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Sam briefing runners on the start-line ahead of a 2022 Ultra X race In this interview series, Ahotu will be speaking with the people behind some of the most unique races across the globe. We’ll be discussing the history of the event, challenges and how to overcome them, attracting sponsors, reaching new runners and more! Thanks for joining us Sam. We’re delighted to be supporting Ultra X with your 2023 events, which includes an amazing two-day Ultra Marathon in the Azores. Could you introduce yourself, the race and Ultra X as an organiser for those who aren’t familiar? Sure, my name’s Sam Heward and I’m one of the Co-Founders of Ultra X. I’m a runner and an adventurer and having stumbled into the world of multi-stage ultra-running at the age of 22 I’ve been on a mission to get more people into the space and make it more accessible. I’m pretty bullish that there’s no better experience than a multi-stage race in a remote part of the world and I just want to inspire more people to give it a try. Ultra X is an organiser of trail-running events all over the world. Our goal is to become the world’s greatest provider of multi-stage running races and take people on life-transforming adventures. We started out from a single event in Jordan but now offer races in Tanzania, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Slovenia, and all over the UK. Ultra X Azores was the first 2 stage event we created which means that people can compete in a multi-stage without having to take any holiday. Ultra X is all about taking people to bucket list locations and the Azores is just that – think Jurassic Park! It’s 110km over two days with camping in between. Runners can either join for the full thing or run the Sunday only stage (50km). How long have you been organising races and what got you started? We started Ultra X back in 2018 formally but previously ran an event called the Wadi Rum Ultra (now Ultra X Jordan). Jamie (the other Co-Founder) and I are lovers of the space and wanted to create an aspirational brand and series which would encourage more to take on the challenge of an ultra, plus it was more fun than the day job! What led to Ultra X hosting a race in the Azores? Every Ultra X event has to tick a number of boxes – bucket list location, stunning trails, physical challenge, and importantly accessibility. The Azores hits all of them. Ultra-X Azores participants prepare to tackle the mountains of São Miguel Island What challenges do the location and course present for you as organisers? Each event is unique for us and because of the remote nature of our races there are always challenges. The Azores has excellent infrastructure and 4G phone signal which certainly makes life easier than some of our locations but it is also prone to occasional extreme weather, flash storms, and high winds. In 2021 there were heavy landslides on our course which meant last-minute reroutes and some of our team being on the course with chainsaws and spades about 3 hours in front of the front runners! Ultra X Azores offer participants 360 views of this beautiful volcanic island How many runners typically take part and where do they come from? It’s a relatively new event and so is growing every year. In 2023 we expect about 250 competitors from 20 or so different countries, the vast majority (70%) are UK based. What can participants expect from Ultra X Azores? Runners can expect some of the best trails they will have experienced anywhere and huge variance in terrain and vegetation, a serious challenge (the course has a lot of ups and downs!), and some spectacular around island views. There can’t be many places in the world where you can run around the rim of an extinct volcano whilst being able to see the entire edge of the island. Do you have any advice or tips for runners taking part? No one will run the whole of this course! Poles are recommended and hiking in training will be essential to success. If you live on flatlands get in the gym and find a stepper! What plans do you have for Ultra X over the coming years? Simply to continue doing what we are doing. We want to grow our portfolio of events in a responsible way to include more exciting destinations and continue to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences and inspire more and more people from all backgrounds into our sport. When is the next edition taking place and where can our audience find out more information about the event? 20-21 May 2023 and all the info is on the website. Alternatively, if you want to chat or find out more about the event, I am always open to a conversation (sam@ultra-x.co). We also post a lot of updates and content on our Instagram @ultraxco! Entries are open on our website and World’s Marathons – https://worldsmarathons.com/marathon/ultra-x-azores-125! Great to speak Sam! Best of luck to you and the team at Ultra X with your 2023 events across the globe. Interested in taking part? You can register for the 2023 edition of Ultra X Azores on Ahotu – Ultra X 110 Azores To feature in our interview series you can drop us an email on blog@worldsmarathons.com Interested in promoting your race with World’s Marathons or Ahotu? Contact us on partners@worldsmarathons.com

The Oman Desert Marathon returns in 2022 after a two-year hiatus. In this interview series, Ahotu will be speaking with the people behind some of the most unique races across the globe. We’ll be discussing the history of the event, challenges and how to overcome them, attracting sponsors, reaching new runners and more! Thanks for joining us, Rigel. We’ve worked with you and the Oman Desert Marathon for a while now, but for those who aren’t familiar, could you introduce the race and your role behind the scenes? The Oman Desert Marathon is a 165km race that requires each runner to be prepared and self-sufficient in food and personal needs. A true experience of living in the desert. The four stages of the race take participants through a range of topographies and varying terrain. After taking part in 2018, I fell in love with the race and since then I have been involved as a volunteer and more recently as project manager. I know the race from the runner’s perspective and also behind the scenes supporting the race owner in all that needs to be done. I must say that making sure the event is a success is as hard as running in the desert, or even harder! How long has the race been taking place and how did it start? The first edition was in November 2013. The inaugural event had 25 runners from 7 countries. The 2023 edition will be special as it is the 10-year anniversary and the first race after an enforced two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we expect over 100 runners from all over the globe. The race covers 165km over remote desert terrain. What challenges does this present for you as organizers? The desert is very unpredictable and no edition of the race is the same. The harsh conditions make the race very challenging for both organizers and participants. Luckily we have an amazing crew of experienced local and international staff that help us deliver a safe and unique race. One of the hardest aspects for us as organizers is the mobility on the sand dunes during the event. We have to move the camp every day and make sure everything is set up ready before runners arrive, it’s a race against the clock. Marking the route before the race is an adventure in itself. It can be very challenging to drive in the desert, even the route team (which is made up of locals experienced in navigating and driving in the desert) can face trouble, sometimes the desert will catch you out! When a vehicle gets stuck, it is a lot of work to get moving again. Even experienced desert drivers can get caught out by the shifting terrain How many runners typically take part and where do they come from? Usually, we have more than 100 runners from different nationalities, we have a lot of runners from Europe, but we have had people from all corners of the world and we love seeing a wide range of countries represented! 330ft Sand dunes tower above runners on the Oman Desert Marathon course Given the race takes place over a few days and you have an entire camp for participants, how many people are involved in putting on the event during race week? More than 40 people including staff, drivers, medics, photographers, cooks and volunteers. It takes a small army of fully committed people that love the desert and the race atmosphere! They’re all there to make sure participants are safe and make the most of their time in Oman. What can participants expect from their time in Oman? The race provides participants with a truly unique experience in one of the most beautiful parts of the Arabian Peninsula. The Oman Desert Marathon also has a program for guests who wish to follow the marathon closely, especially for relatives and friends of the runners. Guests will be staying separately from the runners, therefore we can offer a full program for them to enjoy the trip and Oman with the support of our travel partner. As runners cross the finish line at the Al Jawharat Resort in Bidiyah they’ll enjoy an unrivalled sense of accomplishment as they receive their finisher’s medal & T-shirt before enjoying the prize giving ceremony in the knowledge that they have conquered the sand dunes of the Wahiba desert. What plans do you have for the Oman Desert Marathon for the coming years? We have a lot planned for the next few years. Of course, we want to become a well-known brand/race and continue to be a runner’s favourite. We are also working on a new non-stop race from the sea, crossing the mountains and further into the Omani desert. A 250km race which will be launching during the Oman Desert Marathon 2024. Are there any partners / companies who support the event that you would like to highlight? This event is fully organized by Omani’s with the collaboration of international partners. We are lucky to have the support of local communities and of His Majesty the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said. The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Sports Affairs, are also hugely supportive and valued partners of the event. Our sponsors and partners all make the Oman Desert Marathon a safe race in a beautiful and unique environment, with the authentic taste of an event designed and managed by those who are born and live in Oman. When is the next edition taking place and where can our audience find out more information about the event? The 8th edition of the Oman Desert Marathon, will be held in January 2023 – from the 21st – 24th. January offers participants the perfect conditions to enjoy the race to the fullest, with daytime temperatures in the mid 20’s and nighttime temperatures around 17c. In this next edition, the stage distances will be 47km, 55km, 42km and 21km. Runners can visit our website for more information or follow us on Instagram @marathonoman! Entries are open on our website and World’s Marathons – https://worldsmarathons.com/marathon/oman-desert-marathon We are very excited to show runners from all over the world the beauty of Oman and the Wahiba desert! Thanks for speaking with us Rigel, best of luck with the next edition of the race. We look forward to watching the race continue to grow and for the launch of the new non-stop event in 2024! Interested in taking part? You can register for the Oman Desert Marathon on Ahotu – Oman Desert Marathon To feature in our interview series you can drop us an email on blog@worldsmarathons.com Interested in promoting your race with World’s Marathons or Ahotu? Contact us on partners@worldsmarathons.com

Andualem Shiferaw breaks the EDP Lisbon marathon course record Ethiopia’s Andualem Shiferaw broke his own course record at the EDP Lisbon Marathon that was held this Sunday (9). Winner in the last two editions (2019 and 2021, this one with the previous course record – 2:05.52), the 30 year old athlete finished the race in 2:05.43, improving his time by 7 seconds. Haftu Asefa (2:06.33) and Birhan Tesfaye (2:07.04), both also from Ethiopia, completed the podium. In the women’s race, the kenyan Bornes Kitur took the top honors cutting the tape in a time of 2:24.17, only 3 seconds shy of the course record. Ethiopian’s Sorome Amente and Buzunesh Gudeta finished second and third, with 2:25.57 and 2:26.01. Andualem Shiferaw: “I’m happy to win the race for the third time and, also, to break the course record. Lisbon it’s like a second home for me. The course is good, the weather also. I’m happy to come back here. If the organizers invite me, I’ll come again. I can improve the course record a little more” Personal bests for the Luso Half Marathon winners In the 21k, the Luso Half Marathon that started a few hours after the full marathon, the winners were the kenyan Charles Langat and the ethiopian Emebet Mamo, both with personal bests. Langat won in 1:00.44 hours, improving his best time by more than 2 minutes (his best time was 1:02.59). Dinkalen Adane, from Ethiopia, was second, just two seconds away from the winner. In the third place came the ugandan Isaac Kibet, with 1:01.23. In the women’s race, Emebet Mamo won in 1:09.35 – another personal record, by 24 seconds – ahead of the kenyans Ludwina Chepngetich (1:10.31) and Faith Jeptoo (1:10.54). Charles Langat (men’s winner): “I was not expecting to win, but I did it. I felt strong in the end and I pushed. We [with Dinkalen Adane] helped each other in the race.”. Results EDP Lisboa Marathon Top 5 Men 1 Andualem Belay Shiferaw 02:05:45 2 Haftu Teklu Asefa 02:06:33 3 Birhan Nebebew Tesfaye 02:07:04 4 Julius Kipkorir Tuwei 02:08:23 5 Tsedat Abeje Ayana 02:08:32 Top 5 Women 1 Bornes Jepkirui Kitur 02:24:17 2 Sorome Negash Amente 02:25:57 3 Buzunesh Getachew Gudeta 02:26:01 4 Urge Diro Soboka 02:27:34 5 Fozya Jemal Amid 02:28:30 Luso Half Marathon Top 5 Men 1 Charles Kipkurui Langat 01:00:44 2 Dinkalen Ayele Adane 01:00:46 3 Isaac Kibet 01:01:23 4 Fabiano Nelson Sulle 01:01:56 5 Isaac Kipsang Temoi 01:01:58 Top 5 Women 1 Emebet Niguse Mamo 01:09:35 2 Ludwina Chepngetich 01:10:31 3 Faith Kimutai Jeptoo 01:10:54 4 Stella Jepkosgei Rutto 01:11:46 5 Fatima Azaharaa Ouhaddou 01:13:15 Photos of EDP Lisboa Marathon

The victory went to Frith, Thomas (GBR) who crossed the finish line at 02:18:35, followed by Hogan, Sean (GBR) who finished with a time of 02:18:51. Morwood, Joe (GBR) got the third place in 02:20:33. In the women’s race, Alderson, Hannah (GBR) took top honours by finishing the race in 02:35:56 , followed by Culling, Anya (GBR) who finished with a time of 02:36:21. The third place went to Nimmock, Dani (GBR) with a time of 02:38:18 Top 3 Men 1 Frith, Thomas (GBR) 02:18:35 2 Hogan, Sean (GBR) 02:18:51 3 Morwood, Joe (GBR) 02:20:33 Top 3 Women 1 Alderson, Hannah (GBR) 02:35:56 2 Culling, Anya (GBR) 02:36:21 3 Nimmock, Dani (GBR) 02:38:18 Complete results

Marathon Timothy Kiplagat Ronoh(#7) outpaced more then 6205 runners to win in 02:09:12. He finished one minute 12 seconds ahead of Cornelus Kibet Kiplagat (#8). Rounding out the top three was Reece Edwards (#6) with a time of 02:14:41. For the women, Beatrice Cheptoo (#10) took top spot in 02:27:58 , followed by Izzi Batt Doyle (#4) who finished with a time of 02:28:10. The third place went to Yeneabeba Maru Ejigu (#9) with a time of 02:28:54 Top 3 Men 1 Timothy Kiplagat Ronoh(#7) 02:09:12 2 Cornelus Kibet Kiplagat (#8) 02:10:24 3 Reece Edwards (#6) 02:14:41 Top 3 Women 1 Beatrice Cheptoo (#10) 02:27:58 2 Izzi Batt Doyle (#4) 02:28:10 3 Yeneabeba Maru Ejigu (#9) 02:28:54 Complete results Half Marathon Jack Rayner (#25503) grinded past more than 10045 runners to win in 01:02:16. He bested Matthew Clarke (#20022) who crossed the finish line one minute 10 seconds behind him. Finishing third was Sam Mcentee (#24898) (01:03:48). In the women’s race, Jessica Stenson (#20001) took top honours by finishing the race in 01:12:22 . She finished one minute 42 seconds ahead of Rose Davies (#24897). Sarah Klein (#20006) got the third place in 01:14:43. Top 3 Men 1 Jack Rayner (#25503) 01:02:16 2 Matthew Clarke (#20022) 01:03:26 3 Sam Mcentee (#24898) 01:03:48 Top 3 Women 1 Jessica Stenson (#20001) 01:12:22 2 Rose Davies (#24897) 01:14:04 3 Sarah Klein (#20006) 01:14:43 Complete results 10km Run Dale Carroll (#40772) took top honours by finishing the race in 00:30:19. Dale Carroll (#40772) and Lachlan Herd (#42489) share the same time (00:30:22) and the second place. For the women, Caitlin Adams (#40002) took top honours by finishing the race in 00:32:27 . She finished one minute 15 seconds ahead of Natalie Rule (#43147). Finishing third was Melissa Duncan (#41562) (00:34:14). Top 3 Men 1 Dale Carroll (#40772) 00:30:19 2 Lachlan Herd (#42489) 00:30:22 3 Archie Reid (#42245) 00:30:22 Top 3 Women 1 Caitlin Adams (#40002) 00:32:27 2 Natalie Rule (#43147) 00:33:42 3 Melissa Duncan (#41562) 00:34:14 Complete results 5km Run Adam Pyke (#60776) outran roughly 2994 runners to win with a time of 00:15:15. Coming in second was Finn Kane (#60012) (00:15:59). Alec Franzke (#60972) (00:16:14) made notched third place. For the women, Piperg Gay (#60015) finished first in 00:18:06 . She bested Morgan Mitchell (#60182) who crossed the finish line 38 seconds behind her. Finishing third was Chloe Phelan (#60661) (00:19:46). Top 3 Men 1 Adam Pyke (#60776) 00:15:15 2 Finn Kane (#60012) 00:15:59 3 Alec Franzke (#60972) 00:16:14 Top 3 Women 1 Piperg Gay (#60015) 00:18:06 2 Morgan Mitchell (#60182) 00:18:44 3 Chloe Phelan (#60661) 00:19:46 Complete results

Sally Kaptich heads the line-up for the elite women’s field for the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 30. The Kenyan tops the list of fast athletes with her best of 2:21:06 which she achieved in Berlin three years ago. The race organisers expect around 12,000 participants for the 39th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon with around 20,000 competitors in total, including events held in conjunction with the main event. This historic race is one of the Elite Label Road Race events, a distinction awarded by World Athletics, the international governing body of the sport. Entries can still be obtained at www.frankfurt-marathon.com Following the recent announcement of the first wave of competitors for the men’s elite field, the organisers have now announced a number of women contenders for the title. Three among this elite group have personal bests under 2:22. With this news the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, resuming after an enforced interruption of two years because of the Covid pandemic, has gone close to regaining the quality level of its previous women’s elite fields. “With three runners who have already run under 2:22, we have a very strong women’s field on the start line,” said the Race Director Jo Schindler. “We’ve noted the interest shown by top runners in the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Despite the enforced break because of the pandemic, the race continues to enjoy a strong reputation and runners know that we can offer a course and atmosphere which make setting personal bests a real possibility. Many elite athletes as well as mass runners have broken records or set personal bests in Frankfurt.” Sally Kaptich comes to Frankfurt as an athlete who achieved third place in Berlin in 2019 where the 36-year-old ran what remains her personal best of 2:21:06. The Kenyan, who also has a seventh place in the 10,000m at the 2013 World Championships to her credit and a bronze medal on the road at the World Half Marathon Championships the following year, ran strongly following her Berlin performance to finish fourth in Tokyo with 2:21:42, six months after Berlin. Her fellow Kenyan Helah Kiprop has still more laurels to her credit, as well as a best of 2:21:27. She finished second at the World Championship Marathon in Beijing in 2015 and won marathons in Seoul in 2014 and Tokyo in 2016, the latter being where she ran her personal best. This year Kiprop was back in action and winning the Copenhagen Marathon in 2:24:10. Now 37, she knows the Frankfurt course well, having run what was then her fastest marathon of 2:27:14 in 2014 when she finished fifth. The third runner on the Frankfurt start list with a best of under 2:22 will be Yeshi Chekole. The Ethiopian improved her best to 2:21:17 for third place at the Seville Marathon in February. Also worth noting is her compatriot Meseret Abebayahau. She ran her fastest marathon by over five minutes to finish second in 2:25:18 in Madrid in spring. The improvement was all the more impressive since she had never broken 2:30 previously.

Elite Field Updates The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is thrilled to welcome elite athletes from around the world to its start line on Sunday, October 9. In addition to the previously announced field, the following athletes will be competing in 2022: - Bernard Koech (KEN) – Runner-up of the 2021 Amsterdam Marathon in a personal best of 2:04:09. Koech finished fifth in Chicago in 2014. - Shifera Tamru (ETH) – 2022 Daegu Marathon champion and 2019 Seoul Marathon champion with a personal best of 2:05:18 (Dubai, 2019). Tamru finished fifth in Chicago last fall. - Guojian Dong (CHN) – Three-time Olympian (2012, 2016 and 2020 marathon); five-time national champion on the track in the 10,000 and 5000m; marathon personal best 2:08:28 (Berlin, 2019). - Jemal Yimer (ETH) – Ethiopian national record holder in the half marathon, 58:33, and the 12th fastest half marathon runner in history; third place finish in the 2021 Boston Marathon (his marathon debut); marathon personal best, 2:08:58 (Boston, 2022). - Ruti Aga (ETH) – 2019 Tokyo Marathon champion and 2018 Tokyo Marathon and Berlin Marathon runner-up; marathon personal best, 2:18:34 (Berlin, 2018). - Delvine Meringor (ROU) – 2022 Los Angeles Marathon champion, and 2022 Romanian national champion in the 5000m and 10,000m; marathon personal best, 2:24:32 (Siena, 2021); the Chicago Marathon will be her third marathon. - Sarah Inglis (GBR) – 2022 Commonwealth Games competitor in the 5000m and 10,000m; marathon personal best, 2:29:41 (Chandler, 2020). Elisha Rotich (KEN), Abayneh Degu (ETH), Amanuel Mesel (ERI), Masaya Taguchi (JPN), Jianhua Peng (CHN), Shaohui Yang (CHN), Steven Martinez (USA) have also been added to the 2022 elite open division race. Fidel Aguilar (MEX), Jose Pulido (USA) and Hannah Dederick (USA) have been added to the 2022 elite wheelchair competition. Previously announced athletes Jeison Suarez (COL), Jerrell Mock (USA), Colin Mickow (USA) and Hiroki Nishida (JPN) have withdrawn from the 2022 event. Download the complete 2022 elite field roster Tune into the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Watch Live NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago will provide complete live local TV coverage of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in English and Spanish from 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. CST on Sunday, October 9. Expert analysts Ed Eyestone, Carrie Tollefson and Amanda McGrory will join Marion Brookes and Leila Rahimi on NBC 5 Chicago, with Juan Luis Barrios, Luis Posso and Saul Mendoza joining Anabel Monge and Héctor Lozano on Telemundo Chicago. Covering the leaders and reporting along the course will be U.S. American Marathon Record Holder Keira D’Amato for the women’s elite open division and Olympian Diego Estrada for the men’s elite open division. A talented array of NBC and Telemundo reporters will join the broadcast at the start, finish and along the course. The 44th running of the race will also be streamed live nationally on Peacock from 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. CST, as well as on nbcchicago.com and telemundochicago.com from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. CST. International viewers can watch the race via a variety of global broadcast partners, including Eurosport, SuperSport, ESPN Latin America, Sky New Zealand, Astro Malaysia and SMG China. Viewers are encouraged to check their local listings for timing. Listen Live 670 The Score Sports Radio will provide complete live radio coverage of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on race day from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. CST. Fans of the sport can listen to Chicago’s Josh Liss joined by analysts Greg Meyer, Jenny Spangler, Treniere Moser and Chris Wehrman for a play-by-play of all the action. Listen from anywhere on Sunday, October 9 at 670thescore.com/listenr.

Eliud Kipchoge crowned the 48th edition of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON in breaking the world record with his time of 2:01:09. The 37-year-old improved his own world best time by exactly half a minute. He was even on course for a while to achieve the dream of running under two hours but couldn’t maintain this splendid pace. The Kenyan added further lustre to Berlin’s already rich honour board since this was the 12th world record in the marathon’s history, a total unmatched by any other marathon race in the world. Eliud Kipchoge’s fellow Kenyan finished second in 2:05:58 and the Ethiopian Tadu Abate took third place with 2:06:28. The leading German runner was Haftom Weldaj who finished a highly creditable 11th, improving his best to 2:09:06, the best performance by a German marathoner this year. A newcomer to Berlin found sensational form to break the women’s course record. Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia went to the start line with a personal best of 2:34:01 which didn’t suggest she would be a contender for honours. She confounded expectations, however, to win in 2:15:37, taking full advantage of ideal weather conditions. The 26-year-old ran the third fastest marathon by a woman in history as well as an Ethiopian national record and a world best for the year. Assefa carved a huge slice off the previous record of 2:18:11, set by the Kenyan Gladys Cherono in 2018. These performances by both champions helped make the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON the highest quality marathon in history. The combined times of the results for Kipchoge and Assefa came to 4:16:46. This year’s Tokyo marathon previously occupied the top spot with an aggregate winners’ time of 4:18:42. Further statistics reflected the impact of the 48th edition of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, one of the races in the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series, with 45,527 entries from 157 countries. “The crowning glory of today were the 12th world record in our history and then such a strong performance to break the women’s course record. We had planned for Eliud to break the record but I hadn’t expected Tigist to run a time like that,” said the Race Director Mark Milde. “It was also great to see people coming out on the street to cheer the runners.” Men’s Race Weather conditions were outstanding for distance running with temperatures hovering between 12 and 15 degrees Centigrade, mostly clouded skies and barely a breath of wind with humidity between 85 and 75 per cent. From the start, Eliud Kipchoge seemed intent on attacking the two-hour barrier, joined by two Ethiopians in his incredible tempo, Guye Adola, last year’s winner, and Andamlak Belihu. It was a surprise to see the latter go with this kind of pace, since his best time previously was 2:09:43. By 15 kilometres Adola dropped back and subsequently dropped out at 35km. The pace also proved too much for Belihu as he lost contact at 25km but bravely hung on to cross the finish line near the Brandenburg Gate in a personal best of 2:06:40 for fourth place. For a long time Eliud Kipchoge was on course for a time under two hours. He went through halfway in an astonishing 59:51, keeping right on track for a sub-two clocking. He had done this already, running 1:59:40.2 in Vienna in 2019 but the event did not conform to regulations for record-breaking. But from 25 kilometres the Kenyan was running solo after the last pacemaker dropped out and his pace slowed, by his extraordinary standards. As the prospect of breaking two hours faded, so did his chances of breaking 2:01. Earlier Eliud Kipchoge had gone through 25km and 30km in 1:11:08 and 1:25:39 respectively. No official world records are recognised for these distances by World Athletics, the world governing body for track and field, but these are the fastest times ever recorded. Although he was slowing down, it was only by his incredible yardstick and he still smashed the world record with 2:01:09. “I’m overjoyed to break the world record in Berlin. I wanted to run the first half fast,” said Eliud Kipchoge. “I felt good during the race, I was very relaxed,” added the double Olympic champion. Kipchoge has now won the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON four times, beginning in 2015, then 2017 and the following year before this latest triumph. The achievement draws him level with another all-time great, Haile Gebrselasssie, for the number of record Berlin victories. For good measure, the Kenyan also made more or less sure of winning the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series for 2022 with this triumph. Women’s Race The women’s race turned unexpectedly into one of the highest quality marathons in history. After a group of five went through halfway in 68:13, the pace rose still further. By 30 kilometres the Ethiopians Tigist Assefa, Tigist Abayechew and Sisay Meseret Gola were timed at 1:36:41, on course for a finishing time of 2:16:30. From there Tigist Assefa, who had concentrated on track races for the first part of her career but now discovered that the marathon was really her best event, broke free to win in 2:15:37. It was only her second marathon but took her to third on the world all-time list, only the world record holder Brigid Kosgei of Kenya with 2:14:04 and Britain’s Paula Radcliffe with 2:15:25 have run faster. “I’m overjoyed at this win,” said Tigist Assefa. “I wasn’t afraid of my rivals, even though they had faster best times than me. This is only my second marathon and I hope to run even faster at the next one,” said Tigist Assefa. The pre-race favourite and American record holder Keira D’Amato finished in sixth in 2:21:48 but a debutant, Rosemary Wanjiru, burst onto the world stage at a stroke. The Kenyan ran 2:18:00, the second fastest debut of all time. The Ethiopian Tigist Abayechew finished third in 2:18:03. These results placed the runner-up and third finisher as the 15th and 16th fastest women in history. The high quality results continued with Worknesh Edesa of Ethiopia taking fourth place in 2:18:51, another to break 2:20. Four women breaking 2:19 in a marathon has been achieved only once previously and that was in Tokyo in February. Results, Men: 1. Eliud Kipchoge KEN 2:01:09 2. Mark Korir KEN 2:05:58 3. Tadu Abate ETH 2:06:28 4. Andamlak Belihu ETH 2:06:40 5. Abel Kipchumba KEN 2:06:49 6. Limenih Getachew ETH 2:07:07 7. Kenya Sonota JPN 2:07:14 8. Tatsuya Maruyama JPN 2:07:50 9. Kento Kikutani JPN 2:07:56 10. Zablon Chumba KEN 2:08:01 11. Haftom Weldaj GER/ERI 2:09:06 Women: 1. Tigist Assefa ETH 2:15:37 2. Rosemary Wanjiru KEN 2:18:00 3. Tigist Abayechew ETH 2:18:03 4. Workenesh Edesa ETH 2:18:51 5. Sisay Meseret Gola ETH 2:20:58 6. Keira D’Amato USA 2:21:48 7. Rika Kaseda JPN 2:21:55 8. Ayuko Suzuki JPN 2:22:02 9. Sayaka Sato JPN 2:22:13 10. Vibian Chepkirui KEN 2:22:21

Eliud Kipchoge crowned the 48th edition of the BMW BERLIN MARATHON with an incredible world record of 2:01:09 hours. The 37-year-old Kenyan thus improved his own best time by exactly half a minute – unbelievable. Tigist Assefa ran a sensational course record. Starting as an outsider with a personal best of 2:34:01 before, the Ethiopian ran the race of her life in excellent weather conditions and won in 2:15:37 hours.

Sur les traces des Ducs de Savoie Ludovic POMMERET outran roughly 1072 runners to win with a time of 18:37:04. Joaquin Lopez secured second in this year’s race with a time of 19:32:09. Finishing third was Elias KADI (19:49:51). In the ladies race, Martina VALMASSOI got a win, finishing with a time of 22:42:47 . Claudia TREMPS earned runner-up honours with a time of 22:59:38. Rounding out the top three was Katharina HARTMUTH with a time of 23:22:18. Top 3 Men 1 Ludovic POMMERET 18:37:04 2 Joaquin Lopez 19:32:09 3 Elias KADI 19:49:51 Top 3 Women 1 Martina VALMASSOI 22:42:47 2 Claudia TREMPS 22:59:38 3 Katharina HARTMUTH 23:22:18 Complete results Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc Kilian JORNET BURGADA took top honours by finishing the race in 19:49:30. Mathieu BLANCHARD secured second in this year’s race with a time of 19:54:50. Finishing third was Thomas Evans (20:34:35). In the women’s race, Katie SCHIDE got a win, finishing with a time of 23:15:12 , followed by Marianne Hogan who finished with a time of 24:31:22. Rounding out the top three was Kaytlyn GERBIN with a time of 25:07:44. Top 3 Men 1 Kilian JORNET BURGADA 19:49:30 2 Mathieu BLANCHARD 19:54:50 3 Thomas Evans 20:34:35 Top 3 Women 1 Katie SCHIDE 23:15:12 2 Marianne Hogan 24:31:22 3 Kaytlyn GERBIN 25:07:44 Complete results Courmayeur Champex Chamonix Petter ENGDAHL outran roughly 1727 runners to win with a time of 09:53:02. Jonathan Albon secured second in this year’s race with a time of 10:16:26. Rounding out the top three was Andreas REITERER with a time of 10:23:16. For the women, it was Blandine L’HIRONDEL (11:40:55) taking the top spot. She finished 4 minutes 49 seconds ahead of Sunmaya BUDHA. The third place went to Abby Hall with a time of 12:12:56 Top 3 Men 1 Petter ENGDAHL 09:53:02 2 Jonathan Albon 10:16:26 3 Andreas REITERER 10:23:16 Top 3 Women 1 Blandine L’HIRONDEL 11:40:55 2 Sunmaya BUDHA 11:45:44 3 Abby Hall 12:12:56 Complete results Orsières – Champex – Chamonix Manuel MERILLAS grinded past more than 1333 runners to win in 05:18:29. Coming in second was Antonio MARTINEZ PEREZ (05:21:01). The third place went to Robbie SIMPSON with a time of 05:24:00 In the ladies race, Sheila AVILES CASTAÑO took top spot in 06:10:16 . Núria GIL CLAPERA earned runner-up honours with a time of 06:16:03. The third place went to Dani MORENO with a time of 06:17:05 Top 3 Men 1 Manuel MERILLAS 05:18:29 2 Antonio MARTINEZ PEREZ 05:21:01 3 Robbie SIMPSON 05:24:00 Top 3 Women 1 Sheila AVILES CASTAÑO 06:10:16 2 Núria GIL CLAPERA 06:16:03 3 Dani MORENO 06:17:05 Complete results De Martiny – Combes à Chamonix Ludvik FERNANDES took top spot in 03:54:00. Coming in second was Baptiste ELLMENREICH (04:08:49). Mattia COLELLA (04:10:20) made notched third place. In the ladies race, Candice FERTIN scored victory with a time of 04:24:22 , followed by Oksana Riabova RIABOVA who finished with a time of 05:04:02. Finishing third was Alanis Duke (05:08:44). Top 3 Men 1 Ludvik FERNANDES 03:54:00 2 Baptiste ELLMENREICH 04:08:49 3 Mattia COLELLA 04:10:20 Top 3 Women 1 Candice FERTIN 04:24:22 2 Oksana Riabova RIABOVA 05:04:02 3 Alanis Duke 05:08:44 Complete results

Credit : Sanlam Cape Town Marathon (Cape Town, 28 July 2022) – The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s revised marathon route has received the green light from the City of Cape Town. The route approval is the culmination of months-long consultation between the race organisers and the City, to find the perfect balance between meeting the Abbott World Marathon Majors’ route requirements and minimising the traffic impact on the City and affected areas on Race Day. “This is an important milestone and one of the major hurdles we had to cross,” says an elated Clark Gardner, Group CEO of Faces. “It took significant time and planning to create a detailed route mitigation plan in conjunction with professional traffic engineers to ensure that our impact on public access and Cape Town’s traffic remains minimal. We are grateful for the City’s positive collaboration and support, and are fired up to continue with our race planning over the next 11 weeks.” The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon race route will see the following adjustments: The start and finish move to Helen Suzman Boulevard. Runners will immediately head towards the Southern Suburbs via the elevated freeway’s N1/N2 outbound lane, offering unparalleled views of the City, Table Mountain and harbour. Athletes will run through District Six for the first time. The revised start means that runners will only pass City Hall in the 2nd half of the race, at the 30km mark. The Buitengracht Street bridge will no longer feature. The number of route cut-offs will increase to ensure that roads can be reopened timeously and efficiently. These route changes also enable the staging of an elite wheelchair race, which will add a thrilling high-speed element to the marathon experience. The wheelchair race will start 15 minutes before the rest of the elites set off, and a lightning-fast finish time of approximately 1:30:00 is expected. “Runners can rest assured, however, that they will still get to enjoy all the beauty, views and vibe that has become synonymous with the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon,” adds Gardner. “The route may have changed slightly, but athletes will still pass beloved iconic landmarks as they journey through the Mother City’s diverse communities. Madiba will still greet them from the City Hall balcony to give them the boost they need for the final 12km of their marathon, and they will still be energised by the fresh ocean air as they run along Beach Road before they head to the finish straight. We are pulling out all the stops to show the world how to run a marathon to the African beat.” JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security notes, “The City of Cape Town is pleased to continue its partnership with the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and we are thrilled by the event’s growth over the years. We are looking forward to another exciting year, especially with the Abbott World Marathon Majors candidacy. Having an Abbott World Marathon Majors race in our city would be like having a World Cup every year and this means more job opportunities, more international exposure, more tourism and more economic prosperity for our city.” “A huge congratulations to the incredible team of organisers and behind the scenes crew who have made this year’s event possible,” says Mariska Oosthuizen, Sanlam Head of Brand. “This year’s race is dedicated to celebrating everything that can be achieved when we work together. “When Sanlam started this sponsorship eight years ago, we knew we were working towards major status. By uniting champions in all forms, this dream will be realised for our continent and its incredible people, and that is certainly something worth celebrating. “This year’s theme ‘African Champions Unite’ is perfectly in synergy with Sanlam’s mission to be an African champion that fosters continent-wide financial inclusion. We want to empower generations of Africans to be financially confident, secure and prosperous. This race shines a spotlight on Africa and our people’s immense talent. It perfectly aligns with our goal to amplify confidence across the continent and to work together to achieve big things." Continued focus on sustainability In a continuation of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s award-winning green event initiatives, the 2022 race will be sachet-free. Water, Coca-Cola and Powerade will be dispensed into cups – which will also be recycled separately – while athletes who prefer to run with hydration packs, bottles or cups will have refill facilities available along the route. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was one of the first sporting events – and the second Sanlam-sponsored event – to be declared carbon neutral in South Africa in 2014 after Sanlam engaged with the JSE to pilot a carbon offset trading project. Over the years, the event also spear-headed various other green event initiatives, ranging from event waste recycling to supporting SA charities that focus on sustainable environmental interventions, and promoting the “carry-your-own” initiative by having water refill stations in place for participants who want to run waste-free. Technical sponsor adidas has been on a sustainability journey for the past two decades. Commenting on the company’s sustainability ambition, Kate Woods, Senior Brand Director at adidas South Africa said, “Our goal is to become a more sustainable company, and we have a clear roadmap to achieve climate neutrality across our entire value chain by 2050.” One of the company’s core commitments is to end plastic waste, and this was a consideration when creating the running range for the Cape Town Marathon. The official race t-shirt is made using recycled materials as is the Cape Town Marathon jacket (currently available for pre-order), as well as many of the running footwear and accessories that will be available at the Expo. Elaborating on what to expect from the adidas stand at the Expo, Woods said, “We’re leaning on our experience of having opened Africa’s most sustainable adidas store at the V&A Waterfront in 2021, and have approached the design of our expo stand with a similar mindset. In addition to the design and build of the stand, an important consideration is how the various elements can be repurposed after the event. Runners can look forward to a one-stop shop where they can meet their running heroes, get access to leading industry advice and find the best in road and trail running gear, all with less impact on the environment.” The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is Africa’s only World Athletics Gold Label Status event. This is the event’s first evaluation year as an Abbott World Marathon Majors Candidate race. If the multi-year evaluation process is successful, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will become Africa’s first Major in 2025. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s Race Week will start with the opening of the event’s Expo and Registration at DHL Stadium in Green Point on 13 October. The 5km and 10km Peace Runs will both take place on Saturday, 15 October, joining the 22km Trail Run and 46km Trail Marathon for an action-packed day. Race Week will culminate with the marathon on 16 October. Visit www.capetownmarathon.com for more information and to enter the 2022 event.

10K Run Keith Sands won the race with a time of 00:35:40. He bested Jon Hutton who crossed the finish line 14 seconds behind him. Rounding out the top three was Samuel Long with a time of 00:35:56. For the women, Apryl Campbell won the race with a time of 00:40:22 , ahead of Becca Mallon (00:40:51). Rounding out the top three was Morgan Meseke with a time of 00:42:05. Top 5 Men 1 Keith Sands 00:35:40 2 Jon Hutton 00:35:54 3 Samuel Long 00:35:56 4 Aaron Skopec 00:35:58 5 Eli Soliz 00:36:27 Top 5 Women 1 Apryl Campbell 00:40:22 2 Becca Mallon 00:40:51 3 Morgan Meseke 00:42:05 4 Lindsey Gidel 00:45:00 5 Kelley Timmerman 00:45:28 Complete results 5K Run/Walk Keith Sands outpaced more then 1570 runners to win in 00:35:40. Jon Hutton secured second in this year’s race with a time of 00:35:54. The third place went to Samuel Long with a time of 00:35:56 For the women, Apryl Campbell took top spot in 00:40:22 , ahead of Becca Mallon (00:40:51). Morgan Meseke got the third place in 00:42:05. Top 5 Men 1 Keith Sands 00:35:40 2 Jon Hutton 00:35:54 3 Samuel Long 00:35:56 4 Aaron Skopec 00:35:58 5 Eli Soliz 00:36:27 Top 5 Women 1 Apryl Campbell 00:40:22 2 Becca Mallon 00:40:51 3 Morgan Meseke 00:42:05 4 Lindsey Gidel 00:45:00 5 Kelley Timmerman 00:45:28 Complete results 1-Mile Run Keith Sands grinded past more than 112 runners to win in 00:35:40. He bested Jon Hutton who crossed the finish line 14 seconds behind him. Samuel Long (00:35:56) made notched third place. For the women, Apryl Campbell scored victory with a time of 00:40:22 , followed by Becca Mallon who finished with a time of 00:40:51. While Morgan Meseke came in third at 00:42:05 Top 5 Men 1 Keith Sands 00:35:40 2 Jon Hutton 00:35:54 3 Samuel Long 00:35:56 4 Aaron Skopec 00:35:58 5 Eli Soliz 00:36:27 Top 5 Women 1 Apryl Campbell 00:40:22 2 Becca Mallon 00:40:51 3 Morgan Meseke 00:42:05 4 Lindsey Gidel 00:45:00 5 Kelley Timmerman 00:45:28 Complete results