RAS AL KHAIMAH HALF MARATHON ON SATURDAY:
Look to the Women on the RAK Half Marathon
The ladies’s race guarantees to be the star of the 18th version of the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon on Saturday morning (February 1), with each race favourites, Ethiopians Germawit Gebrzhair and Ejgayehu Taye independently suggesting they’re in pursuit of a world report. To not be ignored, the quickest man within the subject, Isaia Lasoi of Kenya says he’s each able to win and have a go himself at a brand new world mark.
It must be an intriguing contest between the Ethiopian ladies, since they share the identical finest time of 64min 14sec. On her personal admission on the press convention this morning, Girmawit shocked herself when she set that point in successful right here three years in the past, and it stays a course report. However following her sub-30min clocking for 10k in Valencia two weeks in the past, she advised that the world report of one other Ethiopian colleague, Letesenbet Gidey (62:52) is inside attain.
Ejgayehu, in the meantime clocked her time in her first and solely ‘half’ up to now, once more in Valencia three months in the past. And so assured is she of a quick time that she is bringing her personal pacemaker to make sure that she retains her promise. Her agent, Yonas Mekonnon says, ‘She determined to attempt for the world report based mostly on her latest coaching. She ran simply over 64minutes in Valencia with out adequate mileage. She was educated actually for no more than six weeks after the monitor season was over and the longest coaching was 25km. Nevertheless, this time she’s recurrently been protecting greater than 28km with 3min 30sec tempo at altitude. Her objective on this race is the world report’.
The ladies have definitely proved their value within the practically 20 years’ historical past of the occasion. Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya obtained in first when he ran a world report within the inaugural RAK ‘half’ in 2007, however the girl then took over with the opposite trio of world information being set by Mary Keitany and Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya and Ababel Yeshaneh of Ethiopia.
Along with his 58min 10sec in Copenhagen final autumn, Lasoi is by far the quickest man within the subject, and is trying to emulate former winners who had beforehand completed within the high three. He was third final yr, and mentioned this morning, ‘I’ve been working 175-190 kilometres every week in coaching. I’ve ready rather well and I’m able to win. Additionally, there have been some modifications to the course, making it sooner, so I feel I can do below 58 minutes, and possibly even the world report is feasible’.
The ultimate phases of final yr’s race have been affected by winds and a thick mist which rolled in off the ocean, however this yr’s climate forecast couldn’t be higher for Saturday, with temperatures for the 6.40 elite begin at 15-16C (60F). In solely their second yr of overseeing the RAK ‘half’, the long-time Dubai Marathon organisers, Tempo Occasions have elevated participation within the parallel standard occasions, 2/5/10k to shut to 10,000. Iyad Rasbey, VP of the RAK Tourism Growth Authority mentioned, ‘When the occasion started in 2007, we have been trying to get 2500-3000 members, so to get near 10,000 is extraordinary’.
A stay stream with English commentary might be obtainable on Saturday from 6.20 am native time at: https://rakhalfmarathon.com/
For extra info please go to: https://rakhalfmarathon.com
