Abu Dhabi Marathon

Abu Dhabi Marathon
The tower at ADNOC Headquarters (right), near the start and finish area
DateDecember[1]
LocationAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon, 10K, 5K, 2.5K
Established2018 (6 years ago) (2018)[2]
Course records
Official sitehttps://www.adnocabudhabimarathon.com

The Abu Dhabi Marathon (also known as the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon for sponsorship reasons[2]) is an annual road-based marathon hosted by Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, since 2018.[5][2][6] The marathon is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race and a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.[1][7] During the race weekend, a 10K race, a 5K race, and a 2.5K fun run are also offered.[8]

History

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The inaugural race was held on 7 December 2018.[6][9] The marathon was won by Kenyan runner Marius Kipserem and Ethiopian runner Ababel Yeshaneh, with finish times of 2:04:04 and 2:20:16, respectively.[9] Roughly 10,000 people took part in the event.[2] The marathon had a large prize fund, with 100,000 USD being awarded to each of the two winners.[6]

Shortly after the inaugural race, observers speculated that the course was short, with many runners finishing with significant negative splits and personal records.[6] One person noticed that the times being recorded for the stretch between the 30 km (19 mi) and 35 km (22 mi) marks were unusually fast.[10][6] Two months later, marathon experts Sean Hartnett and Helmut Winter measured the course and concluded that, due to an incorrectly indicated turnaround point, the "34th kilometer [was] between 195.8 and 199.6 meters short".[11][a] World Athletics does not include either winning time in its lists of all-time fastest outdoor marathons.[12]

The men's marathon of the second edition of the event, held on 6 December 2019, was unexpectedly won by Kenyan pacemaker Reuben Kipyego.[3][13][4][b] Although Kipyego was expected to set the pace for the lead pack and then drop out of the race around the 30 km (19 mi) mark, none of the elite runners had kept up with Kipyego by that point.[13][4] Still feeling good and finding the race conditions ideal, Kipyego finished the race with a negative split, running a personal best of 2:04:40, nearly two minutes faster than the second-place finisher.[13][4] His compatriot Vivian Kiplagat also set a personal record with her winning time of 2:21:11, and both runners were each awarded 100,000 USD for their victories.[17][4]

The 2020 edition of the race was postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants given the option of obtaining an entry fee refund (minus an administration fee).[18][19][20]

On 17 December 2022, the men's marathon was again won by a pacemaker.[21][22] After setting the pace for the lead pack, Kenyan runner Timothy Kiplagat eventually found himself alone at the front, so he decided to finish the race and won it by over four minutes.[21][22] Kiplagat's finish time of 2:05:20 was a personal best.[21] Bahraini runner Eunice Chumba won the women's marathon with a finish time of 2:20:41.[22]

Course

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External image
image icon Course map of marathon in 2022[23]

The marathon runs on a loop course that begins and ends at ADNOC Headquarters.[23] Runners first head southeast to Wahat Al Karama, roughly following the southern edge of the island.[23] The course then heads back northwest, passing by the World Trade Center Abu Dhabi on its way to the Corniche.[23] Marathoners then head northeast for a short out-and-back leg before running the last roughly 5 km (3 mi) southwest along the Corniche to return to the finish area.[23]

The shorter races are run largely along the Corniche.[2]

Winners

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Key:    Course record (in bold)

Ed. Date Male Winner Time Female Winner Time Rf.
1 7 December 2018  Marius Kipserem (KEN) 2:04:04[c]  Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:16[c] [9]
2 6 December 2019  Reuben Kipyego (KEN) 2:04:40  Vivian Kiplagat (KEN) 2:21:11 [3][4]
— — postponed in 2020 due to coronavirus pandemic [18]
3 26 November 2021  Titus Ekiru (KEN) 2:06:13  Judith Korir (KEN) 2:22:30 [24]
4 17 December 2022  Timothy Kiplagat (KEN) 2:05:20  Eunice Chumba (BHR) 2:20:41 [25][22]
5 16 December 2023  Amare Samsom (ERI) 2:07:10  Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:19:15

Notes

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  1. ^ The two had driven from Ras Al Khaimah after the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, where the pace display system that they had invented was used.[11] They had no issues with the work of the course measurer, but Hartnett theorized that the traffic cones marking the turnaround point were misplaced due to someone moving them away from the entrance of a busy fish market, and not returning them to the proper position.[11]
  2. ^ Although unusual, Kipyego's feat was not the first time a pacemaker has won a marathon.[13][4] U.S. pacemaker Paul Pilkington won the 1994 Los Angeles Marathon (and the national championship) even though he was expected to drop out after pacing the first 15.5 mi (24.9 km) of the race, and Kenyan pacemaker Simon Biwott won the 2000 Berlin Marathon even though he was only supposed to set the pace for the first 28 km (17 mi).[14][15][16][13][4]
  3. ^ a b The course was reportedly "between 195.8 and 199.6 meters short" due to misplaced traffic cones, possibly moved without authorization.[11][10][6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon – AIMS race information". aims-worldrunning.org. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e "A celebration of the community | Distance Running magazine 2022 Edition 4 | Race previews". aims-worldrunning.org. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ a b c "Reuben Kiprop KIPYEGO | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Pacer Wins Abu Dhabi Marathon by 2 Minutes, Takes Home $100,000". Runner's World. 6 December 2019. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon - 16th December 2023". ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ a b c d e f Kelly, Madeleine (7 December 2018). "There's speculation that the Abu Dhabi marathon course was short - Canadian Running Magazine". Canadian Running Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ^ "World Athletics Label Road Races | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions – ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon". ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ a b c "Kipserem clocks 2:04:04 at inaugural Abu Dhabi Marathon | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ a b Johnson, Robert. "Was the Inaugural Abu Dhabi Marathon Course Short? I Think It Was". LetsRun.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ a b c d Johnson, Robert. "After Re-Measuring the Course, Here's Definitive Proof That the 2018 Abu Dhabi Marathon Was Short". LetsRun.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ^
  13. ^ a b c d e Nair, Rohith (9 December 2019). "Kipyego rips up pacemakers' code to leave marathon field in his wake". U.S. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ^ Finn, Adharanand (21 August 2015). "'I was almost the marathon world champion'". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ "Surprise win by pacemaker Simon Biwott | NEWS | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  16. ^ "LOS ANGELES MARATHON : 'Rabbit' Simply Keeps Going, and Going . . . : Running: Utah's Pilkington was expected to set the pace and then drop out. But he couldn't find a reason to stop". Los Angeles Times. 7 March 1994. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  17. ^ Passela, Amith (6 December 2019). "Reuban Kipyego and Vivian Kiplagat claim Kenyan double at Adnoc Abu Dhabi Marathon". The National. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. ^ a b "2020 ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon Announces Postponement To 2021 – ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon". ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. 10 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ^ "ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon postponed until 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns". insidethegames.biz. 11 October 2020. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  20. ^ "The ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon returns to the Corniche in November | Time Out Abu Dhabi". Time Out Abu Dhabi. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  21. ^ a b c "La 'liebre' Timothy Kiplagat gana el maratón de Abu Dabi". Runner's World (in Spanish). 17 December 2022. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  22. ^ a b c d "Ronoh and Chumba win Abu Dhabi Marathon, Barsoton and Jisa run course records in Kolkata | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  23. ^ a b c d e "Marathon – ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon". ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  24. ^ "ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon 2021, 26/11/2021 : : my.race|result". my.raceresult.com. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  25. ^ "Timothy KIPLAGAT | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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