Running News Daily

British distance-running pioneer Jim Peters was born on October 24, 1918, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that helped transform marathon running and redefine the limits of human endurance.

Born in Homerton, London, Peters became one of the most influential marathon runners of the 1950s, setting four world records and becoming the first athlete to complete the marathon in under two hours and 20 minutes.

His journey to greatness reached a defining moment on June 13, 1953, at the Polytechnic Marathon in England. Peters clocked 2:18:40.2, becoming the first man to break the historic 2:20 barrier in a marathon performance that marked a turning point in the sport's history.

The achievement was comparable in significance to Roger Bannister's historic sub-four-minute mile the following year, demonstrating how dramatically athletes could continue to push the boundaries of endurance running.

Peters had already announced himself as a marathon revolutionary in 1952 when he recorded 2:20:42.2 at the Polytechnic Marathon, breaking the existing world record. Rather than settling for that milestone, he continued to improve, producing another world record in 1953 before reaching an even higher level the following year.

On June 26, 1954, Peters delivered the finest performance of his career, clocking 2:17:39.4 at the Polytechnic Marathon to establish his fourth and final marathon world record. His remarkable progression demonstrated an extraordinary ability to sustain an aggressive pace over the demanding 42.195-kilometre distance.

Beyond the marathon, Peters also represented Great Britain at the 1948 London Olympic Games, finishing eighth in the 10,000 metres. He later earned a bronze medal in the six-mile race while representing England at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada.

However, the Vancouver Games also brought one of the most heartbreaking moments of his athletic career. After building an enormous lead in the marathon, Peters collapsed from the effects of the heat and severe dehydration just short of the finish. Despite repeatedly attempting to continue, he was unable to complete the race.

The incident became one of the most poignant episodes in marathon history, but it could not diminish the extraordinary achievements that had established him as one of the greatest distance runners of his generation.

Peters retired from competitive athletics following the 1954 Games and returned his attention to his profession as an optician. He died on January 9, 1999, at the age of 80, following a battle with cancer.

More than six decades after his record-breaking performances, Peters remains a towering figure in marathon history. His courage, relentless pursuit of faster times and pioneering achievements helped lay the foundations for future generations of athletes to challenge the limits of the 42.195-kilometre race.

On what would have been his 108th birthday, the legacy of Jim Peters endures as a reminder that sporting history is often shaped by pioneers courageous enough to attempt what once seemed impossible.

Tokyo, September 15, 2025 — New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish produced one of the most dramatic victories of the World Athletics Championships, storming to gold in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. His winning time of 8:33.88 edged Morocco’s reigning champion Soufiane El Bakkali by just 0.07 seconds, with 17-year-old Kenyan Edmund Serem taking bronze in 8:34.56 .

This is a breakthrough moment for New Zealand athletics: the nation’s first-ever outdoor World Championships track gold .

A Tactical Race Decided at the Line

The steeplechase final unfolded at a controlled pace, leaving the medals to be decided in the closing laps. El Bakkali, a two-time Olympic and world champion, looked ready to add another title. But Beamish, renowned for his devastating kick, stayed composed.

On the last lap, he surged through the field, matching El Bakkali stride for stride. Off the final water jump, Beamish unleashed one last burst of speed. In a thrilling lean at the line, he dethroned one of the event’s greats.

A fall and a spike in the heats 

Beamish’s victory was even more remarkable considering his rough path to the final. In his qualifying heat, he fell heavily and was stepped on in the face, yet managed to get up and finish second to advance .

That resilience set the tone for his gold-medal run.

Who Is Geordie Beamish?

• Born: October 24, 1996, in Hastings, New Zealand

• Club: On Athletics Club (based in Boulder, Colorado)

• Coach: Dathan Ritzenhein

• Specialties: 1500m through 5000m, and now the steeplechase

• Career highlights:

• 2024 World Indoor Champion in the 1500m (Glasgow)

• Oceania record holder in the 3000m steeplechase (8:09.64, Paris, 2024)

• Fifth in the 2023 World Championships steeplechase final

Beamish’s late move to the steeplechase has transformed his career, turning him from a versatile miler into a global champion.

This was a big upset 

Beamish’s Tokyo win not only toppled El Bakkali’s reign but also put New Zealand back on the map of world middle-distance running. For a nation that once celebrated icons like Peter Snell and John Walker, this is a new chapter in the sport’s history.

With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon , Beamish has proven he has the strength, resilience, and tactical brilliance to contend for more global medals.

German marathon record-holder Amanal Petros is preparing for a significant milestone in his athletic career as he sets his sights on the 2025 London Marathon, scheduled for April 27, 2025. This event will mark his inaugural participation in the London Marathon, where he will compete alongside an elite field featuring renowned athletes such as Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele. Petros’s personal best of 2:04:58, achieved at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, positions him as a formidable contender in this prestigious race.

A Journey of Resilience and Achievement

Born on May 17, 1995, in Assab, Eritrea, Petros’s early life was marked by adversity. At the age of two, his family fled the Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict, seeking refuge in Ethiopia. In 2012, as a teenager, Petros embarked on a journey to Germany, where he sought asylum and eventually acquired citizenship in 2015. It was in Germany that he discovered his passion and talent for long-distance running, setting the stage for a series of remarkable achievements.

Record-Breaking Performances

Petros’s dedication and perseverance have led to several national records:

• Marathon: German national record of 2:04:58, set at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.

• Half Marathon: National record of 1:00:09, achieved in Valencia on October 24, 2021.

• 10 km Road Race: National record of 27:32, set in Castellón, Spain, on February 26, 2023.

International Representation

Petros has proudly represented Germany on the international stage:

• Olympic Games: Competed in the men’s marathon at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, finishing 30th.

• European Championships: Secured a silver medal in the team marathon event and placed fourth individually at the 2022 European Athletics Championships in Munich.

Recent Preparations and Professional Milestones

In preparation for the London Marathon, Petros participated in the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelonaon February 16, 2025, completing the half marathon in 1:01:51. Reflecting on his performance, he stated:

“Today I ran quite far from my German record, but I am happy to run my first competition in 61:50 after the Olympic Games in Paris. Looking forward to my first marathon in London 2025.”

In addition to his athletic endeavors, Petros has recently joined the Puma Running Team, expressing enthusiasm about this new partnership and the opportunities it presents for the upcoming seasons.

Looking Ahead

As the 2025 London Marathon approaches, the running community eagerly anticipates Petros’s performance. His journey from a refugee seeking asylum to a national record-holder exemplifies resilience and determination. With his eyes set on London, Petros continues to inspire and set new benchmarks in long-distance running.

The last photo

The gesture Amanal Petros is making in this photo — crossing his arms above his head — is a powerful and symbolic act.  He does not do this gesture often but his beliefs have not changed.  

This “X” gesture has been widely recognized as a sign of solidarity with the Tigray people in northern Ethiopia. It’s used by athletes and others to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis and conflict in the region, where countless civilians have suffered due to war, famine, and displacement.

Petros, who was born in Eritrea and whose roots are in Tigray, is using this moment at the finish line to make a public statement of support and raise awareness.

“It was not that many years ago that breaking an hour for the half marathon was an amazing feat,” says My Best Runs editor Bob Anderson. “And today, we saw that record dip under 57 minutes. That’s running 4:19 mile pace for 13.1 miles. Wow!”

The half marathon, a 21.0975-kilometer (13.1-mile) race, has long been a benchmark of endurance and speed. For decades, breaking one hour in the event was considered an extraordinary achievement. But as training, technology, and competition have advanced, so have the records. On February 16, 2025, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo took the event into a new era, becoming the first person to break 57 minutes with a stunning world record of 56:42 at the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona.

The history of the half marathon

The half marathon has been a competitive event since at least the early 20th century, though it did not gain widespread popularity until later. It emerged as a race distance that was more accessible than the full marathon but still required a balance of endurance and speed. Unlike the marathon, which has been an Olympic event since 1896, the half marathon has never been included in the Games, but it has had its own World Championships since 1992.

With the rise of professional distance running and major city half marathons, the event has grown into one of the most participated-in races worldwide. Many view it as a stepping stone to the full marathon, while others appreciate it as a challenging yet more manageable race.

Breaking one hour The milestones

The quest to run a half marathon in under one hour became a defining goal for elite male distance runners. While marathon times had been steadily improving throughout the 20th century, the half marathon saw a more gradual progression.

1960: Australian runner Dave Power ran an unofficial best of 1:01:44.

1974: Ron Hill of Great Britain set a recognized world best of 1:02:22.

1978: Italy’s Marcello Fiasconaro improved the mark to 1:01:49.

1985: Steve Jones of Great Britain ran 1:01:14, bringing the record closer to the one-hour barrier.

1993: Moses Tanui of Kenya became the first man to break one hour, running 59:47.

Once Tanui shattered the one-hour barrier, improvements became more frequent, with Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes dominating the event.

1997: Paul Tergat (Kenya) ran 59:17.

2005: Samuel Wanjiru (Kenya) ran 59:16, then 58:33 in 2007.

2010: Zersenay Tadese (Eritrea) set a long-standing record of 58:23.

2020: Kibiwott Kandie (Kenya) became the first to break 58 minutes, running 57:32.

2021: Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) set a new record at 57:31.

2024: Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) improved it to 57:30.

2025: Jacob Kiplimo rewrote history with 56:42.

The women's half marathon world record

On the women’s side, the world record has seen significant improvements as well. Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey currently holds the record, running 1:02:52 on October 24, 2021, at the Valencia Half Marathon. This was a massive leap forward, making her the first woman to break 64 minutes.

Previous records include:

1982: Joan Benoit Samuelson (USA) ran 1:08:34.

2001: Elana Meyer (South Africa) became the first woman to break 67 minutes, running 1:06:44.

2007: Lornah Kiplagat (Netherlands) set a world record of 1:06:25.

2017: Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya) became the first woman under 65 minutes, running 1:04:52.

2021: Letesenbet Gidey shattered expectations with 1:02:52.

A new era for the half marathon

With Kiplimo’s record-breaking 56:41, the half marathon has entered uncharted territory. His ability to maintain a 4:19 per mile pace for 13.1 miles is a testament to the evolution of the sport. Advances in training methods, course selection, pacing strategies, and shoe technology have all contributed to these record-breaking performances.

The question now is what comes next. Will someone push the limits even further and run under 56 minutes? Will Kiplimo’s record stand for years, or will it spark another round of breakthroughs?

For now, all eyes turn to Kiplimo’s next challenge: his marathon debut at the London Marathon on April 27, 2025. If his half marathon success is any indication, the world may soon see him make history over 26.2 miles as well.

One thing is certain—the evolution of the half marathon is far from over, and the best may still be yet to come.

Peres Jepchirchir has revealed her next step as she eyes redemption following her dissapointing 15th-place finish at the Paris Olympic Games.

Former Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir is targeting the world half-marathon record as she heads to the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label event, scheduled for Sunday, October 20.

Jepchirchir, the reigning London Marathon champion, has not raced since her exit from the Paris Olympic Games where she faded to 15th place in a time of 2:26:51. The Kenyan long-distance running ace will be looking to bounce back in a commanding way with a world record.

The women’s world record currently stands at 1:02:52 and was set by Letesenbet Gidey on October 24, 2021, at the Valencia Half Marathon and Peres Jepchirchir has plans to obliterate it and take back her crown when she steps on the track. A huge prize purse also awaits her as she seeks to make history in the Indian city.

The men’s race will be headlined by Joshua Cheptegei, the current world record holder in the 5000m and 10,000m. The reigning Olympic 10,000m champion will also be out to attack the world record and make an impact as he continues enriching his decorated athletics resume.

“This country holds a special place in my heart, as it’s where I made my international debut in 2014. It’s been a good season for me, and I am certainly looking at a course-record timing at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. The energy and passion of the Indian running community are truly inspiring, and I’m excited to be part of this prestigious event,” Cheptegei said ahead of his return to the streets of the Indian city.

Meanwhile, a total amount of $260,000 prize money has been set aside for top finishers with the winners set to walk away with $27,000. In addition to this, there is an Event Record Bonus of $12,000.

18-year-old Alana Reid is set to become a training partner to the reigning World 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson.

Reigning World Under-20 200m bronze medallist Alana Reid is set to become a training partner to the reigning World 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson.

As reported by Radio Jamaica Sports, the 18-year-old will also be guided by Dennis Mitchell at the Florida-based Star Athletics Track Club ahead of the Olympic Games in 2024.

Her move just comes four months after the Jamaican, who is also the national Under-20 100m record holder, signed a multi year deal with Nike as she went professional professional.

During the time Reid was signing the deal back in June, her management team at Auctus Global Sports Management, which is jointly run by Sekou Clarke and Olympian Dwight Thomas, had revealed that the 18-year-old sprinter would continue training with her high school coach, Corey Bennett.

However, Bennett on Tuesday, October 24 confirmed via telephone to Radio Jamaica Sports that he would no longer be guiding the career of Reid who he coached to the sprint double as Hydel High won their first Girls' Champs title in March of this year.

They also noted that upon contacting Clarke on phone, he declined to comment on what had really happened.

Meanwhile, Richardson, the American, has had a great 2023 season and just at the age of 23, she has achieved, many great milestones.

The Jamaican youngster, with hard work and commitment to training, might also be the next big thing on the track.

The Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP, organized by SD Correcaminos, has confirmed the names of the international elite that will take to the streets of Valencia Ciudad del Running on October 24th.

After the Elite Edition last year in which a new male world record for the distance was set, 57:32 by Kibiwott Kandie, and four runners ran under 58 minutes, the Valencia Half Marathon aims to become the world’s fastest in 2021, all of this without losing sight of the challenge of the women’s world record, currently set at 1:03:44. 

Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, current 5000m record holder (14:06.62 at the NN Valencia World Record Day in 2020), 10,000 (29:01.03, Hengelo) and 15K record holder (44:20), will try to improve upon her bronze medal in the 10,000m at Tokyo 2020 debuting at the Valencia Half Marathon at a world–class level. Alongside her, the last two winners of the event, Genzebe Dibaba (1:05:18 in 2020) and Senbere Teferi (1:05:32 in 2019 and 5K recordwoman with 14:29), as well as Yalemzerf Yehualaw (1:04:40), third in the last World Half Marathon in Gdynia (Poland), and who took 19 seconds off the world half marathon record, running a remarkable 1:03:44 at the P&O Ferries Antrim Coast Half Marathon.

In spite of the immeasurable records that were registered in the men’s category in 2020, with four runners under 58 minutes and the previous world record, the Valencia Half Marathon will also set up a race of an immensely high level in the men’s category. The third classified of the Elite Edition, Rhonex Kipruto (57:49 and the current 10K road world record) will return and the Ethiopian Muktar Edris, double world champion in 5.000m on track and with a time of 59:04 in half marathon, in his only experience in road race. They will be joined by several sub 59-minute runners over the distance and some world-class debutants from the track.

Marc Roig: “Dreaming about a world record is possible and desired”.

Marc Roig, manager of the international elite of the race, said that “Olympic years always have a special atmosphere, but the calendar does not stop and the half marathon (non-Olympic distance) has other crowns to share out. And they want them, both those who triumphed in Tokyo and those who fell short. That’s why dreaming about the world record is possible and desired”. 

The Valencia Half Marathon is working with the teams of the top elite athletes so that their training in the weeks leading up to the event will culminate in an unprecedented peak of performance in Valencia.

Less than three months after battling to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Bashir Abdi is planning to chase the European record in the NN Rotterdam Marathon on October 24.

Abdi is the second fastest European performer in history with his 2:04:49 clocking from the 2020 Tokyo Marathon where he finished second but the Belgian is looking to run even faster in Rotterdam next month with Kaan Kigen Ozbilen’s European record of 2:04:16 the foremost target.

"Rotterdam is the city of the marathon for me. It has a fast course and the organization is always excellent. Additionally Rotterdam feels like a home match for me. I don't get that anywhere else. If I have any chance of beating the European record anywhere, then it is here but I will have to do my very best for it," said Abdi as quoted by the race organisers.

After a solid track career, Abdi stepped up to the marathon distance in 2018. He made his debut in Rotterdam and placed a creditable sixth in 2:10:46 when the event was held in its traditional springtime slot, a performance made all the more impressive by the fact Abdi fell at the start and grazed his knees in the melee.

Now coached by Gary Lough, the husband of Paula Radcliffe and also the coach of Mo Farah, Abdi broke his lifetime best in his next three marathons which culminated with a sub-2:05 performance in the Tokyo Marathon in March 2020 just before the spread of coronavirus shut down the sporting world.

And despite the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, Abdi carried this stellar form through to the rescheduled Games this summer by winning bronze to become the first Belgian to win a medal in the marathon since the great Karel Lismont in Montreal 1976. 

This year’s edition of the Rotterdam Marathon marks the 40th edition of an event which has produced record-breaking performances in its long and illustrious history.

In 1988, Belayneh Dinsamo from Ethiopia set a world record of 2:06:50 which stood on the record books for a decade. On the women's side, Kenya's Tegla Loroupe also set a world record of 2:20:48 in the 1998 edition.

The course records now stand at 2:04:11 to Kenya’s Marius Kipserem on the men’s side and 2:18:58 to Ethiopia’s Tiki Gelana on the women’s side.

The Moscow Marathon has been postponed until 2022 amid ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in the Russian capital.

The event had been scheduled to take place on September 26.

Organisers have confirmed that "due to the epidemiological situation, the city is forced not to hold mass events", resulting in the postponement of the event.

Under current restrictions in Moscow, there is a temporary ban on concerts, entertainment and sports events involving more than 500 people.

"Throughout the season, we fight for our every start and do everything possible to make the planned races take place," said race director Dmitry Tarasov, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

"But we live in a situation where circumstances can change every day.

"These changes concern not only sports, but also our daily life.

"The team of the running community was preparing a large-scale sports event for you, but this year it will not take place.

"We are grateful to everyone who supports us and understands the events that are taking place at the moment.

"We are looking forward to holding all the events planned until the end of the year, and we will be happy to meet you at the start."

The event would have been the ninth staging of the Moscow Marathon, which was first held in 2013.

The race takes runners across the Crimean bridge, through Tverskaya Street and Teatralniy Proezd to the walls of the Kremlin.

Organisers say the route features major landmarks in the city, including the Moscow City skyscrapers, four of the seven Stalinist skyscrapers and the Bolshoi Theater.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the event took place last year.

Organisers say the event will take place next year, but remain hopeful of holding upcoming events until the end of 2021.

This includes the fast dog and fox mountain cross-country events, which are scheduled for October 2 and 3, as well as the night run on October 9.

The Moscow Half Marathon is still scheduled to take place on October 24.

The event had been scheduled to take place on September 26.

Organizers have confirmed that "due to the epidemiological situation, the city is forced not to hold mass events", resulting in the postponement of the event.

Under current restrictions in Moscow, there is a temporary ban on concerts, entertainment and sports events involving more than 500 people.

"Throughout the season, we fight for our every start and do everything possible to make the planned races take place," said race director Dmitry Tarasov, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

"But we live in a situation where circumstances can change every day.

"These changes concern not only sports, but also our daily life.

"The team of the running community was preparing a large-scale sports event for you, but this year it will not take place.

"We are grateful to everyone who supports us and understands the events that are taking place at the moment.

"We are looking forward to holding all the events planned until the end of the year, and we will be happy to meet you at the start."

The event would have been the ninth staging of the Moscow Marathon, which was first held in 2013.

The race takes runners across the Crimean bridge, through Tverskaya Street and Teatralniy Proezd to the walls of the Kremlin.

Organisers say the route features major landmarks in the city, including the Moscow City skyscrapers, four of the seven Stalinist skyscrapers and the Bolshoi Theater.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the event took place last year.

Organisers say the event will take place next year, but remain hopeful of holding upcoming events until the end of 2021.

This includes the fast dog and fox mountain cross-country events, which are scheduled for October 2 and 3, as well as the night run on October 9.

The Moscow Half Marathon is still scheduled to take place on October 24.

The Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP, organized by SD Correcaminos, has confirmed the first names of the international elite that will take to the streets of Valencia Ciudad del Running on October 24th.

After the Elite Edition last year in which a new male world record for the distance was set, 57:32 by Kibiwott Kandie, and four runners ran under 58 minutes, the Valencia Half Marathon aims to become the world’s fastest in 2021, all of this without losing sight of the challenge of the women’s world record, currently set at 1:04:02 in the hands of the Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich.

Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, current 5000m record holder (14:06.62 at the NN Valencia World Record Day in 2020), 10,000 (29:01.03, Hengelo) and 15K record holder (44:20), will try to improve upon her bronze medal in the 10,000m at Tokyo 2020 debuting at the Valencia Half Marathon at a world–class level. Alongside her, the last two winners of the event, Genzebe Dibaba (1:05:18 in 2020) and Senbere Teferi (1:05:32 in 2019), as well as Yalemzerf Yehualaw (1:04:40), third in the last World Half Marathon in Gdynia (Poland), and who improves her personal performance in each new asphalt race she takes part in.

In spite of the immeasurable records that were registered in the men’s category in 2020, with four runners under 58 minutes and the previous world record, the Valencia Half Marathon will also set up a race of an immensely high level in the men’s category. The third classified of the Elite Edition, Rhonex Kipruto (57:49 and the current 10K road world record) will return and the Ethiopian Muktar Edris, double world champion in 5.000m on track and with a time of 59:04 in half marathon, in his only experience in road race. They will be joined by several sub 59-minute runners over the distance and some world-class debutants from the track.

Marc Roig, manager of the international elite of the race, said that “Olympic years always have a special atmosphere, but the calendar does not stop and the half marathon (non-Olympic distance) has other crowns to share out. And they want them, both those who triumphed in Tokyo and those who fell short. That’s why dreaming about the world record is possible and desired.”

The Valencia Half Marathon is working with the teams of the top elite athletes so that their training in the weeks leading up to the event will culminate in an unprecedented peak of performance in Valencia.

Hong Kong Marathon is tentatively scheduled for October 24 after being suspended last year because of the pandemic, Commissioner of Sports Yeung Tak-keung said, but the number of participants will be reduced to some 10,000, while all must complete Covid-19 vaccination.

Yeung said that the race has been discussed by the Associations of Athletics Affiliates and was believed to be likely to come true. The association is expected to announce a decision within this week.

"If the marathon is held successfully, the route will be changed and the number of participants is expected to limit to some 10,000, with the requirements of completing two doses of vaccines," he said.

Speaking in a radio program today, Yeung said that some local television stations are negotiating with mainland authorities to purchase the broadcasting rights of the National Games of China to be held next month and that Hongkongers "will definitely be able to watch the games on TV."

But he said it is unknown how many stations can broadcast the games.

On the Tokyo Olympics which closed on August 8,Yeung said the record high six medals were out of expectation, which was very surprising.

He pointed out that the government has significantly pumped up resources allocated to sports over the past five years, from about HK$400 million in 2015 and 2016 to nearly HK$800 million this year.

Apart from increasing the number of athletes, the government has also put more resources in professional support, strengthening psychological and physiotherapy services, as well as hiring more physical trainers.

Announcing the decision race director Jim Aughney said that despite rigorous evaluations, there are still too many unknowns to be confident that we could provide a safe event given the pure scale of the marathon.

The organizers of the KBC sponsored event had hoped that the event could go ahead on October 24 but postponed making a final call for as long as possible.

But they have now dropped the bombshell news that the event which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019 has been cancelled.

“It is with great regret that we are cancelling the KBC Dublin Marathon for the second year in a row," Aughney said.

"Despite vigorous evaluations, there are still too many unknowns to be confident that we could provide a safe event given the pure scale of the marathon. We have a duty of care to the runners, volunteers, suppliers and supporters. This will be extremely disappointing news for all participants entered. We want to thank them for their continued support.”

“We have come to a critical point in our event planning when a final decision needed to be made. We took into consideration the recent updates on modeling around Covid-19 and the immense challenges of creating a controlled, safe environment for the KBC Dublin Marathon which has a footprint of 26.2 miles with 25,000 runners and 200,000 supporters who line the streets to cheer them on.”

All entries for the 2021 KBC Dublin Marathon will be valid for the 2022 race. For those who do not wish to avail of this, a full refund option will be available. Last year’s race had attracted a sell-out field of 25,000

Runners can still enter and take part in the KBC Virtual Dublin Marathon over the October Bank Holiday weekend; Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th and Monday the 25th.

While the news is not a surprise, it will be a major disappointment to the thousands of runners who were hoping to take part in the race. It will also be a significant economic blow to both the race organizers and the business community in Dublin.

More runners will be able to sign up for this fall’s Vermont City Marathon starting next week.

Marathon officials announced Thursday they will expand the total field but didn’t specify by how many, only saying it’s a “limited” number. Run Vermont says that’s because they’re waiting to see how many of the runners who signed up for last year’s marathon want to run this year -- they get first priority.

The marathon usually happens Memorial Day weekend but was put off until October 24th this year due to the pandemic.

The 2021 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, one of the city’s showpiece sports events, is postponed to October 24 because of the uncertainties surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.

Organisers announced the decision on Friday, saying: “Public health and safety are our top priority. In light of the uncertain pandemic situation and to align with the government’s prevention measures, the organisers will continue to work with relevant government departments and stakeholders for appropriate preparation work.”

The event, which in February 2019 attracted 74,000 entrants in the 10K, half marathon and marathon categories, was originally scheduled to take place on January 24. But in August, the organisers announced a postponement without providing a date, although it is believed they were looking at April.

However, with Covid-19 still a major health threat in Hong Kong and around the world – with no sign of easing – organisers have decided to push it back to October to avoid the summer heat. They also wanted to avoid holding it too close to the following year’s marathon, which is scheduled for early 2022.

The 2020 event, originally set for February 9, was called off because of the outbreak of Covid-19 in Hong Kong.

The October date has gained support from relevant government authorities, including the police – who will provide the road permit – and Home Affairs Bureau, the de facto sports ministry.

The Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates – the local governing body – needs five to six months to register runners, which means they do not have enough time to hold the race in early 2021 when the weather in Hong Kong is suitable for long distance running. Registration for the 2021 event is expected to open in the second quarter of next year.

Instead of the usual 5000 runners this year's Venice Marathon will only have two, one man and one woman. Under an initiative announced by race organizers yesterday called "Venicemarathon One for All," one male and one female runner will be chosen at random from the field of 5000 entrants to run the famous course from Villa Pisani Museo Nazionale, through the Piazza San Marco, to the finish at the Giardino della Marinaressa. Because of the pandemic, the remainder of the field must run virtually.

"During this hard time we worked in close and continuous contact with local authorities, health institutions and FIDAL (the Italian Federation of Athletics) to try and organize the event this year as our tradition saw in the past," said marathon president Piero Rosa Salva through a statement. "Unfortunately, the strong concern for an epidemiological situation still in progress, especially abroad, forced us, with great regret but with a necessary sense of responsibility, to recognize the impossibility of managing in health safety the events which involved last year about 30,000 people including athletes, school children, volunteers, police forces and professionals."

The marathon's 5000 registrants may run virtually, from October 24, to November 1. But the two in-person participants will "have the opportunity to run for all athletes," on the official race day of Sunday, October 25, organizers said. Those runners will have a full escort of vehicles "that will assist them along the race course, guaranteeing their safety," according to the organizers. There will be a live video stream of their run.

There will also be a start-as-you-please 10-K in the nearby Parco San Giuliano where runners can complete a marked race course anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and get an official time. The park is near the 30-K mark of the marathon course, and 10-K runners can possibly get a glimpse of the two marathoners when they go by.

The Venice Marathon is widely recognized as Italy's best fall marathon. The course records were both set by Kenyans: 2:08:13 by John Komen in 2009 and 2:23:37 by Helena Loshanyang Kirop in 2011. Last year's winners, Tesfaye Ambesa Lencho of Ethiopia and Judith Korir of Kenya, each earned 5000 euros in prize money plus time bonuses.

The Great European 2,500 is a virtual relay that takes runners the distance of London to Budapest

If your motivation is waning after months without races, the Great European 2,500 could be the slump-buster to get you excited to run again. The virtual race is a 2,500K run for teams of up to six, 12 or 24 people with a route that starts at Buckingham Palace in the U.K. and weaves through eight countries before its finish line in Budapest, Hungary. In the year when you can’t travel wherever you would like for a race, you can participate in a virtual run through some of the best places Europe has to offer. The event starts on October 3, and teams have until December 3 to collectively complete the 2,500K run.

How it works

“Run anywhere,” a promotional video for the event says, “and race across Europe.” You don’t even have to run, actually. Organizers say any time you travel by foot — whether that’s on a training run, a walk with your dog or a hike — you can log your mileage. Using any tracking app you like, from Strava to MapMyRun or something else, participants track their individual kilometres and upload them to the race website. If you don’t have a GPS watch or a phone to track mileage, you can manually log the distance you ran, but organizers note this is not encouraged.

Teams are split into groups based on the number of members and their genders. There are open (more than 50 per cent male), female and co-ed (at least 50/50 men and women) categories, and teams can have up to six, up to 12 or up to 24 racers (although you can have fewer participants than the total allotment in each category, such as four runners in the “up to six” division). As you and your teammates log your runs, you’ll be able to see your progress on a map of Europe and where you stand compared to the rest of the field.

You have two months to complete the 2,500K route. Registration for this event closes on October 24 at 11:59 p.m. If you want to race but can’t find anyone to run with, organizers recommend visiting the Great European 2,500 Facebook page to find any teams who are looking for extra runners.

What you’ll “see”

Race organizers will follow along as each team runs across Europe, highlighting different parts of the virtual route along the way. For example, the route takes runners through Paris and by the Eiffel Tower, over the Swiss Alps, past former Olympic sites in Germany and so many other global attractions. You won’t be there in person, but you can learn about the different places you run by, even if it is virtual.

To learn more about the race and to sign up, click here.

The 2020 Volkswagen Prague Marathon, which had been postponed from May 3, to October 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has now been cancelled. In addition two other important road races in Prague which are also organized by the Czech Republic’s most important race organizer RunCzech, the Sportisimo Prague International Half-Marathon and Birell Grand Prix, have also been cancelled. All three events had received World Athletics Gold Label status.

“We were ready with our races,” wrote RunCzech president Carlo Capalbo in an open letter to the runners and other stakeholders involved in his organization’s events. “Everyone was in place. Our team. Our volunteers. Our partners and suppliers. Everything was ordered and most of it in our warehouse. And then? COVID.”

Capalbo continued: “We hoped against hope that autumn would be better. But it was not to be.”

Large sporting events will not be permitted in the center of Prague, Capalbo explained, forcing the cancellations. He said that all registered runners will have the option to transfer their entries to the 2021 or 2022 editions of these events for no additional cost.

“The decision taken is extremely difficult for us,” Capalbo added. “But we take comfort knowing that Czech government officials had the foresight and the wisdom to take action designed to keep us safe. We take comfort knowing that our health care professionals were tireless and brilliant in helping to treat the virus. We take comfort knowing that when it hurts this bad we must be doing something good. And we take comfort knowing that we will run again.”

The Sportisimo Prague International Half-Marathon, part of the international SuperHalfs race series, was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 28, but was then postponed until Sunday, September 6. The Birell Grand Prix, a 10-K with a women’s 5-K, was always scheduled for Saturday, September 5. Collectively, these events had 26,192 finishers in 2019, according to the Race Results Weekly Athletes Performance Database. The half-marathon was the largest event with 10,517 finishers.

Capalbo emphasized that RunCzech’s other races outside of Prague were still scheduled to happen on the revised schedule his organization issued earlier this year: the Mattoni Olomouc Half-Marathon (August 30), Mattoni Ústí Half-Marathon (September 19), Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half-Marathon (October 24), and Mattoni České Budějovice Half-Marathon (October 31).

These cancellations in Prague follow closely the cancellations of three of the running industry’s most important events: the Boston Marathon (postponed from April 20, to September 14, before being cancelled), the BMW Berlin Marathon (September 27) and the TCS New York City Marathon (November 1). Dozens of other fall road races have also been cancelled across the Americas, Europe and Japan including large and important events like the Great North Run Half-Marathon in England, Buenos Aires Marathon in Argentina, the Dam tot Damloop 10 Mile in the Netherlands, the Paris-Versailles 16-K in France, and the Osaka Marathon in Japan.

Capalbo, an Italian who has lived in the Czech Republic for decades, remains optimistic. “Very often, over the course of our 27-year history, when we’ve faced adversity, we’ve looked for inspiration from our guiding spirit, Emil Zatopek,” Capalbo wrote. “A man who famously said that when you feel like you can’t go on, ‘go faster.'”

The 2020 Volkswagen Prague Marathon, which had been postponed from May 3, to October 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has now been cancelled. In addition two other important road races in Prague which are also organized by the Czech Republic's most important race organizer RunCzech, the Sportisimo Prague International Half-Marathon and Birell Grand Prix, have also been cancelled. All three events had received World Athletics Gold Label status.

"We were ready with our races," wrote RunCzech president Carlo Capalbo in an open letter to the runners and other stakeholders involved in his organization's events. "Everyone was in place. Our team. Our volunteers. Our partners and suppliers. Everything was ordered and most of it in our warehouse. And then? COVID."

Capalbo continued: "We hoped against hope that autumn would be better. But it was not to be."

Large sporting events will not be permitted in the center of Prague, Capalbo explained, forcing the cancellations. He said that all registered runners will have the option to transfer their entries to the 2021 or 2022 editions of these events for no additional cost.

"The decision taken is extremely difficult for us," Capalbo added. "But we take comfort knowing that Czech government officials had the foresight and the wisdom to take action designed to keep us safe. We take comfort knowing that our health care professionals were tireless and brilliant in helping to treat the virus. We take comfort knowing that when it hurts this bad we must be doing something good. And we take comfort knowing that we will run again."

The Sportisimo Prague International Half-Marathon, part of the international SuperHalfs race series, was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 28, but was then postponed until Sunday, September 6. The Birell Grand Prix, a 10-K with a women's 5-K, was always scheduled for Saturday, September 5. Collectively, these events had 26,192 finishers in 2019, according to the Race Results Weekly Athletes Performance Database. The half-marathon was the largest event with 10,517 finishers.

Capalbo emphasized that RunCzech's other races outside of Prague were still scheduled to happen on the revised schedule his organization issued earlier this year: the Mattoni Olomouc Half-Marathon (August 30), Mattoni Ústí Half-Marathon (September 19), Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half-Marathon (October 24), and Mattoni Ceské Budejovice Half-Marathon (October 31).

These cancellations in Prague follow closely the cancellations of three of the running industry's most important events: the Boston Marathon (postponed from April 20, to September 14, before being cancelled), the BMW Berlin Marathon (September 27) and the TCS New York City Marathon (November 1). Dozens of other fall road races have also been cancelled across the Americas, Europe and Japan including large and important events like the Great North Run Half-Marathon in England, Buenos Aires Marathon in Argentina, the Dam tot Damloop 10 Mile in the Netherlands, the Paris-Versailles 16-K in France, and the Osaka Marathon in Japan.

Capalbo, an Italian who has lived in the Czech Republic for decades, remains optimistic. "Very often, over the course of our 27-year history, when we've faced adversity, we've looked for inspiration from our guiding spirit, Emil Zatopek," Capalbo wrote. "A man who famously said that when you feel like you can't go on, 'go faster.'"

In the same week the Berlin Marathon and New York City Marathon were canceled, Hamburg Marathon race organizers announced they are moving forward with plans to host 26.2 in Germany amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On June 23, race organizers shared an extensive hygiene policy, which was proposed to the city of Hamburg in hopes that the marathon will happen on September 13.

Hamburg Marathon race organizers do not have the city’s approval to gather the 14,000 runners anticipated for the event, but they are hoping to receive permission by the beginning of August, communications director Reinald Achilles confirmed in an email to Runner’s World.

The Hamburg marathon and half marathon were planned for April 19 but had to be rescheduled when the German government implemented a nationwide shut down in mid-March. While the number of new infections has stabilized at a lower level, as reported by Reuters on June 17, the country’s ban on large events was extended to October 24. But exceptions are being made for events where contract tracing and hygiene regulations are possible. 

If the event continues, the Hamburg Marathon will likely be the first large-scale international marathon to be hosted since the start of the pandemic. 

“We are optimistic that the Haspa Marathon Hamburg will be started on September 13,” race director Frank Thaleiser said in a statement. “We have the plans and the infrastructure required. We will now make detailed plans together with the city to realize the race.”

The hygiene policy, outlined by race officials last Tuesday, was developed by experts at Manchester Metropolitan University in England, which offers a masters degree in crowd safety and risk analysis. 

To prepare for the 10,000 marathon participants and 4,000 half marathon runners expected to compete, race organizers are planning to include social distancing and increased hygiene measures prior to and during the event. 

The half marathon and the marathon will have different start and finish areas, and the runners will begin each race in staggered groups of 1,000 about 10 minutes apart over the course of two hours. Before the event, runners will be assigned in predetermined groups and corralled in different halls of the expo building prior to the start. Disinfection stations will be available throughout the event area and along the course. 

Each participant will be given a scarf with a breathing filter to be worn over the nose and mouth in the event areas. And unlike previous races, open food and drink will not be available in the finish area. Instead, race organizers will be offering a refueling package to the participants. 

The elite field will be a smaller group of 30 athletes who will be required to complete COVID-19 testing prior to the competition. Runners in the elite and the mass field will not be allowed to participate if they are traveling from countries where the virus poses a higher risk. 

“The organizational and hygiene policy should demonstrate that a running event with up to 14,000 participants within a city environment can be carried out responsibly while respecting the restrictions on contact and current hygiene guidelines since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Thaleiser said in a statement. 

On June 24, the Berlin Marathon, which hosted 62,444 participants in 2019, was officially canceled. The news followed earlier reports in April in which race organizers announced the World Marathon Major would not go on as planned because of the ordinance set in place by the German government prohibiting all events with more than 5,000 people until October 24. The race looked into different options for holding the event but ultimately determined it wasn’t possible to continue on September 26-27. 

The New York City Marathon was also canceled last Wednesday in a joint decision made by the New York Road Runners and the New York City Mayor’s Office. The marathon was supposed to take place in November, and it would have been the 50th running of the event. 

New York and Berlin are the latest World Marathon Majors to be canceled or postponed in 2020. The Boston Marathon was initially postponed from April to September before being canceled in May. The London Marathon was rescheduled for October 4, and the Chicago Marathon remains on the calendar for October 11.

Events with 5,000 participants or more are prohibited by the responsible authorities in Germany until October 24, 2020. Hopes were raised earlier this week that a replacement race after that date might be possible, if satisfactory hygiene measures could be put in place, but the race’s organisers today drew a line under these considerations.

SCC Events, the race organisers, said in a statement: “We worked hard on the development of a hygiene concept and held countless discussions with our experts, the responsible authorities and service providers, among others. A comprehensive feasibility analysis showed that an event such as the BMW Berlin-Marathon could not be held under the current specifications – also not after October 24, 2020, especially not with the high expectations we all have for this event. Naturally, we support the containment measures, as the health of everyone is of utmost importance to us.

“The BMW Berlin-Marathon will therefore not take place on September 26-27, 2020 due to force majeure, and it is also not possible to hold the event at a later date this year.”

Jürgen Lock, Managing Director of SCC Events, added: “Due to the weather conditions alone and the ever shorter days, it would be very difficult to hold the BMW Berlin-Marathon with its various competitions and event formats this year.

Then there is the uncertainty about which regulations will apply at a later date. The question of whether athletes will be able to travel internationally again by then can also not yet be answered.”

Registered participants will be contacted this week and offered the opportunity of a full refund or a transfer to next year’s event on September 25–26 2021.

The Berlin Marathon, one of the world’s six elite long-distance races, has been cancelled this year as organisers conceded the event cannot be held under German Covid-19 containment regulations.

The decision yesterday (Wednesday) came as the 2020 New York City Marathon, originally scheduled for November 1 and another member of the World Marathon Majors (WMM) group, was also cancelled due to Covid-19.

The Berlin Marathon was scheduled for September 26-27, but organisers had already announced in April that this year’s race would not go ahead as scheduled after the German government extended its ban on large-scale gatherings of more than 5,000 people until October 24.

SCC Events has now said that after “extensive examination and various discussions” it would not be possible to hold the event at a later date this year. It added: “Over the past weeks, we have put a lot of commitment and effort into examining all options for holding the BMW Berlin-Marathon 2020 under the given conditions.

“We worked hard on the development of a hygiene concept and held countless discussions with our experts, the responsible authorities and service providers, among others.”

The media and sponsorship rights to the Berlin Marathon are sold by the Infront agency, which is also responsible for the broadcast production. Of the six World Marathon Majors, only Tokyo has taken place so far this year on March 1, with a reduced field consisting only of elite runners, without the mass participation element.

The Berlin and New York decisions came weeks after the Boston Marathon was cancelled for the first time in its 124-year history. The London Marathon has been postponed until October 4, while the Chicago Marathon remains scheduled for October 11.

In a surprising turn of events, the postponed Haspa Marathon Hamburg will be allowed to take place with both elite and mass races on Sunday, September 13.  The event, which was originally scheduled for April 19, has been granted an exemption by German authorities –who had implemented a ban on all large events through October 24– because organizers have agreed to implement a rigorous anti-COVID hygiene plan.  The event is a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.

“We are optimistic that the Haspa Marathon Hamburg will be started on 13 September,” said chief organizer Frank Thaleiser through a statement.  “We have the plans and the infrastructure required.  We will now make detailed plans together with the city to realize the race.”

Organizers are expecting 10,000 runners for the marathon, plus an additional 4,000 in a companion half-marathon (last year’s marathon had 10,079 finishers).  The marathon and half-marathon will have different start and finish areas.  Runners in the half-marathon will start in several groups between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m., while the marathon runners will begin racing at 9:30 a.m. with a starting time window of just under two hours. The athletes will be sent on the course in “batches” of 1,000 per starting group in roughly ten-minute intervals.

To ensure physical distancing before the race, runners will assemble in predetermined groups in different halls of the Expo building.  There, and also in the finish areas, a total of 120,000 square meters of space will be available to the organizers and under their control; spectators will not be allowed to enter.  Disinfection stations will be set up both in the event areas and along the course.

Moreover, all participants will be given a tubular scarf with a breathing filter.  These must be worn over the nose and mouth in the event area including the start and finish areas.  During the race runners must have these with them and put them over mouth and nose after they cross the finish line.  No open drinks or individual food offerings will be available in the finish area; instead all participants will receive a refueling package.  Other facilities which are usually on offer, such as massage and showers, will not be available.

“The organizational and hygiene policy should demonstrate that a running event with up to 14,000 participants within a city environment can be carried out responsibly while respecting the restrictions on contact and current hygiene guidelines since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Thaleiser added.

The elite field will be scaled down to about 30 athletes, organizers said.  These will be the only athletes standing together on the starting line. These athletes will have to undergo testing for the novel corona virus before the race, and will only be drawn from certain countries given travel restrictions.  Participation by athletes from countries where the novel corona virus poses a higher risk will not be allowed, either in the elite or the mass field.

The detailed hygiene policy was developed with the help of Manchester Metropolitan University in England which offers a masters degree in Crowd Safety and Risk Analysis.

The Haspa Marathon Hamburg was founded in 1986.  Ethiopians Tadu Abate (2:08:26) and Dibaba Kuma (2:24:42) were the race champions in 2019.  The course records are 2:05:30 by Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge in 2013, and 2:21:54 by Ethiopia’s Meselech Melkamu in 2016.

Separately, the massive BMW Berlin Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, September 27, has yet to announce how their event will be staged this year, if at all.  Their most recent statement, dated May 27, said that officials were continuing “to put all our energy into considering various options” for the race.  An announcement is expected, soon.

SCC Events had previously announced that the World Marathon Major would not take place on its original September 27 date, leading to many publications reporting the race as cancelled.

This was due to restrictions put in place by the local Government, which placed a ban on gatherings of more than 5,000 people until October 24.

A decision is still to be made by SCC Events on this year's race, however, with further information to be released by the end of June at the latest.

Many major marathons around the world have faced a similar fate with the races in Boston and London, which are also part of the World Marathon Majors, postponed to September and October respectively. 

"Due to the size of the event and the large number of people involved, we need a little more time to examine different options for this implementation of the further procedure," SCC said.

"In addition, at the moment we cannot work on the upcoming tasks in full team strength; like many others, the SCC Events team is currently on short-time work.

"Nevertheless, as usual, we put all the available energy into this process and will contact you by the end of June at the latest with details on the further procedure relating to the BMW Berlin Marathon. 

"If we have new information beforehand, we will of course let you know immediately."

In Germany, there are more than 172,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 nationwide, resulting in the deaths of more than 7,600 people.

The 2018 edition of the race saw Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge smash the men's marathon world record in a time of 2 hours 1min 39sec.

This was nearly bettered by Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele last year, who was two seconds short on his way to victory.

The decision was made after the Germany government banned group gatherings of more than 5,000 people until after October 24.

On April 21, the Berlin Marathon announced that the race will not happen as planned on September 27, due to coronavirus restrictions on group sizes in Berlin.

The announcement did not mention whether the race is canceled outright or will be postponed for a later date.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact a huge number of lives across the globe, large races set for the fall have begun to seem less and less likely to happen. And on April 21, the unfortunate news came: the Berlin Marathon, scheduled for September 27, has been canceled due to coronavirus restrictions.

According to an announcement on the race’s event page, the marathon can’t be run as scheduled because of an ordinance set in place by the German government prohibiting all events with more than 5,000 people from now until October 24.

The announcement did not mention whether the race is canceled outright or will be postponed for a later date. It also didn’t mention whether or not registered runners will be able to receive a refund for their race bib or roll over their registration to 2021.

The announcement did not mention whether the race is canceled outright or will be postponed for a later date. It also didn’t mention whether or not registered runners will be able to receive a refund for their race bib or roll over their registration to 2021.

“We will now deal with the consequences, coordinate the further steps, and inform you as soon as we can. Let us remain strong together,” said the Berlin Marathon event team in an Instagram post.

Eliminating the Berlin Marathon from the fall race schedule is especially sad news for the running community, as the fast course has hosted spectacular performances over the years, including Eliud Kipchoge’s current marathon world record of 2:01:39.

The cancellation also puts into question the likelihood of whether the other World Major Marathons—Boston, London, Chicago, and New York City—will happen as planned later this year.

The Chicago Marathon, still scheduled to run on October 11, recently announced a cancellation option for runners registered for the 2020 race. Meanwhile, Boston and London—which were originally planned for this month but postponed until September 14 and October 4, respectively—as well as New York City, scheduled for November 1, have not yet made announcements about coronavirus-related schedule changes.

Gladys Cherono has been forced to defer her dream for a fourth Berlin Marathon title with the 2017 World marathon champion, Geoffrey Kirui also putting on hold his debut in the race.

The organisers of the race that was due for September 27 have been forced to cancel the marathon after the Berlin Senate, the executive body that governs the city, extended the ban on gatherings of more than 5,000 participants until October 24 due to the novel coronavirus.

"We have learned from the press conference of the Berlin Senate on April 21, 2020, that according to the Containment Ordinance, all events with more than 5,000 persons will be prohibited until October 24, 2020. This applies to many of our events, but especially to the Berlin Marathon,” said a statement on the event’s website.

This is the first cancellation of a World Marathon Majors race this year owing to coronavirus, and it raises questions about the likelihood of other races taking place around the same time, including the rescheduled London Marathon, which is to take place on October 4.

Cherono, the 2014 World Half Marathon champion, was due to make her fifth appearance in Berlin where she won on her debut in 2015 before capturing the title again in 2017 and 2018.

Last year, the 36-year-old Cherono failed to finish the race after she fell sick just before the race.

Perhaps Cherono’s memorable victory was in 2018 when she triumphed with the fourth fastest time in marathon by then of 2:18:11, which still remains the course record.

“You can only understand what is happening across the world as nations battle to not only control the spread of Covid-19 but also get a cure for the disease,” said Cherono. “It’s impossible to plan for a race until October or November there.”

Cherono, who is now training alone in Eldoret under her coach-cum-husband Joseph Kwambok, said if all goes well she could compete in London due October or New York City Marathon planned for November 1.