Special Race Context for my Smoothest Half Marathon: My Adventures with "Ahmad Ghoul" in the streets of Bucharest.

The Original article is posted on the website of Ro Maraton Club in Romania, It is a competition about writing an essay about a special race experience.
Unfortunately, it is in Romanian Language so a lot of friends were not able to read it.
You can find the original text on the link below and I added the translation under the link:

http://www.maraton.info.ro/un-context-special-pentru-cel-mai-linistit-maraton-al-meu.html

Races are like fingerprints, they do not look like each other and each one has its own characteristics, specificity, feature and memories. In addition, your favorite race may not be necessarily your best one, some think that their best races are the ones in which they struggled and suffered to finish while others think their favorite is their first one and so on.

As for me, I have run quite a number of races ranging between 5km to full 42km marathons. And as I mentioned before, I do remember each race and I do have a lot of memories about each single one, and of course I have my Best and my Worst races.

My last race was “ThePetrom Bucharest International Half Marathon” (PBIHM) 2014. At a personal level, I did not have a lot of expectations about it. It has been long time since I had participated in a long distance race and my training was not enough, so I just wanted to finish in a reasonable timing. While at the beginning I targeted 01h30m after some time I was sure my training was not enough so I targeted 01h45m (I finished it in 01h43m eventually).

Hence, my story with this half marathon is not the race itself but what I can call it “my adventures” before and after the race, with an unexpected participant coming from my country to participate in the Half Marathon.

The story started few months ago when I received a call from a friend living in Beirut, his name is “Ahmad Ghoul” he is an “Adjutant” in “Beirut Fire Department”, he is a sportsman, he acts as a trainer, and he is on a wheelchair because he had an accident few years ago, but this did not prevent him from continuing his life and moving forward.

Ahmad confessed to me his desire to run the PBIHM since that will be his first marathon abroad. He asked me what the conditions to participate in the race are. This is whyI contacted the “Bucharest Running Club” and they offered him two nights free accommodation as a token for his participation. The only thing he had to do was to start his papers for visa approval.

What happened later is that due to certain circumstances he did not contact me again; I thought he dropped out the idea, so I did not contact the “Bucharest Running Club” and I totally forget about the subject.

But, on the night of Thursday May 15^th, and why I was preparing to sleep, I received a call from Ahmad informing me that he finally got the visa and he will be in Bucharest in the morning of Saturday 17^th, one day before the Half Marathon. At this exact moment, I knew my race had started.

On Friday morning I contacted the organizers of the race, and I was glad to hear that they will offer the room but they had to reserve it first which was the real problem because in that period of time there were a lot of events going on in Bucharest and almost all the hotels were fully booked, so they asked me to help in the search in order to save time. I spent Friday running in the streets of Bucharest going from hotel to hotel; all the hotels that had rooms with special needs facilities were fully booked, it seemed impossible to find at least one room and I started thinking of other possible alternatives.

Finally, at 08:30 afternoon I passed by a five stars hotel in the city center and by chance there was one and only one room available. I contacted the “Bucharest Running Club” and Mrs. Valeria Van Groningen the president of the club gave me the approval to reserve the room. The first problem was solved.

Ahmad arrived Saturday morning, at the airport and he was equipped with his “handcycle” bike which was about two and a half meters long so we have to go by bus and it was a nice trip where he was able to see the city through the long way the bus usually takes. We checked in at the hotel, and then went to the Race’s exhibition area where we got his BIB number and went to rest after a long journey preparing for the race.

The day of the race started with an unexpected incident, as the day before I agreed with him to meet at 07:30 am in order to go to the race, for our good luck the hotel was within a walking distance from the start line I think about 20 minutes would suffice to reach the starting point. For some reasons he was late during his preparations for the race and at 07:50 am he was still in his room while the race supposed to start at 08:20. I was with my wife and she was getting worried because she thought we will miss the race, you know that kind of fear that is mixed with anger? Ok, just try not to be with someone who is feeling like this especially if that someone is your wife.

I told my wife to go to the race in order to find a place to sit and I went up to Ahmad’s roomsto check if everything was ok, apparently he was ready and he was preparing to get down, the thing that happened with him is that he was confused about the timing of the race. We got down to prepare the “Handcycle” and at 08:05 am we were still in the front of the hotel just 15minutes before his race started.

The adrenaline at this moment was to the maximum, I was scared to miss the race but what we did was going to the race with our full speed, we considered as a warming-up for the race, everybody on the streets was looking toward those two weird persons, one running as if he was chased and the other with a strange bicycle but to me it was really my best warm up.

We arrived 08:15 amjust five minutes before the race, the “Special needs” racers were already preparing to start.Although we were late, running on the streets, arrived directly few minutes before the race but Ahmad was really pretty cool and calm and this gave me a feeling of satisfaction that our mission was almost accomplished successfully.

The race ended with Ahmad winning the first place, it was really a nice surprise for me I felt that his result was my prize for all the effort I did and the adventures we had. As for me, I was able to achieve my target of 01h43m, I ran with the pacers of the “Ro Club Marathon” who were amazing partners during the race I do not think I would have been able to achieve this timing without them.

If I have to describe the PBIHM 2014, I would described it as my “Smoothest  & 
Unforgettable Marathon”, I was not prepared to do my personal best but I was ready to finish with a good timing. It also enriched my knowledge of Bucharest and also enriched my experience in working with “Athletes with special needs”. I had worked with Ahmad before in Beirut, I was an assistant coordinator for Special need in the Beirut Marathon Association andAhmad was the coordinator. During the PBIHM 2014 I knew all the entrances and exits for special needs, I knew all the metro stations with elevators and those that do not have, I knew how they use the bus, what hotels to book, where to go, how to go, what taxi to call, museums to visit, and a lot of other things which seemed so difficult at that time but now they make me smile when they come to my mind…

And now, to restate my question: do you know why “PBIHM 2014” is my “Smoothest Marathon”?

Welcome to My Running Network

Florin Simion:”When you feel you can’t walk anymore, start running”.

Florin Simion in one of his mountain’s races

When I first met “Florin” during my participation for the first time in his running event “Time Trial Running” or (TTR), I never thought that this man is an athlete with a great “life experience”.  At the age of 33 years old, he has accomplished more than 50 marathons full of passion, sensation, sentiments, strength, power and a lot more to come. In my opinion, Florin’s story was so interesting that I want to share it with other runners because it includes all the motives to keep going on whatever the difficulties are and the obstacles we face.

1- Tell us about yourself.

My name is “Florin Simion”, some friends call me “Simon”. I am 33 years old; I love sports since I was a kid.  I got the support of my wife and the appreciation of my friends. I hope my little boy (5 months old) would love sports also despite his heart disease. Running was always a part of my life. I’ve always had a huge respect for marathon runners. During my childhood I used to listen to my father telling us the story of the marathon. I didn’t even dream to run a marathon in my life, but I was doing trail running without knowing. For 10 or even 12 years I was running without the adequate equipment, training, hydration or nutrition. I started running in competitions 15 years ago.

2- What does running mean to you?

Running has become a way of living for me. It is a state of mind, a way to develop and change myself in order to become a better runner and a better person. It keeps me away from doctors or medicines, away from TV and bad habits. Running means hundreds of friends who show huge respect for each other efforts.

3- How many marathons have you done till now?  Which is your favorite marathon and what is your personal best timing?

I’ve completed 56 marathons till now. The list includes 3 ultra-marathons. I never dropped out from a marathon race and I will never do.

There is one special marathon above all: “Maratonul Reintregirii Neamului Romanesc” (The Union of the Romanian Nation Marathon) in December 1st, 2013. It was my birthday and I won that race. I dedicated that marathon to my new born son (Pavel) who had an operation for a heart disease. Moreover, my work colleagues surprised me by coming to the marathon, wearing t-shirts with my son’s picture saying “I am Pavel Simion / Your new champion / Go daddy”.

My personal best on marathon races is 03:04:02. I achieved it in “Cluj International Marathon 2013”.

4- Is there any memorable experience you passed through?

When running is a passion and when you love what you do, every marathon, every kilometer or even every step you make turns into a great experience and nice memory.

In 2013 I won “Maratonul Regal” (The Royal Marathon)   after I missed the Start with over 2 minutes. I had to   hold my breath during the last 200m in order to pass the runners who were leading the race.

In “Podgorica Marathon 2012” in “Montenegro” locals of  Romanian origins encouraged me ”Go brother”. During the same marathon I was pouring water on my body although it was raining.

 In “Delta Dunarii Marathon” 2012 a wild horse was running aside the runners.

5-What are your targets for your running activity this year and for the future?

I’d like my running activity to be inspirational. I’ll try to go under 3h in a marathon race and I want to reach 100 marathons . An old desire of mine is to run a 100K road race (flat track, if possible).

6- What is the difference between “mountain marathons” and “city marathons”, what do you prefer?

In my opinion, there is a huge difference between “mountain marathons” and “city marathons”. On the mountain you run for nature, for freedom, for heights. On the mountain you don’t follow the running pace, you listen to the rythm of your heart.  On the mountain the energy comes mostly from outside. On the mountain you run, you walk, you climb and sometimes you “fly”.

In fact marathon is not a good term for mountain races, even though they measure around 42Km.

I think “City marathons” are for addicted runners. You run for finishing the race. The energy comes from inside. The obstacles come also from inside (body or mind)and the challenge is to pass over them. You need to be morally strong. On road marathons you can follow a constant running pace.

I personally prefer road/city marathons. They allow me to run (and only to run) from the Start to the Finish line. There is mainly one running surface during the entire track. It may not be so spectacular, but it challenges both my body and mind.

7- Have you done “Ultra-Marathons”?

I have finished 3 Ultra Marathons by now. Two of them were more like trekking: 96Km & 7500D+ in 33h (Marathon 7500 2012) and 108Km & 4500D+ in 21h20’ during “Ciucas Ultra Trail” (D+ stands for level difference or altitude). The other one was a Double Marathon (84Km) on the ”Transfagarasan Road” (The most beautiful mountain road in the world according to BBC show “Top Gear”). I finished 3rd place in 8h50.

8- What is the “Time Trial Running” (TTR) the event you organize?

Time Trial Running (TTR) is a series of competitive training sessions. It is an event where runners can test and improve their speed. What makes it unique (different from other group running events) is the individual Start with a gap of 10-15 seconds between every participant. The participants have to run 5,7Km. Time Trial Running sometimes includes uphill or stairs runs.

TTR was conceived as an organized training for official competitions. That‘s why we consider Time Trial Runningto be a bridge between self training and mass running events. We try to fulfill the eventual gap between runners and people/companies who organize competitions.

9- What are the advantages of “TTR” to runners?

It turned into a running community. We especially welcome new runners. They need to be part of a group in order to make their passion grow. In the same time “Time Trial Running” helps experienced runners to improve their  performance without having the pressure of prizes and awards.

TTR runners had the “chance” to perform in all weather conditions (including running at -15 degrees Celsius).

TTR organizers try to offer small surprises to runners (products, materials, invitations to the competitions). After the training we offer online Diplomas and the Results List.

TTR is a group training where every participant runs for himself and fight with his own limits without feeling lonely.

Moreover,  Time Trial Running tries to:

- Inform runners about running events and running opportunities

- Support and promote running competitions

- Develop the concept of volunteering in sport

- Create a group of sports photographers.

10- Do you have any information about the Beirut Marathon (which is classified Bronze according to the IAAF standards), do you consider participating in the future?

Unfortunately, I do not have a lot of information about Beirut International Marathon, I heard about it from some friends and through internet, I think it would be very interesting to run this marathon.

11- Last word.

Running can change your life and marathons offer you a lifetime experience. By running you travel and you meet people. Now I do everything with passion, because I ran my marathons with both my body and my soul.

My personal running motto: “When you feel you can’t walk anymore, start running”.

Running Global

Have you ever imagined an African running with a Middle Eastern friend, a far eastern athlete competing with a European one, or a group of runners from different nationalities all at the same place? This would have been an illusion from about three decades. If you ask anyone that time he would laugh saying this is impossible. But since we are living in the “Age of Rapidity”, globalization and improvement of technology in addition to the fast spreading of internet and satellite services, things aren’t that difficult anymore.

The world is becoming a small global village since you can contact and see any person in any point in the world and communicate together as if you are sitting face-to-face. That’s, you can also choose any book from the library of the White House for example, and read it while you are sitting in your house in South Africa thanks to the internet. Also, the satellite services have helped a lot in introducing people of different countries and civilizations to each other. In addition, we can’t separate Business, Sports and technology. Giant enterprises are looking for new markets worldwide for its products. They spread their technology in the countries they start their business. Hence, small firms and companies in that new “globalized lands” would start to benefit from these technologies to improve their productivity and increase their profits. Hence, a need for foreign labor hand was needed since local employees may not know or misuse the new technology. Here the interaction between different people of different religious, ethnics, civilizations, traditions and even political views takes place. As for sports, the effect is almost similar. Countries with improved professional sports like in Europe as an example are using the technology to improve the performance of their athletes to get the best results in the different competitions they participate in. Hence, also through technology almost everybody worldwide will know what that country achieve in a certain competition. On the other hand, if a certain country is organizing an event such as the world cup everybody will not only see the game on the field, but also how significant was organizing of the shuttles, cars & busses to reach the stadium and how perfect was the accessing to it. How improved was the selling of tickets, lights, security systems, etc… on the other hand, small countries like small firms in business will try to benefit from the technologies used by other countries to improve themselves. First to improve the efficiency of their athletes and second showing how brilliant they are in organizing big events and third benefit from the media to advertise for their country as a touristic and business access like Qatar who is hosting the world cup in 2022. Certainly, such countries will be in need for foreign expertise to help them in support and improvement. As for the athletes, technology became very important. It helps them to develop, decrease injuries and the most important it introduces them to the world, to new competitions and new challenges and new records. In running, our main concern, technology is never too far, GPRS watches are now available for any ordinary runner to know how much he/she can perform. It also helped in organizing big running events such as a marathon where more than 25.000 athletes worldwide participate. According to my knowledge, Holland and Germany are two of the best countries who arrange a marathon. So others have started to benefit from them to have a successful marathon with a less number of mistakes. The point here is that as much as the marathon is successful as much as the number of participants will increase. The huge reputation of success will bring more runners who adore running a marathon wherever its held in any point in the world.
The interaction and communication between those people led to better knowledge of others. It breaks the boarders, makes international relations, knowledge of others and will surely lead us to a better world since some of us may have wrong ideas about certain countries. Besides, we should also notice that what means something in a certain culture means something different in another one. For example, while closing the first and the second fingers’ heads on each other in a circular way means “you have done a great job” in Japan, it means “you will be punished for your bad attitude” in Arabic countries.

The rule of successful companies is to close the gaps between its employees to let them know each other more, to break boarders to have more efficiency for more productivity. In sports, it decrease distances, increase level of competence and challenge, introduce us to different ways of training. In a marathon, it gives a picture of a civilized country that respect and adores sports. Who is able of attracting thousands of runners from everywhere introducing the whole world to the place we live in and the roads we cross daily. A marathon shows the world how we can make a “small sporty world in the world” where no visas or passports are needed just the love of running.

The Beirut International Marathon is one of these important events held worldwide. It’s to be considered as said before a mini-world in the world there are runners from almost 50% of the world if not more. The Beirut International Marathon shows the beautiful face of Lebanon where roads are closed for peace, love, passion and sports. The Beirut Marathon Organization also works on interaction and communication between these different cultures, traditions and civilizations of those athletes. Starting from the 42.195km marathon, to the 10,5 & recently the 3 km fun run races to the 1km mothers run without forgetting the Handicapped marathon and races and the Ultra Marathon 111 km from Damascus to Beirut. Due to this mosaic, the Beirut Marathon is one of the huge events knowing how to benefit from the wide spread of technology and globalization for improving its efficiency toward running sports, and in the first degree toward athletes. Hence, Beirut Marathon Organization is one of those few who can make a mini-world in the world. So it’s not strange anymore to see an African athlete competing with a European one or a group of runners from different nationalities, cultures, ethnics, and ethics running in the streets of Beirut.

The Cinderella Man

What would you do if you have the power to change? To make all your dreams come true? To turn everything around you the way you like. Hence, what kind of powers then would you like to have. Some may say money, some may say magic, some may say extraordinary strength, some may want military and political authorities and some may be more humble and say they want the power of intelligence which make them reach their goals. but what if this power I am talking about is the power of hope!!!

Yes, the power of hope which is more a responsibility rather than a personal power. In fact, each one of us have this power. It’s the power that we deliver to others to make them feel strong. To make them feel that they can achieve whatever they want whenever they wanted. It’s the power that make us give others the power to dream and to work on achieve what they want. It’s a power that gave us as it gave others patience, love of others, passion and care.

It’s the power that make James J. Braddock the champion of the heavey weight in the 1930′s in boxing after a several years of failure and suffering. Braddock was the champion in the eyes of his family first and was the real hero and the source of hope and cheer for his people in the years of the Great Depression.

Its also the same for Chris Gardner, the man who suffered a lot from his financial crisis and separated from his wife but he kept fighting and struggling for giving hope to his lonely five years old boy, though they had to sleep in a public toilet once and in streets another time but they didn’t loose the power of hope. Now Chris is one of the most important financial brokers in the USA and a chairman of Gardner enterprise which is worth some millions of dollars.

In the early beginnings of those two heroes, no body believed in them, and maybe some were mocking them and others asked strangely:” why are they acting like this?” those people did not understand the gift they had, they did not understand that the acts they do, the hope they give, the dream they make true for their people and beloved ones. Later, the picture changed and the target was clarified and everybody cheered.

Here, I can shed light on our time, on a fact happening now and at this moment. Simply, he is our hero the Veterans Club Runner Ali Kedami, who is now having a new challenge in the desserts of China, challenging the mother nature, the thirst, the fatigue, the hot weather and the cold one and fogs in addition to 152 competitor from different countries in the world. A hard challenge for the only Lebanese and Arab participant there. Ali is proving that impossible does not exist, but its what we define the disability to reach reality. He is proving that if we believe in what we do we can reach our goals. He is proving that patient is the key for solving any problem. It’s a challenge that make us believe in our supernatural abilities. It’s a challenge that proved that Ali has the great power of giving people hope. The hope that there is a happy ending for everything, it’s the power of hope that make us attached to each other. It’s the power of hope that make Ali represent our dreams in participating in such races. It’s the power that make us believe that all our problem can be solved if its emotional, financial or whatever it is. Its the power that make Ali the hero in our eyes and in the eyes of all who knows him. Its the power of hope that makes Ali sure and confident of himself that he is going to finish his challenge successfully and return to his daughter who is waiting her hero to come back to hug him. She doesn’t care if he was the first or the last, she just knows he is her super hero and he is doing all this for her. It’s the power that make Ali the “Cinderella Man” or the man who represnts all our dreams and passions. The man who made us follow him in every moment and in every second during his challenge in Egypt, Chile, China and everywhere later. He is the man who made us pray and cheer for him and make us happy for his achievements as if it was ours. He is the man who made us feel the responsibility toward ourselves as we feel it toward others. He is the “Cinderella Man” the man who made us believes that dreams can be true if we believed in ourselves and not running away if the clock rang at midnight.

*** Dedicated to my dear friend Ali Kedami ...

A Brief History of the Marathon.

Every year, there is one sports event that is organized all over the world, “The Marathon”. Running has a unique trait because no matter your speed, capabilities, preparations you are making, you do not need to be a professional athlete or a member of a club. You need will and proper training alone. Moreover, regarding a marathon, you can participate in any marathon in any corner of the world, you just need to get there and run. This thing is almost impossible for other sporting events, such as tennis or football.

 But, what is the marathon, from where it got its name, how it started, why it is limited for 42.195km why it was not 42.00km or 43km  (the question is  why they choose this distance) and the most important  of all questions is:  ”How many types of marathons do we have, are  there other distance  marathons”?

“Phidippides” announcing the victory of Athens before he collapsed.

 To begin with, the marathon race got its name after the city of  “Marathon”  in Greece, it was inspired by the legend of

“Philipiddes” (also known as  Pheidipiddes). The legend states that he was sent from the battlefield  of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the  Battle of Marathon (in which he had just fought). The battle took place in  August or September, 490 BC. It is said that he ran the entire distance without  stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming “nenikekamen” (We won),  before collapsing  and dying.[i]

But history does not mention the exact routes he followed, and      hence, we do not know the exact distance he covered. He  may had run  more or less nobody can specify, for instance, “Mount Penteli stands  between Marathon and Athens, which means that,  if  Pheiddipides actually made his famous run after the battle, he  had to run  around the mountain, either to the north or to the south.  The latter and  more obvious route matches almost exactly the modern Marathon-  Athens highway, which follows the lie of the land southwards from  Marathon Bay and along the coast, then takes a gentle but protracted  climb westwards towards the eastern approach to Athens, between the  foothills of Mounts

A map showing the routes that “Philippides” may have taken.

Hymettus and Penteli, and then gently downhill to  Athens properly.  This route, as it existed when the Olympics were  revived in 1896, was approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, and  this was the approximate distance originally used for marathon races. However there have been suggestions that Pheidippides might have had followed another route: a westward climb along the eastern and northern slopes of Mount Penteli to the Pass of Dionysos, and then a straight southward downhill path to Athens. This route is considerably shorter, some 35 kilometers (22 mi), but includes a very steep initial climb of more than 5 kilometers (3.1 mi).[ii]

The Marathon as a sport did not take place until the Olympic Games in 1896 when the    initiators and organizers were looking for a great popularizing event, recalling the ancient  glory of  Greece. The idea of a marathon race came from Michel Breal, who wanted the event    to feature in  the first Modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. This idea was heavily  supported by Pierre De  Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, as well as by the  Greeks. The Greeks staged a  selection race for the Olympic marathon on 10 March 1896 that  was won by Chariloas Vasilakos in  3 hours and 18 minutes.[iii]

Besides, for a long time after the Olympic marathon started, there were no long-distance    races, such as the marathon, for women. The Marathon as a sport did not take place until the Olympic Games in 1896 when the    initiators and organizers were looking for a great popularizing event, recalling the ancient  glory of  Greece. The idea of a marathon race came from Michel Breal, who wanted the event    to feature in  the first Modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. This idea was heavily  supported by Pierre De  Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, as well as by the  Greeks. The Greeks staged a  selection race for the Olympic marathon on 10 March 1896 that  was won by Chariloas Vasilakos in  3 hours and 18 minutes.[iii]

Although a few women had run the marathon distance,    they were not included in any official results. “Marie-Louise Ledru has been credited as the first  woman to race a marathon. Violet Piercy has been credited as the first woman to be officially timed  in a marathon. For challenging the long-held tradition of all-male marathon running in the Boston  Marathon, in 1967, Kathrine Switzer is regarded as the first woman to run a marathon as a  numbered entry, but did so unofficially, due to a fluke in the entry process. Bobbo Gibb had  completed the Boston race unofficially the previous year, and was later recognized by the race  organizers as the women’s winner for that year as well as 1967 & 1968.[iv]

The early start of the marathon did not have a fixed length until 1924. The distance varied between 40km and 42km. The first 42.195km race took place in London Olympics in 1908, in 1912 it was 40km, while in 1920 it was 42.75km. In 1921, the “IAAF” agreed on setting the distance to 42.195km, nobody knows the exact reasons for such a decision but maybe –and most probably- because of the great emotions and events that took place in the London Marathon of 1908.

For what happened in London Marathon,the “marathons.ahotu.com”  states the following:   “It is commonly said that the distance was set to 26 miles  385 yards because of the Royal family.  During the preparation of the summer  Olympiads, it had been agreed that the organizers would include a marathon of  about 40 km or 25 miles. The British officials, desirous to accommodate the King  of England, started the race at Windsor Castle and finished at the Royal box in  the Olympic Stadium—a distance of precisely 26 miles 385 yards”.[v]

Another emotional incident occurred in that race, on the finish line,  when “Dorandi Pietri” an Italian runner who was leading the race collapsed at the end of the race and he was helped by officials to finish it, unfortunately he was disqualified later due to the help he got and “Johnnie Hayes” was declared winner. On this incident the “Wikipedia” states the following: “The official report lists the leaders at each mile from the fourth to the twenty-fourth: Thomas Jack (miles 4–5); Frederick Lord (miles 6–14); Charles Hefferon (miles 15–24). Dorando Pietri of Italy caught Hefferon and sped up between Old Oak Common Lane and Wormwood Scrubs. He was the first to enter the stadium, but was already exhausted, and the most famous incident of the entire Games ensued.

Pietri turned the wrong way onto the track, and after turning round, collapsed  several times as he progressed. Not far from the finish-line, two of the officials — Jack  Andrew, the clerk of the course; and Dr Michael Bulger of the Irish Amateur Athletic  Association, the chief medical officer that day — went to his aid. As a consequence the  runner-up, American Johnny Hayes protested, leading to Pietri’s disqualification.

The dramatic finish of the 1908 Olympic marathon led to worldwide marathon  fever. In a postcard sent at the time, an American spectator said he had “just seen the  greatest race of the century”. Since Pietri himself had not been responsible for his  disqualification Queen Alexandra the next day awarded him a gold or silver-gilt cup in  recognition of his achievement.[vi]

Pietri and Hayes both turned professional and there were several re-matches over the distance of 26 miles 385 yards. Many other marathons adopted that distance, including the important Polytechnic Marathon. The IAAF minutes are reportedly silent as to the reason the 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km) was chosen in 1921, so any conclusion must be speculative, but regardless of any possible emotional attachment to the distance of the “race of the century”, the London 1908 distance had established itself worldwide by that time”.

While we get the origins of the marathon clearer, we should look further into the special needs part. Many marathons feature a wheelchair division. Typically, those in the wheelchair racing division start their races earlier than their running counterparts.

“The first wheelchair marathon was in 1974 in Toledo, Ohio,  won by Bob Hall in 2:54. Hall competed in the 1975 Boson  Marathon and finished in 2:58, inaugurating the introduction of  wheelchair divisions into the Boston Marathon. From 1977 the  race was declared the US National Wheelchair championship.  The Boston Marathon awards $10,000 to the winning push-rim  athlete. Ernst Van Dyk has won the Boston Marathon wheelchair  division nine times and holds the world record at 1:18:27, set in  Boston in 2004. Jean Driscoll won eight times (seven  consecutively) and holds the women’s world record at 1:34:22.[vii]

Finally, recently it has become more familiar to organize short distance races and call them marathons. It is a fact that we, as runners we receive a lot of invitations for (races) called the “5km marathon” or the “marathon race for 10km” or “the XYZ marathon race for 6km”, etc … So are these considered marathons?

The answer is simply NO. There is one and only race called the “Marathon” which is measured at 42.195km. All other races varying from 0km to 42.194km are just different races. We call the 21 km race a “Half Marathon”, while other races which are longer than 42.195km are named “Ultra Marathons” –usually they vary between 100-250km- and they need special training and preparations and they take several days, in several stages.

Resources:

[i] – Wikipedia

[ii]- idem

[iii] -idem

[iv] I-dem

[vi]-marathons.ahotu.com

[vii] -Wikipedia

[viii] -idem

Photos: Opening Photo: "www.timblr.com
            Rest of the photos:Wikipedia