Official 2019 Dubai Marathon Discussion Thread

Awesome!

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the course pretty much out and back with no change in scenery? I think I watched one year and it just seemed kind of boring.

SAlly V wrote:

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the course pretty much out and back with no change in scenery? I think I watched one year and it just seemed kind of boring.

I remember a few big loops all along the water (Persian Gulf), but didn't find it boring. The architecture of all those ultramodern skyscrapers is stunning and then there's that man made island. About the most visually striking city I've ever seen, which they take just enough time to highlight during the race. It may have seemed kind of boring to you due to their strict focus on the actual race with no cutaways to any extraneous crap. I remember the camera just sitting on the men's lead pack for 10 - 15 minutes at a time, which I found riveting, but I'm a bit over the top when it comes to these distance road races. I'll stand in front of my tv during most of the Boston marathon, especially when an American or a Yuki is out front.

+1

Fellow running nerd.

Tomorrow night. 8pm here, I believe 9pm ET. Prime Time!

Ruth Chepngetich who ran 2:18.35 in the Low Key Istanbul Marathon is in the race, if the Weather is good I think she can run about 2:16

The 2019 Dubai Marathon looks FANTASTIC on paper.

We preview it for you here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2019/01/2019-dubai-marathon-preview-the-return-of-guye-adola-ibrahim-jeilan-debuts-what-will-emmanuel-saina-ruth-chepngetich-do-for-an-encore/

and give you the backstory on why race organizers have cut the prize money down this year by more than half in protest of the IAAF refusing to give it platinum status.

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2019/01/dubai-marathon-slashes-prize-money-and-no-longer-is-worlds-richest-boston-now-claims-prize-money-crown/

Race is on at 9 pm ET on Thursday. You can watch it live on letsrun..

rojo wrote:

Race is on at 9 pm ET on Thursday. You can watch it live on letsrun..

Awesome! Thanks.

It's too bad they slashed their prize money due to a dispute with the IAAF. It seems unfair to take it out on the athletes. Any more info on that would be great.

I don't get the IAAF's position. It's clear this is becoming one of the top tier marathons. Why not give it the label? It seems like they've cost athletes money. That should never be their aim in a sport where it can be hard to make a living.

Last thing, I would love to see some Americans in Dubai and just got for a fast time. That'd be dope.

NewtotheSouthSide wrote:

It's too bad they slashed their prize money due to a dispute with the IAAF. It seems unfair to take it out on the athletes. Any more info on that would be great.

I don't get the IAAF's position. It's clear this is becoming one of the top tier marathons. Why not give it the label? It seems like they've cost athletes money. That should never be their aim in a sport where it can be hard to make a living.

there are rules to get gold/platinum tier status. one is that you need 15000 finishers. Dubai doesn't. so there.

it's not "unfair".

Maybe Dubai could pay travel expenses for a few hobby runners like me to get 15.000 finishers?

If they pay for my flight and my Dubai hotel I will be happy to run their marathon.

Altruistic runner.

That prize money story sounds pretty stupid. What does the IAAF care if Dubai reduces what they're giving to runners ? Does the IAAF get a fixed cut of the total amount or something ?

As a side-note I just noticed that the first Elite announced for 2019 back in November, i.e. Feysa Lilesa is a DNS...after being a DNS Dubai, hope the guy's ok.

I have never liked the Dubai marathon. They get about 2,000 to 2,500 finishers. There are almost NO spectators on the course despite Dubai having a population of @ 5 mil. I am not sure whether people are kept away from the course for security purposes or whether people in Dubai think it is haram for women to be running in the race. It is really just an effort by the ruling monarchy to buy international status among Western nations for a country that is otherwise pretty backwards. The race takes top talent away from other big marathons where their is a huge base and tons of participants. If they were really serious about being a major marathon and weren't just buying runners like sons of the Emir by Lambos, they would have boosted the prize money and dared runners to ditch the majors.

douglas burke wrote:

Ruth Chepngetich who ran 2:18.35 in the Low Key Istanbul Marathon is in the race, if the Weather is good I think she can run about 2:16

Weather looks good. 60 at the start 63 at the finish. Low humidity. Dewpoint v low 50s. Virtually no wind in the forecast. Less than 24 hours away!

kmaclam wrote:

Bringing all the action as it unfolds throughout the morning will be British running legend Paula Radcliffe,

I was feeling quite happy reading your post and looking forward to the coverage until I came across that last bit.

It has been agreed for the following paces. Men - 61:45 half and Women - 69:00 half