Best of January 2019: RBR Podcast: 2019 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, Women's race, Chepngetich and Degafa go 2:17!

Reposted Dec. 26, 2019.

Original post, Jan 31, 2019.

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The 2019 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon was magnifiscent! Fast men and women’s events. What is in store in 2020? The date is 24 January 2020!

It was a week ago! Does not seem possible. The 2019 Dubai Marathon, now in its 15th year as a Standard Chartered sponsored event, outdid itself once again.

The men’s race had two under the old course record.

And so, did the women.

Worknesh Degefa, Ruth Chepngetich, Worknesh Edesa, 2019 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, photo by GianCarlo Columbo

But, dear and observant readers, Ruth Chepngetich ran the 3rd fastest time in women’s history, only behind Paula Radcliffe and Mary Keitany. Chepngetich, even with her scary water stops, battled Worknesh Degefa, and Chepngetich ran 2:17:08 and Degefa ran 2:17:41.

The Dubai Marathon course is fast, but it is the competitiveness on the course, that puts it above all others. In most races, the fields are built around 1 or 2 athletes. In Dubai, no performance, no money.

I am not sure if that is the best way, but it sure works in Dubai.

Here’s our podcast on the fine women’s event!

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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