Dubai, 05, Jan, 2024. The 23rd edition of the Dubai Marathon, one of the first Gold-label marathons of the calendar year, will take place on January 07, 2023. 20,000 runners are expected to participate in 42km, 10km, and 4km fun races.
In addition to being one of the fastest courses with the 2024 Paris Olympic Games just around the corner, athletes are vying for both qualifying times and spots on their national teams, and the Dubai Marathon might see one of the fastest times.
For Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes, Dubai is one of the few paths to Paris, raising the stakes high and leading to crunch battles.
A Unique Marathon
It is unusual to see many runners make their debut in Gold Label marathons. The case is different for the Dubai Marathon. Many athletes have carved their marathon careers by debuting in the flat and fast course of Dubai. The 2024 edition will see ten marathoners make their debut.
Ahmad Al Kamali, the General Coordinator of the Dubai Marathon, said, “We believe in giving opportunities to young athletes. Unless we give them an opportunity to run against the best, it is challenging for up-and-coming athletes to have experience and run fast times.”
Considering that the current generation of young Ethiopian athletes often choose to jump directly to the marathon before showcasing their talent on the track, unlike their predecessors used to do, the Dubai Marathon provides them a crucial stepping stone to cementing themselves for years to come.
An “Ethiopian Marathon?”
The Dubai course has been kind to Ethiopian athletes. The 22 editions of the Dubai Marathon saw Ethiopian Men and Women win 15 and 16 times, respectively.
Haile Gebrselassie, the first man to run 42km under 2:04:00, won the Dubai Marathon back-to-back-to-back. At the pre-race official press conference of the 2024 edition, Race Director Peter Connerton credited Gebrselassie for catapulting the Middle East’s oldest international marathon by running the course and attempting to break the marathon record in Dubai.
Aselefech Mergia has the same feat as Gebrselassie, winning the women’s race in 2011, 2012, and 2015. Ethiopian Men have won the last ten editions, and the women have won all but one of the last 15.
A Family Affair
When Dubai Marathon returned from a two-year hiatus in 2023, Dera Dida crossed the finish line first in the women’s race a few minutes after her brother-in-law Abdisa Tola won the men’s competition. Who is Dera’s husband and Abdisa’s brother? Winner of the 2017 Dubai Marathon and ex-World Champion Tamrat Tola!
On Sunday, last year’s second-place finisher, Ruti Aga, will take to the fast and flat roads around Jumeirah and the Burj Al Arab with her nephew Addisu Gobena Aga, who will be making his marathon debut, hoping to have a family success and continue Ethiopia’s dominance in Dubai.
