pflieger, who features a personal best of 2:12:50 and competes for the club of the organiser LT Haspa Marathon Hamburg. Pflieger is not bothered by the fact that the Haspa Hamburg Marathon will be outside of the Olympic qualifying period, which restarts in December. “To be able to plan with a start at the Haspa Hamburg Marathon is really great news. We are all craving for competition,” he said.

In Hamburg plans are for a drastically reduced elite field of probably around 30 athletes. This will be the only group standing together on the start line. The athletes will have to undergo testing for the coronavirus before the race and will only be drawn from certain countries, given the restricted travel situation. Participation by athletes from countries where the coronavirus poses a higher risk will not be allowed – neither in the elite nor in the mass field.

There will be no races for children or a relay race which was included in the event in the past years. Also removed from the overall programme are spectator grandstands and Hotspots along the course.

The Half Marathon and Marathon will have different start and finish lines. Runners in the Half Marathon will start their race in several groups between 0800 and 0830 while the Marathon runners will get under way from 0930 with a time window of just under two hours. Most of them will be in batches of 1,000 per starting group who will be sent on their way at roughly ten-minute intervals. The runners will assemble before the race in their predetermined groups in different halls of the Expo building. There, and also later in the finish areas, a total of 120,000 square metres of the event area will be available to the organisers and under their control and they will not allow spectators to enter – social distancing will be maintained. Disinfection stations will be set up both in the event area in general and along the course.

All participants will also be given a tubular scarf with a breathing filter. This must be worn in the event area including the start and finish areas. During the race runners must have these with them and put them over mouth and nose after they cross the finish line. No open drinks or individual food offerings will be available in the finish area; instead all participants will receive a refuelling package. Other facilities which are usually on offer, such as massage and showers, will not be available.

According to the organisers, this detailed hygiene policy has been created with the help of the University of Manchester Metropolitan (Crowd Managing). This university department in Britain is working with a number of major international marathon races as well as the Premier League and the German Football Federation (DFB).

“The organisational and hygiene policy should demonstrate that a running event with up to 14,000 participants within a city environment can be carried out responsibly while respecting the restrictions on contact and current hygiene guidelines since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Frank Thaleiser.

Race news

Marine Corps conserves energy for Marathon

Kids’ Run and 10K switch to virtual-only

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 11:02:00 +0000

The Marine Corps Marathon Organization (MCMO) has announced changes to the 2020 MCM Weekend schedule on 24–25 October.

The MCM Kids Run and MCM10K will now be a virtual-only events. The MCM Kids Run is being rebranded as the MCM Semper Fun Mile, a one-mile virtual event for kids to run with their parents or guardians.

“Every decision we are making is intended to maximize the operational bandwidth required to host the 45th Marine Corps Marathon in Arlington, Virginia on 25 October,” said MCMO Director Rick Nealis.

Race news

Cape Town cancels

Virtual race to step up

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 10:44:00 +0000

Organisers of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, scheduled for 18 October, have confirmed cancellation of the event. The road and trail Peace Runs have also been cancelled.

Athletics South Africa President Aleck Skhosana said, “Cancelling this year’s edition of the Cape Town Marathon was a difficult decision to make because it is an influential nation-builder with a massive economic impact.” Sydney Mbhele, Chief Executive of Brand at Sanlam, the race’s headline sponsor, commended the organising team saying: “At Sanlam we fully support this decision, and are working alongside our partners to ensure that we are still able to generate as much economic activity as possible from the virtual race.”

The inaugural Sanlam Cape Town Virtual Marathon is set for 18 October with the introduction of a Virtual Marathon, Half Marathon and 5km or 10km Peace Run/Walk options.

Through combining cutting-edge technology, advanced tracking features, and pre-recorded audio and video within the Virtual Marathon App, participants get to enjoy the full Sanlam Cape Town Marathon race experience, no matter where they are in the world – from the start line ceremony, the lighting of the Peace Torch and the promenade sounds of seagulls and crashing ocean waves, to the local crowds and Cape minstrels cheering them on.

Runners’ race experience will be further enhanced by real-time tracking of their own run, while they are also informed of their virtual progress along the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon route.

Race news Milton Keynes Marathon & Half Marathon

Milton Keynes reimagined

Measured routes available for self-supported running

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 14:41:00 +0000

The Rightmove Milton Keynes Marathon, originally scheduled for 4 May before being postponed to September, is now going to be held between 6–19 September as a “reimagined” event.

“Runners will be able to experience all the excitement and joy of running our event, but in a safe and sensible way that will observe the need for government imposed social distancing,” say the organisers. “Our Reimagined event is not a virtual race. It’s a measured and certified race route taking in the beautiful lakes and scenery of Milton Keynes.”

This self-supporting race features advanced GPS timing technology with built-in turn-by-turn voice navigation for round-the-clock service in a two-week period in September. Results will be recorded and a leaderboard maintained. Runners will receive inspirational VE 75th anniversary themed medals. All races are still open for entries including the Marathon, Half-marathon, Marathon Relay, Turing 10k, Rocket 5k and Superhero Fun Run. This is a unique opportunity for runners to enter one or all distances.

Race news BMW Berlin-Marathon

Berlin Marathon hangs in the balance

November date might be possible if track and trace implemented

By Jörg Wenig | race-news-service.com

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 14:34:00 +0000

The organisers of the Berlin Marathon will decide in the coming week whether it can still take place this year or will have to be cancelled, says managing director of SCC-Events GmbH, Jürgen Lock.

In April the Berlin Senate decided to ban large events with over 5000 participants until 24 October – this happened without any advance notice given to the organisers of the Berlin Marathon. This meant that the race could not take place as scheduled on 27 October – but, in theory, the race could be moved to November.

The Berlin organisers want to include the latest developments in making their decision. Chancellor Angela Merkel and the government heads of the federal states decided on 17 June that, while major events would remain banned until the end of October, exceptions could be made if participant data is available and infections can be traced and a further infection can be prevented. These exceptions could be decisive for organisers of cultural and sporting events.

Date changes

Race date for Dhaka Half Marathon (BAN) changed

Dhaka Half Marathon date change

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:00:35 +0000

The Dhaka Half Marathon (BAN) will take place on Fri 19 February 2021, not Sun 21 February 2021 as previously published.

Race news Lidl São Silvestre de Lisboa

“Yellow light” for El Corte Ingles Sao Silvestre de Lisboa

Facebook vote for race shirt

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 11:32:00 +0000

The 13th edition of El Corte Ingles Sao Silvestre de Lisboa on 26 December, organised by HMS Sports in partnership with the Lisbon City Council, will paint the town yellow.

That was the colour chosen by the race’s Facebook fans for the New Balance longsleeve runners will receive at registration.

HMS Sports debuted the t-shirt colour vote in 2015 involving athletes who follow the event on social networks. In the 2020 contest there were about 2200 entries made between 1–3 June with 52% of the votes for yellow.

The 10km race starts at 17.30 while there is a race at 15.00 for children born between 2007 and 2015 called the Pelicas São Silvestre da Pequenada, The organisers hold three preparation sessions leading up to the race on 5, 12 and 19 December, each at 10:00 am in the Anfiteatro Keil do Amaral, Monsanto.

Race news BMW Helsinki Marathon

Still hopeful in Helsinki

Complying with relevant restrictions

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 13:50:00 +0000

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus situation the Helsinki Marathon will be organised on 22 August with special arrangements which take into account the restrictions and recommendations in force at the time.

More detailed instructions will be given to participants separately before and at the event.

The organisers ask participants to understand the exceptional ways in which these events can be organised at all.

Race news Danang International Marathon

Manulife Danang International Marathon will go ahead on 8 August

Vietnam runners begin to move again

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 13:42:00 +0000

Vietnam is proud to have received remarkable plaudits from around the globe for its success in the struggle against the coronavirus.

After the storm comes a calm, as we return to the usual rhythm of life and the path towards a rapid recovery. While the world is standing still Vietnam is beginning to move: Domestic flights have been reinstated and entertainment and sporting events are revitalising the country, allowing Vietnam to be healthy, young and confident again.

Manulife Danang International Marathon will go ahead on 8 August 2020 as one of the very few AIMS member international marathons which remain as scheduled this year. Its mission is to spread the spirit of Vietnamese sport in the world with the message “Vietnam Can”. To affirm the country’s stance within the global running community. “Vietnam Can” is the most appropriate and powerful expression to show the world that Vietnam can do the impossible.

Bady Pham of the organising group Pulse Active says: “Manulife Danang International Marathon 2020 will mark an extremely special year for us all. This year’s medal will not only represent each person’s achievement but also the accomplishment of the whole nation. It is a physical reflection of our message “Vietnam Can" – showing the world that Vietnamese people can achieve this. Just stay strong and keep on training!”

Race news Standard Chartered Hanoi Marathon Heritage Race

Vietnam: the race is on but runners need reassurance

Comprehensive alternatives if virus reemerges

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 13:44:00 +0000

Following Vietnam’s success in containing the coronavirus (329 cases, no deaths and no transmissions detected for 52 days) the Government has actively begun steps to revive the economy.

Beating back the pandemic also affords the prospect of allowing social activities to return to normal. Many major sports activities have been organised since late May.

The return of major sports events, along with tourism promotion. has allowed DHA Ltd to believe that both the VPBank Hanoi Marathon ASEAN 2020 and the Halong Bay Heritage Marathon 2020 will be held as scheduled on 18 October and 22 November respectively.

Given the pandemic has not fully been controlled in many countries, and in order for runners to complete registration without any worries, DHA has announced its contingency plan as a way to reassure runners who sign up for its marathons.

As a worst case, there could still be two scenarios:

1. The Marathon is postponed due to the re-emergence of the pandemic and the government does not allow sports activities and mass events to be held.

2. Foreign runners who have registered to compete in Vietnam are forced to undergo a 14-day quarantine on arrival, so they will not be able to join the race.

If the above cases occur DHA propose the following options to support runners:

Option 1: The entire registration fee will be automatically transferred to the 2021 marathon.

Option 2: If the marathon cannot be held as planned due to the pandemic, the organisers will arrange an online race instead.

Registered runners can still join the online race for a fee of USD 15 (13 EUR), and will receive T-shirt and medal (Vietnamese and foreign runners need to cover the postage cost for shipping T-shirts and medals). The organiser will deduct USD 15 from the runner’s registration fee to complete the online race registration. The rest of the fee will be taken forward to the 2021 marathon. This means that the runner will only have to pay an additional USD 15 to compete at the registered distance of the 2021 race.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, DHA’s Executive Director, said: “The year 2020 is an exception due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Race Organising Committee has adjusted terms of the race to encourage runners to keep training, to overcome the pandemic and to enter races under the best conditions.”

Race news Prague International Marathon

“Keep on running” challenge creates mixed reality events

Goal of one million kilometres

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 11:34:00 +0000

RunCzech, which organises races which attract over 120,000 participants a year, has come up with the “Česko běží dál” (Czech Republic keeps on running) Challenge as a way of getting runners to compete on real courses in a new kind of “mixed reality”.

In its earlier FreeRun program 90 running courses, each 5km long and certified by the Czech Athletics Federation, were created, maintained and staffed with an experienced running coach.The network of courses is managed and navigated using the RunCzech app.

The main challenge is to run a total of 125km, whenever possible, on any of the 5km FreeRun courses over a period of 90 days. People can choose to run distances from 5km–40km, or set a goal of travelling around the country and running as many FreeRun courses as possible within the allotted time.

“The goal is to have one million kilometres completed,” says RunCzech President Carlo Capalbo. “[It] will be a way for runners to compete, to compare their results, to have a feeling of solidarity and companionship until it’s safe for us to all come together again. We believe this could be successfully replicated in other countries.”

Each participant will receive a digital diploma, and those who complete the entire 125K challenge will receive a special digital medal. There will be ranking for 5km, 10km, 20km, 40km and 125km distances. In addition, the fastest runners will earn various awards. RunCzech will carefully monitor the courses to identify where there are large gatherings of runners and foster friendly competition between cities to see who can bring out more participants.

Race news

Cape Town Marathon launches virtual race

Virtual race added

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 11:19:00 +0000

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon race organisers are adding a virtual version of the iconic city marathon to its existing range of events.

It is still too early to predict whether the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will be staged in its original format on 18 October. The race organisers remain in close contact with Athletics South Africa and all relevant roleplayers as the months progress.

The virtual race will offer an interactive and immersive race experience for runners by superimposing the race route on top of streets, open spaces and gardens, complete with live tracking, distance markers, and push messages with information about key landmarks as they are passed.

The creation of this virtual race will allow athletes to compete in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on 18 October from anywhere in the world, starting between 06.00–10.00 local time, wherever they are.

The race will be available through the Sanlam Cape Town Virtual Marathon app, an integrated digital platform that will launch soon.

The app will track participants as if they are running the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon route no matter where they are in the world – making this a virtual race like no other.

While the 5km and 10km Peace Runs will also be presented in Virtual Race format on 17 and 18 October respectively, there will not be a Virtual Race option for the 2020 Trail Runs.

Entries for the Virtual Race have opened via Webtickets. Athletes who have already entered the 2020 race will be able to transfer to the Virtual Race. Entrants will receive an official race number, and all finishers will receive a digital medal and certificate.

Race news adidas Stockholm Marathon

Stockholm race organisers cancel summer running

Continuing coronavirus restrictions make mass events impossible

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 11:05:00 +0000

The Swedish sports organisations Spårvägens FK and Hässelby SK, together referred to as Marathongruppen, have announced that they have been forced to cancel their planned events in August until mid September.

This includes the earlier-postponed ASICS Stockholm Marathon and the Ramboll Stockholm Half Marathon – both scheduled for 5 September.

On 4 June the Swedish government announced new regulations for domestic travel this summer. Given the current state of the corona pandemic, permission will not be given to organise running events that gather more than 49 people (which is the current limit for public gatherings in Sweden).

“The corona pandemic has meant that things we have previously taken for granted can no longer be done,” said the organisers. “During spring we did everything we could to find alternatives but we have finally had to accept that there is no safe way to stage the majority of our autumn events.”

Date changes Zurich Maratón de Sevilla

Race date for Zurich Maratón de Sevilla (ESP) changed

Zurich Maratón de Sevilla date change

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 14:19:48 +0000

The Zurich Maratón de Sevilla (ESP) will take place on Sun 14 February 2021, not Sun 21 February 2021 as previously published.

Date changes Lisbon Eco Marathon

Race date for Lisbon Eco Marathon (POR) changed

Lisbon Eco Marathon date change

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 14:16:35 +0000

The Lisbon Eco Marathon (POR) will take place on Sun 2 May 2021, not Sun 9 May 2021 as previously published.

Race news Swiss Irontrail

Swissalpine Marathon will go ahead

Ultra confirmed for original date on 25–26 July

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 10:15:00 +0000

FILISUR, 26JUL14 - Imposantes Bauwerk: Die neue Strecke fuehrt die Laeufer des K78, C42 und K30 erstmals unter dem weltberuehmten Landwasserviadukt hindurch, welcher zum Unesco-Weltkulturerbe gehoert. Impression vom 29. Swissalpine am 26. Juli 2014. Impression of the traditional Swissalpine, the world's biggest ultramarathon over 79 km and +/- 2660 m, July 26, 2014. swiss-image.ch/Photo Andy Mettler
Photo: Andy Mettler
© swiss-image.ch

Organisers of the Swissalpine Marathon Davos have confirmed that the race will go ahead on 25–26 July as originally scheduled – but with some restrictive precautions put in place because of the covid-19 virus.

The 68km race will be run on 25 July and the 43km race on 26 July. There will be no 20km race that traditionally forms part of the programme. To comply with the hygiene and distance rules in place the runners will be started on a staggered basis.

Other races with individual starts at intervals of ten or fifteen seconds are planned both in Switzerland and in Germany.

Race news Kobe Marathon

Kobe Marathon cancelled

Effects of pandemic continue to lead to cancellations

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 11:39:00 +0000

The Kobe Marathon, scheduled for 15 November and which had 19.444 finishers last year, has announced that the race has been cancelled.

Among the reasons cited is the cancellation of other races around the same time:

- problems recruiting medical staff due to coronavirus.

- the difficulty of maintaining social distancing by runners during the race.

- the possibility of a 2nd and 3rd wave spreading infection due to overcrowding during the race.

- a sharp decrease in the number of entries from overseas.

- the decrease in the number of volunteers due to coronavirus.

- as most of the road races scheduled in November in Japan have been cancelled it would be difficult to hold only the Kobe Marathon.

Date changes

Race date for Wizz Air Kyiv City Marathon (UKR) changed

Wizz Air Kyiv City Marathon date change

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 13:54:38 +0000

The Wizz Air Kyiv City Marathon (UKR) will take place on Sat 31 October 2020, not Sun 1 November 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Danang International Marathon

Race date for Manulife Danang International Marathon (VIE) changed

Manulife Danang Int’l Marathon date change

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 10:50:31 +0000

The Manulife Danang International Marathon (VIE) will take place on Sat 8 August 2020, not Sun 9 August 2020 as previously published.

Race news Cork City Marathon, Half Marathon & 10k Race

Cork launches virtual race series

After cancellation of 2020 event entries automatically deferred to 2021

Fri, 29 May 2020 13:19:00 +0000

The 14th Cork City Marathon was originally scheduled to take place on 31 May but, after first being postponed to 6 September, it is now moving online as a virtual race series.

The marathon slogan ‘more than a marathon’ has never been more apt. Cork City Council are calling on those who had registered to run for their chosen charities to use the marathon’s virtual races as a means to “run together by running apart” while observing the current guidelines. Supporters can continue to cheer on their friends and family across the Cork City Marathon social media channels.

The first virtual races will start this weekend on 31 May and will continue throughout the summer until 6 September.

Speaking on Cork City Council’s plans, race director Adrienne Rodgers said: “The current restrictions on mass gatherings and activities only take us to 10 August but, cognisant of the existing advice, we don’t believe it would be possible to run the event safely in its usual format in September.”

For those already registered for the 2020 marathon all entries will be automatically deferred to the 2021 race, which will take place on the June Bank Holiday weekend – Sunday 6 June 2021. Refunds are also available by emailing info@corkcitymarathon.ie Those who have registered for the 2020 race are instead offered the chance to participate in a series of engaging virtual marathon challenges where the focus will be on community spirit with a touch of competition.

Participants registered for the Cork City Marathon 2020 are encouraged to walk, jog or run one of the five distance categories available through the virtual race website which goes live on 31 May. Participants can achieve their selected distance across a number of days or weeks within the race time period (while always following Government advice on social distancing). Their final accumulated race times can be submitted via an easy-to-use e-form which is available on the Cork City Marathon website.

2019 Cork City Marathon winner, current Irish 50km champion and Irish record holder Gary O’Hanlon has given the virtual races his full support and says; “This is a brilliant initiative that I’m delighted to be involved with. It will add a longer life strand to the marathon and gives people the opportunity to continue to reach their target of running a marathon in a very manageable way. It’s going to sustain and grow the marathon community’s involvement while continuing to make it increasingly accessible to all.”

Race news B.A.A. Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon cancelled

Historic race, already postponed, misses a year for the first time

Fri, 29 May 2020 08:49:00 +0000

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 20: A view of the Boston Marathon finish line on April 20, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the race was rescheduled to September 14, 2020 instead of being run on April 20, Patriot's Day. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Photo: Maddie Meyer
© 2020 Getty Images

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced on 28 May that the 124th Boston Marathon has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, following a decision by Boston Mayor Martin Walsh. It is the first time in the event’s history that it has missed a year.

The race had originally been scheduled for 20 April but postponed to 14 September. It will be replaced by a virtual event.

“Our top priority continues to be safeguarding the health of the community, as well as our staff, participants, volunteers, spectators, and supporters,” said Tom Grilk, C.E.O. of the B.A.A. “While we cannot bring the world to Boston in September, we plan to bring Boston to the world for an historic 124th Boston Marathon.”

All participants who were originally registered for the 20 April event will be offered a full refund of their entry fee associated with the race and will have the opportunity to participate in the virtual alternative to the 124th Boston Marathon, which can be run any time between 7–14 September. The B.A.A. will also offer a series of virtual events and activities throughout September’s Marathon Week in an effort to bring the Boston Marathon experience to the constituencies that the organisation serves here in Boston, across the United States, and around the world.

Participants in the virtual 2020 Boston Marathon will be required to complete the 26.2 mile distance within a six-hour time period and provide proof of timing to the B.A.A. All athletes who complete the virtual race will receive an official Boston Marathon program, participant t-shirt, medal, and runner’s bib.

The B.A.A. 5K scheduled for 12 September has also been cancelled due to coronavirus. All participants who were originally registered for the April 18, 2020 event will be offered a refund.

The B.A.A. has been regularly communicating with city and state officials to discuss all efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus. For the 35th year, John Hancock will serve as principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon.

Registration for the 2021 Boston Marathon will open towards the end of September 2020. The beginning of the qualifying window to be used for application and entry into the 2021 Boston Marathon has been established to be 15 September 2018, which means that qualifying performances posted for the 2020 event will be accepted into the 2021 race, as well. Achieving and submitting a qualifying time during Boston Marathon registration does not guarantee acceptance into the Boston Marathon.

Race news EDP Lisbon Half Marathon

EDP Lisbon Half Marathon postponed until May 2021

No race in 2020 as Portugal bans major events until September

Fri, 22 May 2020 16:04:00 +0000

The EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, which had been rescheduled for 6 September 2020, has again been postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. It will now take place on 9 May 2021.

Portugal recently extended the ban on major events until at least 30 September. Rules around social distancing, mandatory use of face masks, capacity limits for enclosed spaces and an ongoing civic duty to remain home mean the organisers of the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon have had to take the decision to postpone the event to next year.

All runners registered for 2020 are now automatically registered for 9 May 2021. They will be emailed with the instructions on how to either: Confirm participation in 2021 on 9 May; exchange their registration for a voucher that can be used in 2021 or 2022 editions, or; transfer their registration to someone else, at no charge

The 36-month time limit for completing the series and becoming a “SuperRunner” only begins after the first race is completed.

Updated 2020 Race Calendar

The races in Prague (rescheduled for 6 September), Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia are still scheduled to go ahead but the situation is changing daily in every country and government advice is updating. Further notifications will be posted if there are further changes.

06/09/2020 – Prague Half
13/09/2020 – Copenhagen Half
04/10/2020 – Cardiff Half
25/10/2020 – Valencia Half

Date changes Siberian International Marathon

Race date for Siberian International Marathon (RUS) changed

Siberian Int’l Marathon date change

Wed, 20 May 2020 15:08:03 +0000

The Siberian International Marathon (RUS) will take place on Sun 2 August 2020, not Sat 1 August 2020 as previously published.

Race news Gold Coast Marathon

Gold Coast Marathon cancelled

Free virtual running event planned – Refunds being processed

Wed, 20 May 2020 09:18:00 +0000

Organisers have confirmed that the 41st edition of the Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon, due to be held on the weekend of 4-5 July, has been cancelled.

Plans for the race were put on hold in March but the organisers still hoped to deliver an event as scheduled.

The organisers’ statement read: “The Queensland Government’s strong approach to addressing the COVID-19 threat which includes restricted gatherings, reduced travel opportunities and a declaration that the Queensland Public Health Emergency has been extended to 17 August 2020 makes it impossible to deliver this year’s event.

“We have already started to work with our strategic partners, sponsors, and stakeholders to make sure the 2021 edition scheduled for 3-4 July will be a very special and memorable event.

“An exciting free virtual running event will be available this July and details will be released very soon.

“Those runners who have already registered for the 2020 Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon, will be contacted directly about the processing of registration fee refunds.”

Race news 3 Country Sparkasse Marathon

Risk-free registration for 3 Country Marathon

Race around Lake Constance offers free transfer in event of cancellation

Mon, 18 May 2020 10:26:00 +0000

There are still 20 weeks to go before the 2020 Sparkasse 3 Country Marathon (AUT) is held on 4 October.

The organisers are assuming that it will go ahead while observing certain precautions. But if it is cancelled entry fees will not be lost for participants who have already registered. Entries will be automatically transferred to next year’s race on 10 October 2021.If that date does not fit then a transfer to the following year is also possible (9 October 2022).

A refund of the participation fee is also possible. However, we hope that one of the two dates and the expected running experience at the 3 Country Sparkasse Marathon on Lake Constance will not make this third option necessary.

With a risk-free entry there is nothing to lose by registering now: http://www.sparkasse-3-laender-marathon.at/de/anmeldung/

Running news Comrades Marathon

Comrades Marathon cancelled

Athletics to restart in Czechia, Estonia

Fri, 15 May 2020 13:15:00 +0000

Following long discussion with the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) Board and KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA), Athletics South Africa has announced the cancellation of the 2020 Comrades Marathon.

Making the announcement, ASA President Aleck Skhosana said: “Cancelling what would have been the 95th edition of the Comrades Marathon was a long and arduous decision to make. With the race’s rich history, its powerful nation-building attributes and contribution towards social cohesion, as well as its immense economic impact, it would have been premature to rush into an outright cancellation sooner. However, we believe we have jointly arrived at the correct decision to protect the health and safety of all concerned as well as the lives of our fellow South Africans.”

The 95th edition will now be run in 2021 and will be the 47th “down” run, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban and will mark the Centenary of the Comrades Marathon Association which was founded on 24th May 1921.

Exactly 80 years ago Comrades Marathon organisers faced a similar dilemma in deciding whether to stage the 20th Comrades Marathon some eight months into the conflagration of World War II. At the last moment it was decided to go ahead with just 23 starters, following the withdrawal of many runners who had been mobilised for the war effort. Only 10 runners completed the 1940 Comrades Marathon. The following year the race was cancelled and remained so for the duration of the war (1941–1945), as the organisers, runners and supporters stood in solidarity with all those who suffered the horrors and atrocities of war, similar to that of the World War 1 which had inspired the foundation of the Comrades Marathon.

CMA Chairperson Cheryl Winn commented: “We thank each of our runners, supporters, volunteers and sponsors for their patience, fortitude and steadfast support over the past two months during which we have wrangled with this difficult decision. Sad as it is, as CMA we can now turn our focus towards the staging of our Centenary Celebrations next year in the comfort of knowing we can rely on the passionate loyalty and participation of so many.”

The Czech Athletics Federation and the Estonian Athletics Association have both confirmed that their national championships will be held on the weekend of 8–9 August.

AIMS news Royal Victoria Marathon

2020 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon cancelled

Restrictions in British Columbia to continue “until vaccine found”

Thu, 14 May 2020 09:06:00 +0000

The Victoria Marathon Society has made the regrettable decision to cancel the 2020 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon, scheduled for 11 October.

On 6 May the British Columbia Provincial Government announced the next stage in their COVID-19 response which includes a phased relaxation of physical distancing rules. However, it was stated that the restrictions on gatherings of more than 50 people will remain in effect until a vaccine is found. Given this context, it is not possible for the Society to stage the event.

“We are deeply disappointed to have to cancel the event,” said Jonathan Foweraker, President of the Victoria Marathon Society. “We are sensitive to the impact this will have on our valued sponsors, community partners, vendors, and volunteers as well as our participants and charitable partners.”

Race news Midnight Sun Marathon

Slow easing of lockdown in Norway

Up to 50 can train together

Tue, 12 May 2020 14:19:00 +0000

Photo: Truls Tiller

Nils Heatta of Midnight Sun Marathon reports a slight easing of restrictions in Norway: “From now we can start training again in organised groups of up to 20 but everyone has to keep the 1m distance from each other. It’s allowed to have meetings with fewer than 50 people and from 15 June this is due to be raised to up to 200.

“We are hoping that we can hold our mountain races at the end of August but things can change fast if the coronavirus cases take an upturn.

“We were lucky that we could hold the PolarNight Halfmarathon in January before the Coronavirus shut down everything.”

Race news Volksbank-Münster-Marathon

Cautious optimism in Münster

Organisers hope September race may still be possible

Tue, 12 May 2020 13:43:00 +0000

Organisers of the Volksbank-Münster-Marathon (GER) have held detailed discussions about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the current situation.

Initial optimism for the marathon in mid-September was followed by more and more doubt, but recent relaxation of public health restrictions and a decline in the number of new infections are now allowing the team to hope once more.

All members of the organising team are well aware that it is far from definite whether the race can be run on 20 September. So the team has set itself a deadline of 30 June for a final decision, hoping that reliable official information will be available by then.

For all runners the lowest early bird prices are now still valid until 30 June. The full price was originally planned to be charged from 15 May. The organisers state expressly that there is no risk in registering for the marathon: in the event of cancellation all runners will be able to either keep their places for next year or obtain a full refund of the registration fee. “We are currently going full steam ahead on the race – although the loss if we have to cancel will be painful for our non-profit,” said the organising team, which is comprised mostly of unpaid volunteers.

Race news Eilat Desert Marathon

Running everywhere

Eilat Desert Marathon organisers launch virtual platform

Tue, 12 May 2020 13:31:00 +0000

Marathon Israel, organisers of the Eilat Desert Marathon, Sea of Galilee Tiberias Marathon and others have launched the “Freedom and Life Virtual 10km race” and an associated platform for communication “We Run Everywhere”.

It is an event to express the unity of runners during the difficult times we have all been going through. Participants from more than 20 countries have already registered and exchanged experiences and news, creating solutions on how to train and stay in shape, how to stay safe, how to not feel alone, and how to maintain good spirits.

At the end of the event on 31 May an online raffle will be held with free slots for future international running events which have been postponed due to the global situation. Participating races include Jerusalem, Tiberias, Prague, Desert, Bible, Limassol and Sochi Marathons. We invite all events organisers to join “We Run Everywhere” and connect with runners from over the world.

Free on-line registration and event page: https://www.facebook.com/we.run.everywhere1/
https://www.marathonisrael.co.il/en/event/we-run-everywhere/

Event organisers contact Irina Outchen: ira@marathonIsrael.co.il

Date changes Monterey Bay Half Marathon

Race date for Monterey Bay Half Marathon (USA) changed

Monterey Bay Half Marathon date change

Fri, 08 May 2020 14:46:22 +0000

The Monterey Bay Half Marathon (USA) will take place on Sat 14 November 2020, not Sun 15 November 2020 as previously published.

Race news Big Sur International Marathon

Big Sur donating masks

“Buy one, give one” campaign

Thu, 07 May 2020 12:05:00 +0000

In a one-for-one relief effort the Big Sur Marathon Foundation will donate a mask to medical partner, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) for every purchase of a custom mask.

For the past few weeks, CHOMP has been collecting masks for healthcare workers who are not providing direct patient care, but are still required to wear a mask. Big Sur Marathon aims to help them reach their goal of collecting 2000 masks.

The USD12 masks cover the mouth and nose comfortably and can be used for everything from exercising responsibly to going to the grocery store – all while showing your #bigsurmarathon pride.

The CDC recommends rotating between a few masks so that you can wash and lay flat to dry after each outing. Be safe, stay healthy, and keep running responsibly.

Race news Rimi Riga Marathon

Riga organises virtual run

Runners urged to stay away from physical course

Thu, 07 May 2020 10:53:00 +0000

The Rimi Riga Marathon (LAT) has appealed to runners to take part in a virtual race on the date of its cancelled event.

“Just like you, we are very eager to celebrate running and keep the spirit of marathon alive, even it is not possible together in person,” said the organisers.

Runners are invited to go for a family run on May 16, or to run their chosen distance of marathon, half marathon or anything else on May 17.

The race organisers asked runners in Latvia not to attempt to run the cancelled event’s planned routes in Riga itself. “We will run them together in autumn when we celebrate the 30th Rimi Riga Marathon,” said the race.

Race news Midnight Sun Marathon

Situation in Norway

Midnight Sun organiser reports on local restrictions

Wed, 06 May 2020 09:29:00 +0000

Nils Heatta of Midnight Sun Marathon reports: In Norway everything has been shut down. Schools, kindergartens, shops, hotels, sports arenas are all closed. Training in groups of more than five is prohibited and you have to keep the 2m distance. We were unable to travel from southern Norway to the north without ending up spending 14 days in quarantine.

Now things are opening up again and we can travel inside Norway – but only with special reason. People are still staying at home and do not travel much.

Today [6 May] there will be an announcement from the national health authorities about sporting activities. We expect that training in a group of up to 50 people will be allowed. From 15 June this will perhaps increase to 200 people if they can maintain a distance of one metre. The ban on larger gatherings will remain until 1 September so nearly all races have been cancelled or postponed until after then.

Race news Tui Palma Marathon Mallorca

Palma caps numbers for safety

Only total of 5000 can take part

Tue, 05 May 2020 10:41:00 +0000

Organisers of the Palma Marathon (ESP) on 11 October have announced a 50% reduction in entries as one of the first measures to help ensure safe conditions for runners.

They plan to cap entries at 5000 runners between the three distances offered: 10km, half marathon and marathon. The announcement comes as, after nearly two months confined to their homes, Spanish national athletes have been able to resume training outdoors.

Race news H.C. Andersen Marathon

HCA Marathon hopes to go ahead in September

Alternative events taking place

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 10:32:00 +0000

Eric Juhl Mogensen of Hans Christian Andersen Marathon reports from Denmark:

We are still optimistic of the race going ahead on 27 September. There is a maximum of 500 allowable participants in force until 1 September 2020. We hope the Government will look to Germany/Berlin and increase the limit to 5000 participants if there still is a maximum after 1 September – this is a number we can work with.

Until then we are trying to find new paths to follow. On 19 April, together with six other running organisations, we did the virtual run “Denmark is running” with 31,500 participants. Each started outside their own door and ran/walked 5, 10 or 21.1km at 11.00 and then tapped in their time when they had finished the distance.

On race day we had a studio with livestream from 10.30 to 13.30 with hosts and a back-up group making facetime calls to hotspots and runners around the country. We reached a total audience of 32,000 unique users. It was free to enter but if the participants could donate an amount to the organisers to cover the costs of the total setup. We did it for promotion (a planned cost) but ended with a small surplus.

Media-wise we ended being in all national and regional media on TV, radio and in print.

We asked the participants to be dressed in our red and white national colours and send in photos and videos – more than 7000 were received. We made up the poster using about 800 pictures featuring runners and town name signs.

Race news Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Chicago offers rain check to runners

Guaranteed place for 2021 event

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 11:42:00 +0000

Chicago Marathon have offered registered runners for their race, still scheduled to take place on 11 October, the chance to cancel and be awarded a guaranteed place in the 2021 race.

No refunds are available for 2020 cancellations. The scheme becomes operational on 5 May and no closing date has been announced.

Race news BMW Berlin-Marathon

Berlin Marathon statement

Senate bans mass participation events until October

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 10:45:00 +0000

BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 29: Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia acknowledges the crowd as he goes on to win the 46th Berlin Marathon 2019 on September 29, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Photo: Alexander Koerner
© 2019 Getty Images

Berlin Marathon have released a statement saying: “We have learned from the press conference of the Berlin Senate on 21 April that, according to the Containment Ordinance, all events with more than 5000 persons will be prohibited until 24 October. This applies to many of our events, but especially to the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, which cannot take place on 26–27 September 2020 as planned. We will now deal with the consequences of the official prohibition of our events, coordinate the further steps and inform you as soon as we can.”

Race news B.A.A. Boston Marathon

Stay home, says BAA

Boston Marathon organisers urge runners not to run the course

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 09:01:00 +0000

Organisers of the Boston Marathon are encouraging runners, for their own safety and to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, not to run the course.

“For the first time in Boston Marathon history, we are urging anyone considering running the Boston Marathon course this week to stay home, follow social distancing guidelines, and help flatten the curve. Roads will not be closed to vehicular traffic and groups of runners would divert valuable, urgent resources from the cities and towns along the course. Every year, the Boston Marathon is supported by thousands of medical personnel and first responders from across Massachusetts – we simply could not do it without them. They are there for us through the rain, heat, cold and any ailment that we may be met with from Hopkinton to Boston. Now we must support them as they work the front lines to battle the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the statement from Boston Athletic Association (BAA).

The rescheduled Boston Marathon is due to take place on 14 September.

Race news Eilat Desert Marathon

An event for everyone

Virtual event for “the times we’re all going through”

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 12:36:00 +0000

Marathon Israel has created a virtual event, the Freedom and Life 10km, to be run at any time and in any place until 31 May 2020.

It is a venture which seeks “to symbolise the unity of runners for the times we’re all going through”. Wherever you live and however you are training your stories, videos and photos are sought to build a platform for communication. The aims is to exchange experiences and news, create solutions on how to train and stay in shape, how to stay safe, how to not feel alone, and how to maintain spirits.

Anyone can register, print out a bib number and send it with story, video or photo to world@marathonisrael.co.il

Registration is available at: https://www.4sport-live.com/results/preHome2?event=3085&lan=E

Race news Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

Ottawa goes virtual

Virtual race weekend replaces cancelled events

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 07:10:00 +0000

Runners who have registered for the cancelled Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon will be able to take part in a virtual Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend this spring.

While the details of the virtual event will be announced shortly, the more than 17,000 people who were already registered to take part in one of six running distances during the popular race weekend, will receive their Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend race kit, including their medal, t-shirt and a few surprises from event partners. Registration will re-open shortly to allow those who were not previously registered to take part in the virtual event.

This virtual race will be an opportunity for runners and walkers to earn their 2020 medals and t-shirts by running or walking on their own, while respecting and promoting all public health physical distancing guidelines.

Run Ottawa will partner with Sportstats to create a shareable virtual finish line as well as a comprehensive set of results.

“Cancelling the event is a tremendous disappointment for all of us, but it is the right and only thing to do given the ongoing COVID-19 containment measures,” said Ian Fraser, Executive Director of Run Ottawa. “We believe our virtual event will be a great opportunity for runners and walkers to put their winter and spring training to good use, and we look forward to welcoming our participants to the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend in 2021.”

Participants who were using this year’s event to fundraise are encouraged to continue to raise funds and promote their favourite causes through the new virtual race and by using the hashtag #ScotiaCharityChallenge, from now until August 31, 2020.

The organizers also announced today that all registered participants will receive a 50% discount code to be used to register for the distance of their choice at the 2021 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, which will take place May 28 and 29, 2021.

Date changes Maratona da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro

Race date for Rio de Janeiro City Marathon (BRA) changed

Rio de Janeiro City Marathon date change

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:47:24 +0000

The Rio de Janeiro City Marathon (BRA) will take place on Mon 12 October 2020, not Sun 14 June 2020 as previously published.

Date changes KLM Aruba Marathon (& 21.1K, 10K, 5K)

Race date for KLM Aruba Marathon (& 21.1K, 10K, 5K) (ARU) changed

KLM Aruba Marathon date change

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:43:56 +0000

The KLM Aruba Marathon (& 21.1K, 10K, 5K) (ARU) will take place on Sun 18 October 2020, not Sun 7 June 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Lima 42k Marathon

Race date for Marathon Life Lima42k (PER) changed

Marathon Life Lima42k date change

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:41:56 +0000

The Marathon Life Lima42k (PER) will take place on Sun 27 September 2020, not Sun 17 May 2020 as previously published.

Date changes StraLugano

Race date for StraLugano (SUI) changed

StraLugano date change

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:39:43 +0000

The StraLugano (SUI) will be Sat 29 August 2020—Sun 30 August 2020, not Sat 16 May 2020—Sun 17 May 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Leiden Marathon

Race date for Leiden Marathon (NED) changed

Leiden Marathon date change

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:38:44 +0000

The Leiden Marathon (NED) will take place on Sun 22 November 2020, not Sun 10 May 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Wizz Air Skopje Marathon

Race date for Wizz Air Skopje Marathon (MKD) changed

Wizz Air Skopje Marathon date change

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 13:42:14 +0000

The Wizz Air Skopje Marathon (MKD) will take place on Sun 4 October 2020, not Sun 10 May 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Kia Half Marathon & 10k by Puma

Race date for Peru Runners – Lima Half Marathon & 10k (PER) changed

Peru Runners – Lima Half Marathon date change

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 12:24:03 +0000

The Peru Runners – Lima Half Marathon & 10k (PER) will take place on Sun 30 August 2020, not Sun 23 August 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Gatorade Maratón de Santiago

Race date for Santiago Marathon (CHI) changed

Santiago Marathon date change

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 12:20:37 +0000

The Santiago Marathon (CHI) will take place on Sun 6 September 2020, not Sun 17 May 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Kazan Marathon

Race date for Kazan Marathon (RUS) changed

Kazan Marathon date change

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 12:14:25 +0000

The Kazan Marathon (RUS) will take place on Sun 16 August 2020, not Sun 3 May 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Kaunas Marathon

Race date for Kaunas Marathon (LTU) changed

Kaunas Marathon date change

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 12:12:19 +0000

The Kaunas Marathon (LTU) will take place on Sun 7 June 2020, not Sun 26 April 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Maraton Cartago

Race date for Maraton Cartago (CRC) changed

Maraton Cartago date change

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 12:08:08 +0000

The Maraton Cartago (CRC) will take place on Sun 31 May 2020, not Sun 5 April 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Moy Park Belfast City Marathon

Race date for Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon (GBR) changed

Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon date change

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 11:58:36 +0000

The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon (GBR) will take place on Sun 20 September 2020, not Sun 3 May 2020 as previously published.

Date changes

Race date for Cracovia Marathon (POL) changed

Cracovia Marathon date change

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 11:44:20 +0000

The Cracovia Marathon (POL) will take place on Sun 8 November 2020, not Sun 26 April 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Kigali International Peace Marathon

Race date for Kigali International Peace Marathon (RWA) changed

Kigali International Peace Marathon date change

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 11:41:45 +0000

The Kigali International Peace Marathon (RWA) will take place on Sun 21 June 2020, not Sun 17 May 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Cork City Marathon, Half Marathon & 10k Race

Race date for Cork City Marathon (IRL) changed

Cork City Marathon date change

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 11:37:37 +0000

The Cork City Marathon (IRL) will take place on Sun 6 September 2020, not Sun 31 May 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Du Motion-Runners’ Days Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik Half Marathon)

Race date for Du Motion-Runners’ Days Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik Half Marathon) (CRO) changed

Du Motion-Runners’ Days Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik Half Marathon) date change

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 15:43:37 +0000

The Du Motion-Runners’ Days Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik Half Marathon) (CRO) will be Sat 26 September 2020—Sun 27 September 2020, not Sat 25 April 2020—Sun 26 April 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Türkiye İş Bankası İstanbul Half Marathon

Race date for Vodafone İstanbul Half Marathon (TUR) changed

Vodafone İstanbul Half Marathon date change

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 15:18:59 +0000

The Vodafone İstanbul Half Marathon (TUR) will take place on Sun 20 September 2020, not Sun 5 April 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Canberra Times Marathon Festival

Race date for The Canberra Times Marathon Festival (AUS) changed

The Canberra Times Marathon Festival date change

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 15:07:45 +0000

The The Canberra Times Marathon Festival (AUS) will take place on Sun 23 August 2020, not Sat 4 April 2020 as previously published.

Date changes

Race date for Novi Sad Half Marathon (SRB) changed

Novi Sad Half Marathon date change

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 16:34:35 +0000

The Novi Sad Half Marathon (SRB) will be Sat 30 May 2020—Sun 31 May 2020, not Sun 22 March 2020—Sun 22 March 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Comtrade Belgrade Marathon

Race date for Belgrade Marathon (SRB) changed

Belgrade Marathon date change

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 16:06:05 +0000

The Belgrade Marathon (SRB) will take place on Sun 18 October 2020, not Sun 26 April 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Maratonina Città di Udine

Race date for Maratonina Città di Udine (ITA) changed

Maratonina Città di Udine date change

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 16:01:13 +0000

The Maratonina Città di Udine (ITA) will take place on Sun 27 September 2020, not Sun 4 October 2020 as previously published.

Date changes B.A.A. Boston Marathon

Race date for B.A.A. Boston Marathon (USA) changed

B.A.A. Boston Marathon date change

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 14:37:51 +0000

The B.A.A. Boston Marathon (USA) will take place on Mon 14 September 2020, not Mon 20 April 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Zurich Rock ’n’ Roll Running Series Madrid

Race date for EDP Rock ’n’ Roll Madrid Maratón & 1/2 (ESP) changed

EDP Rock ’n’ Roll Madrid Maratón & 1/2 date change

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 11:02:13 +0000

The EDP Rock ’n’ Roll Madrid Maratón & 1/2 (ESP) will take place on Sun 15 November 2020, not Sun 26 April 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Jerusalem Marathon, Half & 10k

Race date for Jerusalem Marathon, Half & 10k (ISR) changed

Jerusalem Marathon, Half & 10k date change

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 10:52:34 +0000

The Jerusalem Marathon, Half & 10k (ISR) will take place on Fri 6 November 2020, not Fri 20 March 2020 as previously published.

Date changes

Race date for United Airlines Guam Marathon (GUM) changed

United Airlines Guam Marathon date change

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 10:51:57 +0000

The United Airlines Guam Marathon (GUM) will take place on Sun 13 September 2020, not Sun 5 April 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Movistar Madrid Medio Maratón

Movistar Medio Maratón de Madrid rescheduled

Postponed due to coronavirus

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 15:48:00 +0000

The Movistar Medio Maratón de Madrid (ESP), originally planned for Sun 29 March 2020 but postponed due to coronavirus, has been rescheduled and will now take place on Sun 4 October 2020.

Date changes

OPAP Limassol Marathon GSO (CYP) postponed

OPAP Limassol Marathon GSO date change

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 11:42:00 +0000

The OPAP Limassol Marathon GSO (CYP) has been postponed and will be held on Sat 21 November 2020—Sun 22 November 2020, not Sun 22 March 2020 as previously published.

Date changes ČSOB Bratislava Marathon

ČSOB Bratislava Marathon (SVK) rescheduled

April race postponed until September

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 11:28:00 +0000

The ČSOB Bratislava Marathon (SVK), initially due to take place on Sun 5 April but cancelled due to the spread of coronavirus, has been rescheduled for Sun 6 September 2020.

This article was revised after first publication.

Date changes EDP Lisbon Half Marathon

Race date for EDP Lisbon Half Marathon (POR) changed

EDP Lisbon Half Marathon date change

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 11:19:00 +0000

The EDP Lisbon Half Marathon (POR) will be held on Sat 5 September 2020—Sun 6 September 2020, not Sun 22 March 2020 as previously published.

The postponement of the races was determined by a case of force majeure (the risk of spread of COVID-19) and results from a decision of the official health authorities.

Race news Nagoya Women’s Marathon

Nagoya Women’s Marathon finds a way

“Lucky and blessed to be able to hold a race”

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 12:07:00 +0000

With marathons being cancelled all over the world and Japan being one of the countries hardest hit during the build-up to the Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2020, the organisers took some innovative measures to cope with the situation.

As with the Tokyo Marathon held a week earlier Nagoya had to downsize to a race with only 114 elite athletes. Race director Tetsuya Okamura said “It was a very small race compared to other years, but I consider us lucky and blessed just to be able to hold a race under the current circumstances.”

“The winner of this year was Mao Ichiyama – we had not seen a Japanese winner in the last seven years and it was a national record in the single gender women’s marathon. Despite the rain and cold temperatures, Ichiyama made a spectacular record and secured the last spot in the women’s marathon team for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

For general participants who missed out on the event, an online marathon is being offered as a replacement since the afternoon of race day. We are offering several apps and options for runners, including Joyrun, who was a speaker at the AIMS Symposium last year. We formed a partnership with them as our official online race app. It started with interesting fates; one of them was that three members of Joyrun team were registered to our marathon this year.

“Even at this moment, all around the world, women runners are setting their goals and running toward them. We will, send our finisher T-shirt and the Tiffany pendant to all finishers. Considering the varying environments around the world because of the virus, we set the event period to last until 31 May. We will mail the finisher items to our runners from June.

“So our 2020 race is still continuing. We see many runners getting connected online and running in the city. Many women runners encourage each other and run at their locations across the country. I hear that in China participants who were registered for the Nagoya Marathon are doing the same. I feel the circle of women’s running is spreading around the world.

“We are planning on allowing all women runners in the world to take part in this movement and run starting from the end of this month. I would like runners and women to feel strong through sports, especially now in this time of crisis.”

Date changes International Marathon Alexander the Great

Race date for International Marathon Alexander the Great (GRE) changed

Int’l Marathon Alexander the Great date change

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 14:42:00 +0000

The 2021 International Marathon Alexander the Great (GRE) will be held from Sat 17 April 2021—Sun 18 April 2021, not Sun 11 April 2021 as previously published.

Date changes Zurich Marató de Barcelona

Race date for Zurich Marató de Barcelona (ESP) changed

Zurich Marató de Barcelona date change

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 10:35:42 +0000

The Zurich Marató de Barcelona (ESP) will take place on Sun 25 October 2020, not Sun 15 March 2020 as previously published.

Date changes

Race date for Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris (FRA) changed

Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris date change

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 12:53:20 +0000

The Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris (FRA) will take place on Sun 18 October 2020, not Sun 5 April 2020 as previously published.

Date changes

Race date for 17a Treviso Marathon (ITA) changed

17a Treviso Marathon date change

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 11:21:31 +0000

The 17a Treviso Marathon (ITA) will take place on Sun 20 September 2020, not Sun 29 March 2020 as previously published.

Date changes

Race date for Wizz Air Kyiv City Marathon (UKR) changed

Wizz Air Kyiv City Marathon date change

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 15:12:57 +0000

The Wizz Air Kyiv City Marathon (UKR) will take place on Sun 1 November 2020, not Sat 24 October 2020 as previously published.

Date changes

Race date for Semi Marathon International de la Ville de Sfax (TUN) changed

Semi Marathon Int’l de Sfax date change

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 16:15:18 +0000

The Semi Marathon International de la Ville de Sfax (TUN) will take place on Sun 25 October 2020, not Sun 5 April 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Hengshui Lake International Marathon

Race date for Hengshui Lake International Marathon (CHN) changed

Hengshui Lake Int’l Marathon date change

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 15:22:11 +0000

The Hengshui Lake International Marathon (CHN) will take place on Sun 20 September 2020, not Tue 22 September 2020 as previously published.

Race news

Mangyongdae Prize Marathon cancelled

North Korean race falls to coronavirus concern

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 11:27:00 +0000

The Pyongyang Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, which was scheduled for April, has been cancelled by organisers due to the threat of the coronavirus, Reuters reports.

Date changes Banja Luka Marathon

Race date for Banja Luka Half Marathon (BIH) changed

Banja Luka Half Marathon date change

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 10:36:45 +0000

The Banja Luka Half Marathon (BIH) will take place on Sun 11 October 2020, not Sun 17 May 2020 as previously published.

Race news The Ras al Khaimah Half Marathon

Yeshaneh smashes women’s half marathon record

1:04:31 in RAK Half Marathon; Kosgei also beats old record

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 10:23:00 +0000

Photo: A.G.GiancarloColombo
© GiancarloColombo/RAK Half Marathon

In a surprise result Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh Birhane set a new women’s world record of 1:04:31 at the Ras al Khaimah Half Marathon (UAE) on 21 February. She finished 100m ahead of Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei (1:04:49) who was also inside the old record.

The previous record of 1:04:51 was set by Joyciline Jepkosgei in Valencia in October 2017. Last September Kosgei recorded 1:04:28 in the Great North Run in Great Britain but the course did not conform to world record criteria (descent of > 1m/km, straight-line separation of start & finish >50% of race distance).

Pre-race favourite Kosgei was set a pace of 3:03/km (projecting a finish time of 1:04:21) by compatriot Geoffrey Pyego. She kept close to the schedule, passing 5km in 15:07, 10km in 30:18 and 15km in 45:41. Coming from just behind her Yeshaneh forged her lead by covering 15–20km 18 seconds faster than Kosgei (15:31 to 15:49). Both ran the last 1097.5m in the same time.

Yeshaneh said “I did not imagine this result, improving my best by more than a minute.”

Race news Tokyo Marathon

Coronavirus caution stops Tokyo mass run

Elite runners and wheelchair athletes only to race

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 12:29:00 +0000

The mass participation race at the Tokyo marathon, which was due to have 38,000 people taking part, has become the latest sporting casualty of the coronavirus, the British national newspaper The Guardian reported on 17 February.

Organisers confirmed that the event on 1 March will now be limited to the elite field of 176 athletes and 30 wheelchair athletes.

“We have been preparing for the Tokyo marathon 2020 while implementing preventive safety measures, however, now that a case of COVID-19 (coronavirus) has been confirmed within Tokyo, we cannot continue to launch the event within the scale we originally anticipated,” they added.

Organisers said that all registered runners would be allowed to defer their entry until next year but would would have to pay again and would not get their money back from this year’s race. One British couple who had entered the race told the Guardian that “We understand the decision but from a personal and financial perspective it is hard to take just 13 days before the race. We don’t know whether the GBP 3000 (USD 4000) we have paid for flights and hotels will be refunded if we decide to run the race next year.”

Last week organisers had announced plans to distribute surgical masks to runners and volunteers as preventive safety measures. They also told the 1800 runners registered from China that they could defer their entry until 2021 without any penalty. However, the continuing spread of the virus meant they had little choice but to take the drastic step of limiting the race to just over 200 elite participants.

Race news Haspa Marathon Hamburg

Abate and Kuma return to Hamburg

Defending champions will run again

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 12:22:00 +0000

© Hoch Zwei/Haspa Marathon Hamburg

Defending champions Tadu Abate and Dibabe Kuma will return to the Haspa Marathon Hamburg, race organisers have announced.

Fellow Ethiopians Ayele Abshero, who was runner-up last year, and Meseret Belete will be among their rivals on 19 April.

“It is always a good sign when athletes like to come back to challenge and to possibly produce thrilling races once again. We are proud that both winners from 2019 will return,” said chief organiser Frank Thaleiser. With regard to the entry figures he said: “Compared to the same time last year we have 400 more entries for the marathon, which shows the trust the runners have in our event.”

At the age of 22 Tadu Abate is still a youngster in marathon running. After his biggest career victory in Hamburg a year ago, when he clocked 2:08:25 in wet and cold conditions, the Ethiopian improved his personal best to 2:06:13 last autumn in Amsterdam. On 19 April he will renew his rivalry with Ayele Abshero. The two Ethiopians produced a thrilling finish last year, when Abate was just one second ahead of Abshero. Back in 2018 Abate had left his experienced rival behind him as well, when the pair finished second and third in Hamburg behind fellow-Ethiopian Solomon Deksisa. 29 year-old Abshero, who features a world-class personal best of 2:04:23, will be eager to be quicker than his younger rival this time.

The women’s field will be headed by defending champion Dibabe Kuma. The 23 year-old Ethiopian caused a surprise last year, when she produced a great solo run in the poor conditions, winning in 2:24:42. “This is a very good course,” said Kuma afterwards, indicating that in more suitable weather she could have improved her personal best of 2:23:34. Fellow Ethiopian Meseret Belete will be one of her main challengers on 19 April. Just 20 years old, Belete was sixth in the World Half Marathon Championships in 2018 and holds a marathon PB of 2:24:54.

Breaking the Olympic qualifying times on Hamburg’s fast course will be the major goal for the German elite runners. Philipp Pflieger, who has a personal record of 2:12:50, intends to go for the 2:11:30 Olympic standard. He showed fine form just two days ago when he improved his PB in the half marathon to 62:50 in Barcelona.

Two other Germans who recorded personal bests in the Spanish half marathon two days ago also have Olympic ambitions: Twin sisters Deborah and Rabea Schöneborn will run a marathon together for the first time. While Deborah won the Cologne Marathon last autumn – though without proper competition – in 2:31:18 in her debut, Rabea will run her debut in Hamburg. Preparing for the marathon it looks that the 25-year-old twins are currently at the same level. Deborah clocked a PB of 71:37 in Barcelona on Sunday while Rabea crossed the line immediately behind her in ninth place with 71:40, a PB as well. It seems that both can achieve the Olympic qualifying time of 2:29:30 in Hamburg.

Race news The Great Wall Marathon

Great Wall Marathon cancelled

Precaution due to coronavirus

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 10:36:00 +0000

The Great Wall Marathon, due to be held on 16 May, has been cancelled for 2020 due to the coronavirus.

Organisers have made an early decision to cancel for the safety of runners, spectators and staff, and to limit the inconvenience to runners who travel from all corners of the world to this event.

The next Great Wall Marathon will be held on 15 May 2021.

Race news Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon

Valencia Marathon sells out ten months ahead of event

All 30,000 marathon bibs sold and waiting list opened – Fewer than 1,500 places left for half marathon

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 09:47:00 +0000

Reportaje oficial Extremephoto Maratón Valencia Trinidad Alfonso 2016
Photo: Extremephoto
© 2016 Extremephoto

The Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP has sold all 30,000 race bibs for the next edition of the race, which will be held on the 6th of December 2020.

Thus the ceiling on runner numbers has been reached 10 months before the event and within just three months of opening entries for the race.

Like last year, the organisers will open a waiting list in a few days time so that those without entries can take up places, if and when these become available as entered runners drop out for whatever reason.

To mark its 40th anniversary, the Valencia Marathon raised the number of bibs available to 30,000 (5,000 more than in 2019), split into three equal tranches priced at EUR 60, EUR 80, and EUR 100 respectively. The first tranche of 10,000 bibs was put on sale on the day following the previous race. The bibs ran out in under 48 hours. The second tranche ran out just nine days later.

Last year, race bibs ran out almost six months before the race date. This is why the organisers – SD Correcaminos running club and Valencia City Council – decided to ditch the 10K Valencia Trinidad Alfonso so that they could offer more places for the Marathon. For the third year on the trot, race bibs have run out for the race which the Spanish athletics federation RFEA ranks as Spain’s best marathon by far. The race is also the first one to obtain World Athletics’ Platinum Label.

Those who have missed out on a race bib so far have one last chance to take part in this special, 40th anniversary of the Valencia Marathon. This chance takes the form of the hundred Platinum Bibs put on sale to celebrate the award of the World Athletics Platinum Label. This is a new way of taking part in the trial and includes a special charity quota for Save The Children — the Official Charity for 2020 — and many extras such as access to the VIP area, a post-race thermal poncho, participation in the Breakfast Run and so on.

The 20,000 bibs for the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP (which will be held on the 25th of October 2020) are selling like hot cakes. The first tranche of 10,000 was sold out in December. Right now, there are still some 1,500 bibs available before we hang up the ‘sold out’ sign.

The Valencia Half Marathon is now part of the new SuperHalfs circuit, which brings together the best international trials over this distance. The launch of the SuperHalfs this year coincides with Valencia Ciudad del Running’s holding of the 30th edition on the 25th of October 2020.

Date changes

Race date for Taichung International Marathon (TPE) changed

Taichung Int’l Marathon date change

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 15:15:51 +0000

The Taichung International Marathon (TPE) will take place on Sun 1 November 2020, not Sun 23 February 2020 as previously published.

Race news Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

Ottawa 10K shifts focus to Canadian athletes

35,000 CAD up for grabs for fastest runners

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 12:57:00 +0000

Organizers of the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend announced today they will be significantly increasing the overall prize purse for Canadian athletes in the Ottawa 10K event to CAD 35,000 (EUR 24,000) – the largest prize for any of Canada’s championship events this year.

As it has done since 2016, the 2020 Ottawa 10k will again host the Canadian 10K Championships with CAD 6,000 going to the top male and female Canadians in the 10K.

The Ottawa 10K will also maintain its unique gender challenge whereby the women are given a head start, and whoever crosses the finish line first (man or woman) wins an extra CAD 2,000.

The event will also host the Canuck 10K Team Competition, where a Canadian elite runner will have the chance to pick 3 compatriots to form a co-ed team of four. The fastest team wins CAD 6,000 to be split evenly amongst the team, as well as an additional CAD 1,000 that will go towards the Scotiabank Charity Challenge participating charity of their choice.

Organizers also announced today they have elected not to renew their World Athletics (formerly IAAF) gold certification for the Ottawa 10K event, choosing to focus their resources on participant experience, the Canadian 10K Championships and the development of Canadian athletes. The organizers of the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend have, however, renewed the gold certification for the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon.

Dylan Wykes, who won the men’s 10K in 29:56 last year, joins the organising team as its new Elite Athlete Coordinator, replacing Manny Rodrigues, who had been in this volunteer role for the past 20 years. Wykes said: “The road racing scene in Canada is on fire right now with records being set in all distances. I’m honoured and excited by the opportunity to work with Ian and the entire Run Ottawa team as the Elite Athlete Coordinator. I know I have big shoes to fill, as Manny has done an incredible job over the past 20 years building the elite athlete program. I’m looking forward to contributing to the Ottawa running community in a new way that doesn’t involve making my own two feet move fast”.

Race news Logicom Cyprus Marathon

Time is short to register for Cyprus Marathon

Limited number of places left, warn organisers

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 10:26:00 +0000

Organisers of the Logicom Cyprus Marathon have warned runners not to miss out on registering for this year’s race.

Registrations for the 5km Fun Run – the race with the biggest capacity – are almost sold-out. The 5km Fun Run is the biggest sports event in Pafos and will host teams from Pafos-based companies, hotels and gyms, among others.

Additionally, the places for the Marathon, Half-Marathon and the 10km Road Race are likely to run out very soon.

The 22nd edition will take place on Sunday, 15th March 2020 in Pafos, with the event’s central location being the historical Pafos Medieval Castle square. More than 4,000 runners from some 65 countries will come together to celebrate this human challenge.

The first round of registrations for the 22nd expired on 31st January 2020. However, a limited number of places are still available and guaranteed registrations have been extended until the 16th February 2020.

Date changes Muscat Marathon

Race date for Al Mouj Muscat Marathon (OMA) changed

Al Mouj Muscat Marathon date change

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 12:45:44 +0000

The Al Mouj Muscat Marathon (OMA) will be Fri 21 February 2020—Sat 22 February 2020, not Fri 17 January 2020—Sat 18 January 2020 as previously published.

Race news Hokkaido Marathon

Hokkaido Marathon cancelled

Clash with Tokyo Olympics forces race to skip 2020

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 10:30:00 +0000

SAPPORO (JPN): The annual Hokkaido Marathon in Sapporo will not take place in 2020 due to a clash with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.

A statement on the race website said: “The Hokkaido Marathon usually takes place on the last Sunday of August. This year, however, the Committee has decided to cancel the event for the following two reasons: 1) a shortage of staff members to organise the marathon because it coincides with the Tokyo Paralympic Games and 2) inability to restore Odori Park (a venue for the Hokkaido Marathon) to its original state in time after it is used to host facilities for the Tokyo Olympic marathon and race walk events, scheduled in Sapporo from August 6 to 9.”

(EME News)

Date changes NMDC Hyderabad Marathon

Race date for Airtel Hyderabad Marathon (IND) changed

Airtel Hyderabad Marathon date change

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 15:00:22 +0000

The Airtel Hyderabad Marathon (IND) will take place on Sun 2 August 2020, not Sun 30 August 2020 as previously published.

Date changes

Race date for Tashkent International Half Marathon (UZB) changed

Tashkent International Half Marathon date change

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 10:39:07 +0000

The Tashkent International Half Marathon (UZB) will take place on Sun 22 March 2020, not Fri 22 May 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Kigali International Peace Marathon

Race date for Kigali International Peace Marathon (RWA) changed

Kigali International Peace Marathon date change

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 11:43:23 +0000

The Kigali International Peace Marathon (RWA) will take place on Sun 17 May 2020, not Sun 24 May 2020 as previously published.

Date changes Gatorade Maratón de Santiago

Race date for Santiago Marathon (CHI) changed

Santiago Marathon date change

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 14:04:34 +0000

The Santiago Marathon (CHI) will take place on Sun 17 May 2020, not Sun 19 April 2020 as previously published.

Race news

Marine Corps Marathon bans persistent cheat

Investigation reveals repeated pattern over four years

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 12:03:00 +0000

The Marine Corps Marathon recently concluded an investigation indicating that a 55-year-old female participant at both the Marine Corps 17.75km and the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) had cheated over several years by not running the entire course and then claiming the rewards of a finisher.

The investigation was launched when the runner applied for membership of the MCM Runners Club – a group who have officially completed five MCMs. This runner has now been permanently banned from participating in any event organised by MCM.

“Marines pride themselves on their Corps Values of honor, courage and commitment. The Marine Corps Marathon Organization shares these values,” said race director Rick Nealis, “and holds our participants to those same standards.”

This case was a repeated pattern of cheating over four years. In one incident the runner only crossed the start and finish timing mats and posted no on-course data but claimed an age category win during the 2018 17.75km race. During the 44th MCM, the runner only crossed the finish line mat and photographic evidence was not consistent with a runner who completed the marathon.

“Cheaters have no place in our sport,” said Nealis. “Integrity and personal accomplishment will be rewarded even if it takes us years to bestow the award to the true winner.”

Race news Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon and We Are Houston 5K

Records fall in Houston

Askale Merachi dashes Biruktayit Degefa’s hope of fourth victory

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 10:34:00 +0000

An estimated 200,000 spectators greeted runners from all 50 US states and 57 countries with cheers and Texas hospitality.

The Chevron Houston Marathon welcomed defending champion Biruktayit Degefa (ETH) back to the start to vie for her fourth victory (a historic feat in Houston’s race history), but it was clear from the start that compatriot Askale Merachi (ETH) had other ideas.

Merachi separated from the lead pack before 10K, and she maintained course record pace until the later stages of the race. In spite of running unchallenged to the finish line, she held on to crush her personal best and run the fourth fastest time in Chevron Houston Marathon history, 2:23:29. History eluded Degefa as she finished second in 2:24:57, and Canadian Malindi Elmore, who recently came out of retirement from professional running, finished third in a Canadian national record, 2:24:50.

The men’s race started on pace to break the course record, but slowed over the final four miles. By mile 15, the pack shrank to just five runners, and by mile 17, it turned into a duel between Kelkile Gezahegn (ETH) and Bonsa Dida (ETH). Kelkile and Bonsa slowed dramatically between miles 22 and 24, and then Kelkile hit the gas pedal, leaving Bonsa behind, racing to the finish to win in 2:08:36. Bonsa finished second in 2:10:37, and Amanuel Mesel (ERI) finished third in 2:11:04.

One of the most exciting finishes of the day belonged to Michael Roeger (AUS). Roeger, a T46 Paralympian, obliterated his own world record (2:22:51) to, as he said in the pre-race press conference, “put his competitors on notice” heading into the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Roeger finished 26th overall in 2:19:33.

Americans Adriana Nelson and Craig Hunt led a deep field of U.S. athletes as they both collected eighth place finishes. Nelson clocked 2:33:18, and Hunt ran 2:17:18. Twelve American men and 18 American women met the qualifying standard to compete in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta next month.

In the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, Hitomi Niiya (JPN) entertained fans with a solo performance to the finish. She took command of the race immediately, and, running alongside pacer, Tsuyoshi Ugachi (JPN), she smashed both her personal best and the Japanese national record to win in the third fastest time in Aramco Houston Half Marathon history, 1:06:38. Brillian Kipkoech (KEN) finished a distant second in 1:08:08, and Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui (KEN) rounded out the top three in 1:08:13.

While the women’s race lacked drama, the men’s race more than made up for it. A pack of 14 men rolled through the first 5K on pace to break the course record (59:22), and the pack remained strong at five over the final mile of the race. Last year’s runner-up, Jemal Yimer (ETH), dug the deepest to win in 59:25, producing the second fastest time ever run in Houston and North America. Bernard Ngeno (KEN) was a step behind in 59:26, and Shardrack Korir (KEN) set a personal best to finish third in 59:27.

Matt and Andrew Leach of Great Britain broke the Guinness world record for the fastest father-son duo in the half marathon. Collectively, they ran 2:14:05. The previous record stood at 2:20:33. Matt ran 1:02:55, and Andrew ran 1:11:10.

Canadian Callum Neff competed as the Last Runner Starting to raise funds for the Houston Marathon Foundation. He started behind the entire half marathon and marathon open field, and somehow managed to finish with a net time of 1:09:59. Neff holds the Guinness record for the fastest marathon run while pushing a jogging stroller, 2:31:21.

Steve Schmidt (USA) and Antonio Arreola (USA) joined an exclusive club to become the first two runners to run a sub-three hour marathon for the sixth decade. Schmidt finished in 2:58:07 and Arreola finished a few strides behind in 2:58:18. Schmidt ran his first sub-three hour marathon in 1979, and Arreola ran his first in 1976. Arreola holds the record for the longest time span between his first sub-three hour marathon and his last.

Date changes Sea of Galilee Tiberias Marathon

Race date for Sea of Galilee Tiberias Marathon (ISR) changed

Sea of Galilee Tiberias Marathon date change

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 16:43:11 +0000

The Sea of Galilee Tiberias Marathon (ISR) will take place on Fri 1 January 2021, not Fri 8 January 2021 as previously published.

Race news Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon and We Are Houston 5K

Champions return to Houston

Degefa’s bid to become first to win four times

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0000

2019 Houston Marathon Houston, Texas. Jan 20, 2019 Photo: Andrew McClanahan@PhotoRun Victah1111@aol.com 631-291-3409 www.photorun.NET #run.photo
Photo: Andrew McClanahan @ PhotoRun

The Houston Marathon Committee (HMC) has announced the elite field for the forty-eighth running of the Chevron Houston Marathon and the eighteenth Aramco Houston Half Marathon events taking place on January 19.

The Chevron Houston Marathon welcomes back defending 2019 women’s champion Biruktayit Degefa, where she will try to become the only woman to break the tape in Houston four times. The Aramco Houston Half Marathon returns three former champions; 2018 female champion Ruti Aga, and past male winners; Shura Kitata (defending 2019 champion) and Jake Robertson (2018).

Biruktayit Degefa has an opportunity to make history in her seventh consecutive appearance – if she wins, she will be the first athlete in Houston Marathon history, male or female, to win the race four times. In 2019, she became just the third woman in race history to win three times. Degefa started running marathons at age 19, and she is one of the most prolific elite runners competing today. Over the last decade, she has run an incredible 31 marathons (she ran six alone in 2014), landing on the podium 20 times and winning eight times. She returns this year as a favorite for the title, especially on the heels of her PR in Toronto, 2:22:40, to close out 2019.

The outlier story of the 2019 Chevron Houston Marathon, Thomas Rivers Puzey returns to Houston with unfinished business. After pacing through the 30K of 2019’s race on track to run 2:14, the wheels came off for Puzey. He managed to stumble across the finish line with an official finish time of 2:20:19 and a trip to the medic. He will undoubtably again push himself to his limits.

Alexi Pappas, a 2016 Olympian for Greece in the 10,000m, arrives in Houston with a 2:43:38 marathon personal best, but possesses the talent to completely obliterate that time and run closer to the 2:29:30 Olympic standard that she needs to make it to Tokyo for another Olympic appearance. Pappas experienced an extraordinary Olympic debut performance in Rio. She set the Greek national 10,000m record and a new PR to finish 17th in 31:36.16.

In the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, Shura Kitata will look to defend his 2019 title on the heels of his fifth-place finish at the New York City Marathon just a few short months ago. He will be facing several of the same challengers from the 2019 Aramco Houston Half Marathon, so if past precedent remains the same, we are sure to see a fast and competitive race from the gun.

Jake Robertson, 2018 Aramco Houston Half Marathon Champion, returns to Houston after a troubled 2019 fighting injury and rebuilding. After winning in Houston, he went on to win a competitive Beach to Beacon 10K and finished out the year with a fifth-place finish at the Toronto Marathon in 2018 but hasn’t toed the start line in over a year. All eyes will be watching to see his return to the racing scene.

Ruti Aga returns to familiar territory in Houston as the 2018 Women’s Champion of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. Her finishing time of 1:06:39 from the race remains her personal best. Aga is certain to be in the lead pack vying for the win once again.

The American record holder in the women’s half marathon, Molly Huddle returns to Houston and the course she set the current standard of 1:07:25 on to test her fitness going into the 2020 Olympic Trials in February.

Race news Logicom Cyprus Marathon

Cyprus Marathon’s popularity with overseas runners grows

More than 1000 Brits expected to run in 2020

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 11:40:00 +0000

From its beginning, the Logicom Cyprus Marathon has always attracted many runners from abroad, who constantly choose to travel to Cyprus in March in order to compete in the beautiful coastal city of Pafos.

It is the most historical marathon in Cyprus and has been held every year since 1999.

Each year the attendance of overseas runners has grown. Some five years ago only around 700 athletes competed. In 2020 over 4,000 competitors will participate in the four races.

Especially, British runners favour the mild spring Cyprus climate, both for their training programmes and to kickstart their race season. The marathon attracts more runners from Britain than from any other country – both as individuals and as groups from their running clubs.

This year more than 1000 British runners are expected to line up at the start of the races on Sunday 15th March.

The other countries with high attendances are Israel, Russia, Hungary, Poland and Germany.

Notably, in recent years, overseas runners have dominated the longer distance races. Last year 42-year-old British runner Adam Holland won the marathon for the second consecutive year in a time of 2:35:03 and British woman Abi Gooch won top spot on the podium in the 2019 women’s marathon race in a time of 3:23:06.

The Logicom Cyprus Marathon is complemented by a half marathon, a 10km road race, a 5km family fun run and a ‘wine run’ which gives the opportunity to all kinds of runners and sports enthusiasts to run their favourite distance. Online registrations for the 22nd Logicom Cyprus Marathon will remain open till 31st January 2020.

Race news Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathon

Cheptegei sets new 10K world record

26:38 beats Leonard Komon’s 2010 record by six seconds

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 08:00:00 +0000

© 2019 Extremephoto

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei ran 26:38 in the 10K Valencia Trinidad Alfonso on 1 December to slice six seconds from Leonard Komon’s nine-year-old world record.

He targeted the record ahead of the race – an optimism justified by his form throughout the year, from World Cross-Country victory in March through to his gold medal in the 10,000m at the World Athletics Championships held in Doha in September.

He was sensibly paced through the early kilometres in 2:42; 5:22, 7:57 and 10:38 but Cheptegai was in front as he passed halfway in 13:23 and ran the second half alone with successive kilometres of 2:38/16:01, 2:40/18:42 and from 7-9km in 5:15/23:59. He ‘only’ had to run less than 2:44 for the final kilometre, which he did with several seconds to spare. “I knew that Valencia was going to be a really fast course,” he said, “[but] to achieve what we came here for is something really special.”

This article was revised after first publication.