3rd Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon: expect a World Record!
Ras Al Khaimah is one of the seven Emirates that form the United Arab Emirates, others being (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah). The first edition of this race was held in 2007 in a spectacular fashion with a world record of 58:53 by Samuel Wanjiru, and since then it has grown in stature, and has the IAAF Silver Label status.
Interestingly, 2008 was a blank year in terms of half marathon world records, with the mens record being set in 3 previous years consecutively:
59:16 Samuel Wanjiru, KEN (Rotterdam, 2005)
58:55 Haile Gebrselassie, ETH (Phoenix, Arizona, 2006)
58:53 Samuel Wanjiru, KEN (1st RAK Half Marathon, 2007)
58:33 Samuel Wanjiru, KEN (1st RAK Half Marathon, 2007)
Below is the list of the sub-60 mins personal best participants, and this list is pretty long! So, expect some really fast times. I wish Wanjiru was there again though.
Patrick Makau (KEN) 58:55
Paul Kosgei (KEN) 59:07
Deriba Merga (ETH) 59:15
Wilson Kiprotich Kipsang (KEN) 59:16
Francis Kibiwott (KEN) 59:26
Wilson Chebet (KEN) 59:33
John Kiprotich (KEN) 59:44
Charles Munyeki (KEN) 59:44
Joseph Maregu (KEN) 59:45
Mekubo Moguso (KEN) 59:48
Dickson Marwa (TAN) 59:52
According to The National, “Runners will have the option of hiring a GPS tracking device that will enable them to analyse their performance. It will also mean that family and friends can monitor their progress wherever they are in the world.”