What happened this weekend? Quick facts about this weekend in running
This weekend was a busy one for the running scene which included the prestigious Berlin Marathon and races on home soil.
This weekend was a busy one for Canadian runners. Many Canadians ran their goal race over the weekend which proves that race reason is well under way. In case you tuned out of the big news in the running scene over the past couple of days, here’s your weekend recap.
Berlin Marathon
The Berlin Marathon– one of the fastest and most prestigious in the world– happened over the weekend. On Sunday, thousands flocked to the street of the German city to run the race which almost saw a new world record. Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, 34, overtook Wilson Kipsang in the final kilometre to run 2:03.03– a mere six seconds off the world record. There have only been two faster times– Dennis Kimetto’s 2:02.57 and Geoffrey Mutai’s 2:03.02.
RELATED:Â Kenenisa Bekele wins Berlin Marathon, misses world record by six seconds
As for the women’s race, only one woman hit 2:20. Aberu Kebede, another strong Ethiopian athlete, ran 2:20.45. She dominated the women’s race leaving the other competitors in the dust. Second to the finish was Birhane Dibaba who came in three minutes after.
Lanni Marchant speaks at Harvest Half-Marathon
Lanni Marchant headed to the small town of St. Jacobs, Ont. to speak at the spaghetti dinner on Friday evening to motivate runners for the morning’s Harvest Half-Marathon. That rural Ontario race which takes place in Mennonite country and runs through small farming towns. While it’s a smaller race, it’s a significant one as it’s run by Canadian elite Tarah Korir and husband Wesley Korir– the Boston 2012 champion. The race raises funds for Kenyan children’s education pursuits. It’s appropriate then that Marchant was a speaker as she interacts with the elite couple at training camps in Kenya often.
Thanks Lanni for sharing your story in support of @Ken_Kids_Canada! https://t.co/AT3MexrCbh #harvesthalf pic.twitter.com/QTqEPa364L
— Run Waterloo (@RunWaterloo) September 24, 2016
Nutrience Oakville Half-MarathonÂ
For runners who wanted something scenic and in the Toronto area, the Nutrience Oakville Half-Marathon is always a good pick as it runs along the water. For years, it has been a staple fall event taking place in the GTA. It’s a draw for runners of all abilities not only because of the picturesque waterfront views and kilometres run in downtown Oakville, but also because it’s known to be a fast course with little elevation gain. So if you’re looking for an early fall PB to serve as motivation to get you through the season, this is a wise option.
RELATED: Discover Ontario with these autumn races
This year, runners saw a slight route change due to construction. The men’s race winner was Kyle Wyatt in 1:10.04. Laura McLean won the women’s race in 1:26.03. Full results are here. This weekend also offers a 5K, 10K and student race.
After the race, runners usually gather for post-race celebrations in the city’s Coronation Park with live music for entertainment. Want to get a sense of the buzz in Oakville? Check out the best social media shots from runners who attended over the weekend.
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