DRun_AprilJune_07 4/4/07 5:10 pm Page 17

Ras-Al-Khaimah Half , . FEBRUARY 9 Splashing out 2007

Making a splash is a way of life in that fast times can be run here. If , made a shrewd official charity (The Paul Tergat the Arabian Gulf. The famous sufficient riches are dangled in and purposeful decision to go, just Foundation, which drew Tergat seven-star Burj-Al-Arab Hotel in front of some of the world’s best once, for half measures. Instead of himself to the race as a guest) was is symptomatic of the way runners to tempt them to a new a marathon, he backed the idea of nominated and runners were things are done: with nothing event, some great competition a – but it would be encouraged to raise money for the spared. would result. the richest race of its kind in the charity. Prizes, on-air competitions world. The distance is right for the But so far the big developments Nathan Clayton, an Arabic-speaker town, allowing the out-and-back and website training programs have been in Dubai itself. Variously who had worked on in course to practically encircle the generated enough interest to draw promoting big-budget sports like Beirut, Lahore and Bangalore now centre of the settlement, but avoid just over 1,000 registered runners Formula 1, horse racing, golf and lives in Dubai and had been the one major gradient nearby – the up to the UAE’s most northerly tennis it also has the region’s only looking around for a new bridge which spans the inlet. emirate to take part. marathon, held in early January. project. At the same time, Ras Al Khaimah had been making a Ras Al Khaimah is a different concerted effort to market itself place, only now aspiring to emulate and its economic, residential and The lie of the land its big brother. It is located about touristic opportunities. The newly 100km northeast of Dubai Airport established RAK Promotion Board and the benign climate along the Gulf coast towards the had just been formed, and rocky peninsula that juts out into appeared as a natural partner. The that the region enjoys in January the Gulf, the tip of which belongs potential to highlight the Emirate to the neighbouring state of Oman. through a world class running and February suggested that event was enthusiastically Despite the mountainous backdrop, recognised at the very first meeting fast times can be run here the town of Ras Al Khaimah lies Clayton had with the Vice- on a flat coastal strip, around an President of the Promotion Board, inlet in which mangrove thrives. Iman Lattouf. The lie of the land and the benign The race was originally slated for 1 If an event of this kind is climate that the region enjoys in Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi, December 2006 but as Clayton uncommon in the UAE, in RAK it January and February suggested Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of said: “we realized there wasn’t is unheard of. The local enough time to do all we wanted to community, although supportive, do and it seemed more appropriate didn’t quite realise what was to hold the race after the Asian descending upon their quiet, laid- Games in Doha (in the back Emirate until six metre-tall neighbouring Gulf state of Qatar). photos of African runners, Once the date had been changed, promoting the event, adorned the everything fell into place. Like the gateway to the city. Buses full of impending springtime, everything athletes arrived and their occupants seemed to blossom”. started running around their golf course (one of the few grassed “To achieve the objectives it had to areas in the city). Amusement and be world class, so we immediately bemusement went hand in hand in declared the event the world’s the build up to the event, but at the ‘richest’ half marathon and set normally dead time of 08.00 on about signing some of the best Friday morning the start line was runners and up-and-coming buzzing with hundreds of local running talent we could find. The supporters. Many came out of attraction to the athletes was a curiosity but soon joined in the decent level of appearance fees, the spirit of cheering on the runners “richest” prize purse, a flat and fast and quite a few asking how they course, and a favourable climate. could be a part of it next year. Managers and athletes alike were soon vying to secure one of the 40 The Crown Prince, patron of the elite runner invitations.” race, was also the official starter. He sent runners on their way from Running in the United Arab the Manar Shopping Mall, around Emirates had previously consisted the lagoon and towards the town of the Standard Chartered Dubai centre. The leaders shot off at a Marathon and a couple of half fearsome pace, passing 5km well marathons run on modest budgets within world record schedule. At in Dubai and , both 6km the course turns back away organised and run by expatriate from the centre, back past the main ‘Striders’ Clubs’. This second mosque and then turns again international event was also towards the Palace, situated at intended from the start to benefit 12km as the runners go outbound. the locally based running The Crown Prince was still at the community (which although not start line, following the race large, is growing all the time). commentary, as the leaders passed his father’s home. The frisky young The heat prevents many people Kenyan, Samuel Wanjiru, who had from running regularly. There are held the world half marathon always the air-conditioned gyms, course record up to a year but “real” running is limited to the previously, was gradually grinding four coolest months of the year. To down his opposition with a boost local participation a ‘Team determined display of front Relay Challenge’ for local groups running. After coming back past and companies was added. An the Palace at 16km and turning to

Distance Running April – June 2007 17 DRun_AprilJune_07 4/4/07 5:10 pm Page 18

MEN: 1 Sammy WANJIRU KEN 58:52 2Patrick MAKAU KEN 59:13 return around the bay, Wanjiru still 3 Deriba MERGA ETH 59:43 had company. It was only in the 4Francis KIBIWOTT KEN 1:00:07 final kilometre that he dropped 5 Robert CHERUYIOT KEN 1:00:37 Deriba Merga and Patrick Makau 6 John YUDA TAN 1:00:38 by covering the final 1097.5 metres RESULT 7Fabiano JOSEPH TAN 1:00:53 in just over three minutes. 8 Matthew KOECH KEN 1:01:02 9 Mubarak SHAMI QAT 1:01:15 The Crown Prince was on his feet 10 Solomon BUSENDICH KEN 1:01:36 cheering him on through the finish. WOMEN He was so impressed and thrilled at 1 Berhane ADERE ETH 1:10:58 Wanjiru’s new world record time 2Teyba ERKESSO ETH 1:11:02 that he offered him an impromptu 3 Bizunesh BEKELE ETH 1:11:06 cash bonus for the achievement. 4 ETH 1:11:10 He, and plenty of others who 5 KEN 1:11:18 followed him home, are bound to 6Caroline CHEPTANUI KEN 1:11:32 be back for an even bigger splash 7 KEN 1:11:38 on 15 February next year. 8Everline KIMWEI KEN 1:11:44 9 Hellen CHERONO KEN 1:11:48 10 Cathy MUTWA KEN 1:11:50

RACE CONTACT DETAILS RAK INTERNATIONAL HALF MARATHON, FEBRUARY Nathan Clayton, P.O.Box 282331, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 50 347 64 84 Fax: +31 84 754 5071 Email: [email protected] Inet: www.rakmarathon.org Full race contact listings start on page 70

18 Distance Running April – June 2007