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2/18/2023

Adidas reveals 2023 Boston Marathon jacket

Made from 70 per cent recycled materials, this is the most sustainable Boston Marathon jacket to date.

With the 2023 Boston Marathon just over two months away, Adidas revealed this year’s race Celebration Jacket design on Wednesday. For the 2023 design, Adidas focused on sustainability, and each jacket is made from 70 per cent recycled materials. This year will mark the 127th running of the Boston Marathon, and the race is set for April 17. The Celebration Jacket will be available as of Feb. 15.

Adidas has been the official manufacturer and distributor of Boston Marathon apparel for more than 30 years, and the company is constantly working to bring new and innovative ideas to the Celebration Jacket and other race clothing. In recent years, sustainability has been a key factor for the design teams at Adidas, and this year is no different. 

“As we developed this year’s iteration, we prioritized sustainable design, all while maintaining the high-performance quality adidas is known for,” said Jennifer Thomas, Adidas’s vice president of global sports marketing. “We’re proud to provide best-in-class sustainable running apparel that supports and empowers our athletes in making their dreams come true: chasing records and personal bests while participating in the Boston Marathon.”

The 2023 jacket is made in part from Parley Ocean Plastic, an original Adidas creation that the company says is “re-imagined plastic waste intercepted on remote islands, beaches, coastal communities and shorelines to prevent it from polluting [the oceans].” 

The Adidas team also notes that the jackets colours are intentional, with the “natural tones inspired by sand and stones as a twist on the traditional blue and yellow colors of the Boston Marathon.” In addition to the celebration jacket, Adidas will provide the race’s 10,000-plus volunteers with different jackets, along with official Boston Marathon participant shirts for the more than 30,000 racers. 

The 2023 Boston Marathon celebration jacket will retail for US$120.

(02/10/23) Views: 119
Running Magazine

Runners gearing up for final Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham this weekend

The countdown is on to the final Mercedes Marathon race this weekend. The race has run its course in Birmingham for over two decades.

This weekend, the marathon will bid farewell to Birmingham. Race organizer Valerie Cuddy told us in November that she’s no longer able to support the event financially. She’s put a lot of her money and her store’s money into it over the years.

The marathon expo and packet pickup kicks off Friday from 12-6pm at the Boutwell Auditorium.

“We’ve got a little surprise at the beginning. Something that I’ve always wanted to have done. Hopefully people will enjoy that. We’ve got more entertainment on the course, A little more music. A little more cheering. Some interesting stops out there that I think people will enjoy,” Cuddy said

The race weekend brings people to Birmingham from all over the country. Cuddy is grateful over the many years it’s called Birmingham home. And over the years, the race has raised more than $3 million for the Bell Center.

You can find out about all the racing events at https://www.mercedesmarathon.com/.

(02/11/23) Views: 98
Josh Gauntt

The most common reasons why people need physical therapy

Physical therapy is a specialized medical field that aims to assist people in recovering from physical ailments. Whether it’s a sports injury, car accident, or age-related condition, physical therapists can help patients regain their full range of motion and mobility. But why do so many people need physical therapy? In this blog post, we’ll explore the most common reasons why people seek out physical therapy services and how they can benefit from them. We’ll also cover some tips to make sure you get the most out of your physical therapy sessions.

What is Physical Therapy?

If you’ve ever had an injury or surgery, you may have needed physical therapy to help you recover. For starters, this is what you need to know about physical therapy. Physical therapy is a type of healthcare that helps people recover from injuries and illnesses. It uses a variety of techniques to reduce pain, improve movement, and prevent further injury.

Most people who need physical therapy are recovering from an injury, such as a sprained ankle or broken bone. Others may be dealing with a chronic condition, such as arthritis or back pain.

Physical therapists use a variety of treatments to help their patients recover. These can include exercises, stretching, massage, heat and ice therapies, and electrical stimulation. The goal of physical therapy is to help you regain strength and motion. With the help of a physical therapist, you can get back to your everyday activities and live a pain-free life.

The Most Common Reasons Why People Need Physical Therapy

There are many reasons why people might need physical therapy. Some common reasons include:

-Recovering from an injury or surgery

-Managing a chronic condition such as arthritis

-Improving balance and coordination

-Decreasing pain

-Increasing mobility and range of motion.

Physical therapy can be an important part of the healing process for many people. It can help them regain strength and function and improve their quality of life. Plus, it can be a great way to prevent future injuries or problems. Not to mention, it can be a great way to get some extra support and encouragement.

How Does Physical Therapy Help?

There are many ways in which physical therapy can help people. For example, if someone has suffered a stroke, physical therapy can help them regain movement and function. Physical therapy can also help people who have been in accidents or who have chronic pain conditions. Sometimes, people need physical therapy because they have had surgery and need to regain their strength. Not only can physical therapy help with physical movement, but it can also aid in mental and emotional health as well. Physical therapists are trained to create personalized treatment plans that may include exercises, stretches, and manual therapy to reduce pain and increase strength, flexibility, balance, and posture. Physical therapists also provide education on proper body mechanics and lifestyle modifications to prevent injury or chronic pain from reoccurring.

Keep in mind, physical therapists are not a replacement for medical treatment. It is important to consult with your doctor to discuss any medical concerns and whether physical therapy would be beneficial for you.

What to Expect During Physical Therapy

Going to physical therapy can be a daunting experience, especially if you don’t know what to expect. Here are some things you can expect during physical therapy:

1. An initial evaluation: This will involve the physical therapist assessing your problem area and range of motion. They will also ask about your medical history and any other relevant information.

2. A treatment plan: Based on the evaluation, the physical therapist will develop a treatment plan specifically for you. This may include exercises, stretches, manual therapy techniques, and more.

3. Education: The physical therapist will teach you about your injury or condition and how to properly care for it. They will also provide guidance on preventive measures you can take to avoid future problems.

4. Progress check-ins: Throughout your course of treatment, the physical therapist will periodically check in with you to see how you are progressing and make any necessary adjustments to the plan.

5. Discharge planning: Once you have reached your goals and are ready to discontinue therapy, the physical therapist will create a discharge plan outlining any continued exercises or precautions you should take moving forward.

Physical therapy is a great way to treat pain and injuries, but it can also be used preventatively. Knowing the most common reasons why people need physical therapy can help you identify if physical therapy could benefit you or someone in your family. Whether you are dealing with an injury, trying to improve your overall mobility, or just want to maintain good health, physical therapy may be worth considering. With the right exercises and treatments, physical therapists can provide lasting relief from pain and improve overall well-being.

(02/13/23) Views: 98
Colorado Runner

5 people runners hate seeing on Strava

Strava is a great place to follow and support other runners, and it’s always nice getting kudos from your friends and followers, but it can sometimes be annoying. Anyone who uses Strava regularly has someone they follow that just gets on their nerves. You know who we’re talking about. And if you don’t know this person, then we’re sorry to say, but you may be the annoying Strava user in your area. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you figure out exactly what not to do on Strava with this list of the most annoying runners you’ll find on the app. 

The unnecessary poster 

Have you ever seen someone you follow post their walk to the bus stop? Or maybe they’ve shared the 10 minutes that they played tennis and covered approximately 160 metres. We don’t know who needs to hear this, but just because Strava has “Walk” or “Tennis” or whatever else as a tracking option, it doesn’t mean you have to record everything you do. No one cares that you walked for five minutes to the bus stop, and 10 minutes of tennis is barely enough time to finish a couple of games. Of course, if you go on a long walk, that’s fine to post, and if you and a friend play an hour of tennis, no one will complain if you share your match data. Just make sure the workouts you post are, well, actual workouts. The watch stopper

You do realize that Strava shows two different times, right? There’s moving time, which is however long your timer was actually running during your workout, and then elapsed time, which is the entire time Strava was open. This includes any seconds (or minutes) you spent with your workout paused. Don’t be that guy (or gal) who runs hard for a kilometre or two, then pauses the run to catch their breath, then goes hard for another bout, all so your pace time on Strava will look fast. Anyone who wants to see your actual results can find your elapsed time and pace. Just tell the truth and run an honest time.The excuse maker 

Have you ever noticed that some people make excuses for what they consider to be bad workouts? They might title the run something like “Way Too Windy,” or they’ll write a description like, “I would’ve run a PB if not for [insert lame excuse here].” No one is judging you for a slow run on Strava. The only reason anyone will notice that you had a bad run will be if you point it out with an excuse-filled title or description, so skip the excuse-making and move on to the next run. The bike runner

Every now and then, you’ll see someone record a bike ride as a run on Strava. It’s an honest mistake and almost always an accident, but it’s incredibly frustrating for anyone who loses a crown to a “runner” who averaged 25 kilometres per hour over 50K. If you realize that you’ve made this mistake, be sure to edit the post so that it is listed as a bike ride. If you leave it as a run, you may get some angry runners commenting on your posts. The crown stealer 

There’s nothing wrong with stealing someone’s crown on Strava, but there’s no denying that it’s annoying to open the app and see that your hard-earned record has been bested. It’s the name of the game, we know, so you can’t get too mad about this one. All you can really do in this case is lace up, head out for a hard run and try to steal the crown right back. 

(02/10/23) Views: 96
Running Magazine

2023 Dubai Marathon Results: Abdisa Tola (2:05:42 Debut) and Dera Dida (2:21:11 PB) Win

Abdisa Tola won the Dubai Marathon with a world leading time of 2:05:42 running his debut at the distance. The 22 year-old Ethiopian, who is the brother of marathon world champion Tamirat Tola, pulled away with around 2k to go after briefly going off course at 39k and then re-taking the lead. Fellow-Ethiopians Deresa Geleta and Haymanot Alew Engdayehu took second and third with 2:05:51 and 2:05:57 respectively. 

Little over 15 minutes later Dera Dida completed a very rare family triumph in a major marathon: The sister-in-law of Abdisa Tola, who is married to world champion Tamirat, stormed to her biggest career win. In fine weather conditions the 26 year-old clocked a personal best of 2:21:11. Ruti Aga was second in 2:21:24 and Siranesh Yirga completed an all-Ethiopian podium clocking 2:21:59. 

There was another triumph in a major marathon for Marcel Hug in the wheelchair event. The Swiss took the marathon with 1:23:50 while Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Great Britain won the women’s race in 1:47:15.

(02/12/23) Views: 95

Nuguse breaks North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games

Yared Nuguse ran the second-fastest indoor mile in history as three national records fell or were equalled in a thrilling men’s Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games. Alicia Monson also set an area record in the 3000m, while Abby Steiner claimed a US record in the 300m at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in New York on Saturday (11).

In the infield, Ryan Crouser demonstrated his effective new shot put technique and Katie Moon returned to her winning ways in the pole vault before a roaring crowd that also cheered runners in competitions from U8 through high school and college.

As always, the men’s Wanamaker mile culminated the meeting, and Nuguse ran away with the race in a world-leading 3:47.38 to claim his second area record of the season to go along with the 3000m.

Pace setter Erik Sowinski brought the runners through half way in 1:52.99 – just as he had been asked – with Nuguse and training mates Mario Garcia Romo and Olli Hoare in the lead group. But Nuguse turned on the jets and covered the final quarter of the race in 54.23, breaking the meeting record, facility record, and crushing Bernard Lagat’s 15-year-old US indoor record of 3:49.98.

“Running that race the way we did,” Nuguse said, “all three of us right there up for the first half of the race, I felt good knowing I had my closest guys having my back. And then that last part was give it everything I had and I was able to close with something crazy and get it.”

Great Britain’s Neil Gourley ran a PB of 3:49.46 to move to sixth on the world indoor all-time list, and Hoare equalled the Oceanian record with 3:50.83. New Zealand’s Sam Tanner ran a PB of 3:51.70, while Romo’s 3:51.79 was a Spanish record.

Yuguse has now eclipsed Hicham El Guerrouj on the all-time list; only Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha has run faster, clocking 3:47.01 in 2019.

“I’m always excited to see what else I can do next,” Nuguse said. “There was definitely a nice confidence boost. After that 3000m (where he broke the US record), I was feeling pretty confident already, but to do this in the event that I love the most and the one that I feel like I’m going for at the world championships, that makes me feel even better.”

Laura Muir won the women’s Wanamaker Mile in 4:20.15, followed by Josette Andrews in 4.20.88. Muir, the Olympic silver medallist, led for most of the race, then Andrews hit the front with two laps to go. But the Briton kicked again on the final lap and went on to win comfortably.

Sprint sensations

World record-holder Christian Coleman took a bow after winning the men’s 60m in a season’s best of 6.47. “I feel like this is what I do best and I came to put on a show,” he said.

Noah Lyles was charged with a false start and ran the race under protest, clocking 6.53, although the time would not count. Lyles, the US record-holder in the 200m outdoors, admitted a little bit of movement, but said his feet never left the pad. “I got a time that I’m very happy to see,” Lyles said. “Everybody knows I’m just here to play around. I’m not a 60-metre runner, but if I can take some heads, I’m going to do it.”

Jamaica’s Travis Williams was awarded second place with a PB of 6.59, followed by Josephus Lyles, Noah’s younger brother, also with a PB of 6.59. Williams edged Lyles by .003.

Aleia Hobbs set an Armory record of 7.04 to win her fourth straight competition, having clocked a world-leading 6.98 at the end of January. Teenager Tamari Davis was second in a PB of 7.08, followed by Marybeth Sant-Price in 7.11, Mikiah Brisco at 7.13 and 17-year-old Shawnti Jackson in 7.16.

“I don’t think my start was as good as it’s been, but I was patient,” Hobbs said.

In only her second 300m, Steiner broke the US record, clocking 35.54 to easily go under Quanera Hayes’ time of 35.71 from 2017. Steiner held off a spirited challenge from Brittany Brown, who ran 36.13.

“It’s definitely one of those races I think you learn a little bit about every time you run it,” said Steiner, who set the collegiate record in her first race.

Although this 300m is her last of the season, she still wants the world record of 35.45, shared by Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Irina Privalova. “I clean up my start a little bit,” Steiner said, “and I think it’s there.”

World indoor champion Jereem Richards of Trinidad & Tobago ran a season’s best of 45.84 to avenge the previous week’s loss to  Noah Williams, who clocked 46.20. In Boston, they were separated by only .004 as both ran 45.88.

Devynne Charlton won the women’s 60m hurdles in 7.91, while Tonea Marshall ran a season’s best of 7.94 and Sharika Nelvis clocked 7.96 to edge Olympic silver medallist Nia Ali in 7.97.

 

(02/12/23) Views: 91

WXC Bathurst 23 senior women's preview: Gidey goes for gold against tough opposition

Had the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst 23 gone ahead in 2021 as originally planned, there’s a strong chance that Letesenbet Gidey would already be a world champion at the discipline.

The Ethiopian was in sensational form in 2020 and 2021, setting world records of 14:06.62 for 5000m and 29:01.03 for 10,000m. She had to settle for bronze at the Olympic Games at the longer event, but she prioritized global honors over records in 2022 and was rewarded with her first world title on the track, winning the 10,000m in Oregon in a nail-biting race.

The 24-year-old is now focused on winning her first individual senior world cross-country title. She won back-to-back U20 crowns in 2015 and 2017, joining an elite club of athletes to achieve the feat, alongside Faith Kipyegon and Genzebe Dibaba.

Gidey finished third in the senior women’s race in 2019 and earned gold in the team competition, but this time she heads to Bathurst as one of the big favorites.

If her performance at the Jan Meda Cross Country – Ethiopia’s trial event for the World Cross – is anything to go by, Gidey is certainly in form to challenge for gold in Bathurst. In that race back on 1 January, she bided her time until the last kilometer of the race and then soon opened up a gap of about 20 seconds on a strong domestic field.

It looked as though she was running within herself, too.

As much as individual glory will be Gidey’s biggest goal on Saturday, she will also want to earn gold in the team standings, and Ethiopia will once again be in with a great shout of doing exactly that.

Gete Alemayehu, who has a 1:06:37 half marathon PB, was second in the trial race, just ahead of 30:06.01 10,000m performer Tsigie Gebreselama, bronze medalist in the U20 race in Aarhus in 2019. Fellow Ethiopian Fotyen Tesfaye just missed out on a top-10 placing in Aarhus, so will be keen to improve on that in Bathurst.

But Gidey and her Ethiopian compatriots won’t have an easy ride, as they’ll be up against someone who is undefeated in international cross-country races for more than a year.

Eritrea’s Rahel Daniel has dominated the World Athletics Cross Country Tour and currently tops the season standings thanks to her three victories last month. She won at the prestigious Campaccio meeting in San Giorgio su Legnano, then two days later triumphed in Elgoibar, winning by eight seconds. More recently she won in Hannut, racing in heavy snow, showing she can cope well in any conditions.

Daniel enjoyed a successful 2022 campaign on the track, setting national records for 5000m (14:36.66) and 10,000m (30:12.15), the latter when placing fifth at the World Championships in Oregon.

But the 21-year-old is clearly more at home on cross country, and despite this being her World Cross debut, Daniel will have high hopes for a podium finish.

Beatrice Chebet is just as formidable an opponent, though. The Kenyan took 5000m silver at the World Championships last year and won the U20 women’s title at the 2019 World Cross in Aarhus. She is also the African, Commonwealth and Diamond League 5000m champion, and is a former world U20 champion on the track.

She has raced just twice in cross-country events since the end of the track season, but won both of her races. She won by 13 seconds in Atapuerca in November and by 15 seconds at the Cinque Mulini in January.

In the absence of Chebet at the Kenyan trials, teenager Grace Loibach Nawowuna was a surprising winner of the senior women’s race, beating Olympic semifinalist Edinah Jebitok by four seconds. The Kenyan team also includes two-time world cross-country champion Emily Chebet and Agnes Ngetich.

Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba missed the peak of the 2022 track season through injury, but still managed to win three races on the Wanda Diamond League circuit, and then triumphed at the Venta de Banos Cross Country in December. In her latest appearance, though, she was a distant fifth in Elgoibar, some 47 seconds behind Daniel.

Stella Chesang, the 2018 Commonwealth 10,000m champion, was a dominant winner of the recent Ugandan Cross Country Championships and is keen to improve on her 21st-place finish from the 2019 World Cross. She is joined on the Ugandan team by world U20 5000m bronze medallist Prisca Chesang.

Olympic finalist Nozomi Tanaka, who holds national records for 1000m, 1500m and 3000m, leads the Japanese team. The 2018 world U20 3000m champion placed 39th at the last World Cross when she was still just 19 years of age, so she’ll be hoping for a higher position this time. Ririka Hironaka, who earned U20 team bronze in 2019, will also be flying the Japanese flag in Bathurst.

Ednah Kurgat and Weini Kelati feature on the US team, while Australia’s Rose Davies and Leanne Pompeani will aim to give the home crowd something to cheer for. Other contenders include Canada’s Regan Yee, Mexico’s Laura Galvan, and Britain’s Abbie Donnelly.

(02/14/23) Views: 90
World Athletics

Why runners should add swimming to their cross-training schedules

As a runner, you might feel slightly disdainful of swimming. You like getting in the pool to cool off in the summer, but swimming laps just isn’t for you. Well, it’s time to change that, because swimming is a great way to cross-train as a runner. It is a low-impact sport, it’s a fantastic workout and it’s fun (we promise). There’s no reason not to at least try adding swimming to your cross-training routine. 

A full-body workout

Something that running doesn’t offer is full-body exercise. Running is great for your heart and lungs and you’ll develop some muscles in your legs, but swimming works your arms, shoulders, back, core and legs all at once (as well as being a great cardio workout). 

The full-body nature of swimming means you can still hit the pool, even if you’re injured. If you have a shoulder injury, you can grab a flutter board and do a kick workout. If you’re dealing with a leg issue, you can toss a pull buoy (a foam flotation device) between your legs and only use your upper body. Plus, since swimming is so low-impact, you’re much less likely to get hurt than you are when you’re running, which is much harder on your body. 

What strokes to use 

You can choose from four strokes: front crawl (also known as freestyle), backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. Front crawl is probably how you learned to swim, with your face in the water, your feet flutter-kicking behind you and your arms pulling the water from above your head down to your hips. Backstroke is another classic that will be familiar to anyone who knows how to swim, and it’s a similar motion to front crawl (but on your back). Breaststroke puts you on your front again, but instead of flutter-kicking, you’ll kick like a frog while your arms scoop the water in front of you. 

Those three strokes are the best options when you first enter the pool. Then, there’s the butterfly, which is a difficult to perform as a newcomer to the sport. This is the stroke that you’ve probably seen Michael Phelps swim at the Olympics; it involves a dolphin kick (both feet kicking in unison, as if they are one unit, like a dolphin’s tail) that propels your upper body out of the water so you can complete the stroke with your arms. The butterfly is fun to try, but even if you get the technique down, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to swim more than a couple of lengths of the pool before feeling gassed. 

Finally, in addition to all of those strokes, you can grab a flutter board and simply kick your way across the pool. This is, of course, not going to work your full body like the other strokes, but it is still useful for cardio fitness. 

Try a workout

Now that you’re ready and excited to get to the pool, you need a workout. Here’s a very basic one to try out. Use any or all of the strokes listed above. 

Warmup: 

200m of light swimming 

100m kicking 

Set: 

4 x 50m swim (rest 30 seconds between each) 

2 x 50m kick (rest 30 seconds)

4 x 100m (rest 45 seconds) 

2 x 50m kick (rest 30 seconds)

4 x 50m (rest 30 seconds)

2 x 50m kick (rest 30 seconds)

8 x 25m (rest 15 seconds) 

Cool down: 

Take it easy for 200m 

Total: 1,800m.

(02/11/23) Views: 89
Ben Snider-McGrath

Some of running’s weirdest world records

On Feb. 5, Edmonton’s David Eliuk broke the Guinness World Record for most T-shirts worn while running a half-marathon. Racing the Hypothermic Half Marathon in Edmonton, Eliuk donned a whopping 120 t-shirts, breaking the previous record of 111,  and crossed the finish line in two hours and 45 minutes. This record is odd, but it’s far from the only unorthodox running record we’ve seen over the years. There are so many strange feats out there; here are the top five weird–but real–running records. 

Anything joggling 

Joggling (juggling while jogging) is surprisingly popular in the running community, and there are world records from the 100m up. Unlike some Guinness World Record running feats, joggling results tend to be extremely quick, with the record breakers running times that many non-juggling runners wouldn’t even be able to hit. Take P.E.I.’s Michael Bergeron, a runner who owns joggling world records in the 5K (16:50), 10K (34:47) and half-marathon (1:17:09)–or Port Hope, Ont.’s Michal Kapral, who still holds the joggling world record in the marathon (2:50:12), which he set at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2007. 

American David Rush is another joggling world record holder, although he added yet another twist to the feat (as if running while juggling wasn’t already tough enough). In 2021, Rush broke the world record for the fastest 100m while juggling blindfolded, covering the distance in 16.29 seconds. 

10K carrying 100 lbs

American Erin Grindstaff owns what sounds like an extremely arduous record: fastest 10K while carrying 100 lbs. Grindstaff ran Las Vegas 10K with a backpack weighing 100 lbs, and she crossed the finish line in 1:26:49. If this sounds more like a military training method than a running event, it’s because that’s how Grindstaff got the idea. As she told the Guinness World Records team, she is an American Air Force veteran, and she had plenty of experience “rucking,” which is walking, hiking or running with a weighted backpack.

“I wanted to set this Guinness World Records title to show normal, everyday people that you do not have to be an elite or full-time athlete to do something physically extraordinary,” Grindstaff said. “With hard work, a solid plan, and true unwavering commitment, anything is possible.”

Backwards mile

In 2020, a Kansas man named Aaron Yoder took to the quiet country roads of his hometown and ran a 5:30 mile… while running backwards. That’s right, Yoder ran a backwards mile faster than most people can run going straight ahead. That works out to an average pace of 3:25 per kilometre, and it beat the previous world record of 5:54, which not-so-coincidentally also belongs to Yoder. 

Golf running

In 2021, Swiss athlete Jürg Randegger played a ridiculous 252 holes of golf in 12 hours, breaking the world record for the most holes in a 12-hour period. He covered 93K in this mind-boggling world record, carrying just a 7-iron for the entire day. He took a total of 1,348 strokes and managed to hit five birdies (one under par). Not bad for a sport in which calmness, patience and taking one’s time are of the utmost importance. 

(02/10/23) Views: 86
Ben Snider-McGrath

Kosgei joins Obiri, Korir at Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon

Women’s world marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei has confirmed participation at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates in February 18, 2023.

Kosgei has a life time best of 2:14:04 over the 42km distance and 1:04:49 in the 21km distance. She returns to the Middle East with the hope of improving her second-place finish that she settled for in 2020.

Kosgei has a decorated running career which includes being the Olympic marathon silver medallist and 2017 Bogota Half Marathon champion. She is also the 2019 Bahrain and Houston Half Marathon champion.

She will be joining two-time World 5000m champion Hellen Obiri and World marathon silver medallist Judith Korir.

Obiri, who has a personal best time of 1:04:22 over the distance, placed second in last year’s edition of the race after being edged out by Ethiopia’s Girmawit Gebrzihair. Gebrzihair won the race in 1:04:14. Sheila Chepkirui placed third in 1:04:36.

On her part, Korir is the 2021 Lugano Half Marathon champion with a personal best time of 1:05:28. She settled for fourth place in last year’s edition of the race in 1:05:28.

Meanwhile, in the men’s category, Daniel Mateiko will face-off Ethiopia’s Seifu Tura with the hope of a podium finish. Mateiko will be looking to improve on his sixth-place finish at last year’s edition of the race. He lines up with a personal best time of 58:26.

(02/14/23) Views: 86
Abigael Wuafula