Sixth annual Jerusalem Marathon: A runner's tour of Israel's capital
The marathon's courses highlighted some of Jerusalem's distinctive historical sites and the race is considered particularly challenging due to the Israeli capital's rolling terrain.
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: MARCH 18, 2016 12:21Sixth annual Jerusalem Marathon(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
The sixth annual Jerusalem Marathon, that kicked off on Friday morning, attracted 25,000 participants from Israel and the international community alike.The marathon's courses highlighted some of Jerusalem's distinctive heritage sites and the race is considered particularly challenging due to the Israeli capital's rolling terrain.Runners traversed historical sites, including the Knesset, the Old City, Sultan’s Pool, Mishkenot Sha’ananim, Mount Zion, the German Colony, Rehavia, Ammunition Hill, Sacher Park, Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives.Runners from Israel and dozens of other countries are registered for the event, which was divided into seven segments: a full marathon (42.195 km.), a half marathon (21.1 km.) and a 10,000-meter race.In conjunction with the full marathon, several shorter distance tracks also took place, including a 1.7 km "family run."In response to the recent wave of terror that has plagued Israel, over 1,800 Border Police officers and private security personnel were on hand during Friday morning.Despite an elevated risk of terrorist attacks, a record-setting 30,000 people from 62 countries arrived at the startline of the annual Jerusalem Marathon, including Mayor Nir Barkat.The number of runners in the race Friday was slightly higher than the previous record of 26,000 in 2015, despite the fact that it is taking place at a time of frequent terrorist attacks, Army Radio reported. Foreign participants numbered 2,400 — a new record for the event, which is taking place for the sixth consecutive year.Flanked by a group of runners from Africa, Barkat, wearing the Jerusalem Marathon official orange T-shirt on the startline, told Army Radio that the city had not considered cancelling the event because of the attacks.
“Through the greatest of trials, Jerusalem does not cancel events,” said 56-year-old Barkat, a jogging enthusiast and former officer in the Israel Defense Forces Paratroopers Brigade. “It’s part of our message. We will carry on as usual.”More than a quarter of 155 terrorist attacks documented in February occurred in Jerusalem — more than any other city in Israel, according to official data from the Israel Security Agency, or Shin Bet.Some 2,400 runners outside Israel registered for this year’s race, more than double the number last year and an all-time record both in terms of the number of countries represented and the number of foreign participants.Countries represented include Uzbekistan, Argentina, Hong Kong, Austria, Singapore, Turkey, the United States and Switzerland. Sixty runners registered from China alone. Last year, Tadesse Yaee Dahbi of Ethiopia won the race, completing the route in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 20 seconds.JTA contributed to this report.