LAHORE, Jan 27: Around 8,000 men and women, including foreigners, registered themselves for the second Lahore Marathon to be held on Sunday. Saturday will be the last date for registration.
The main events are 42.195 kilometres and 10 kms race, while the 5 kms will be run mainly by local amateur runners.
In the two main events the men and women would take start together, Ghouse Akbar, the chairman of chief minister’s Task Force on Lahore, said at a press conference. District nazim Mian Aamer Mahmood was also present.
Mr Akbar was reluctant to clarify whether it would be a mixed race. “We have to follow the international rules for Marathon,” he said.
As men were better sprinters than women, soon there would be a clear distance between them. So it would be like two races in one go, he added.
However, he said the 5-km fun race for local runners would be run separately by men, women and families.
Some religious parties have been criticizing the Marathon claiming it is an anti-Islamic activity. Last year, 17,000 runners from 16 countries, including Pakistan, took part in the Marathon. The number of runners is reduced to 8,000 this year. However, the organizers are expecting 26,000 participants this time.
Elite runners from African countries — Ethiopia (21), Kenya (15), Namibia (one), Tanzania (one), Zimbabwe (one), Morocco (one) — and Russia (two) and Denmark (one) had showed interest in the two main events.
Only five professionals from Pakistan, four men and a woman, confirmed participation in the main race. Among men are Naseer Ahmad, Muhammad Aslam, Niaz Ahmad Farooqi and Shahid Abbasi while Sadia Parveen is the lone woman athlete. Muhammad Shahid, Waris Masih and Muhammad Ayub and Shazia Hadayat and Gulnaz Ara are professionals in the 10-km race.
However, Mr Akbar was optimistic about substantial raise in the number of runners till the Saturday deadline.
The slogan for the Marathon this year is ‘Run Lahore Run to Raise Funds’ (for the survivors of Oct 8 earthquake). The amount to be collected through entry fee will go to the President’s Relief Fund, while one of the sponsors, a private bank, is likely to give Rs60 million for the relief activities.
The main race will start at the Punjab Stadium near Qadhafi Stadium at 10am. The 10-km race will begin 10 minutes later from the same point. The fun race will start at 12:30pm from Liberty roundabout to be finished at the same point.
Mian Aamer said on the occasion all arrangements had been completed and maximum security would be provided to the runners, foreigners as well as local.
Meanwhile, the Rescue 1122 made special arrangements to meet any eventuality. As many as 125 rescuers have been deputed to provide emergency cover to the mega event, a press release of the organization stated.
Seven ambulances and 30 mobile teams having three rescuers in each will remain alert on the route of Marathon.
The Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, in the meantime, supported the race as “it is being run for a noble cause.” The hospital is fielding a team of 50 runners in the 5-km race. The participants include cured cancer patients, boys and girls from different walks of life.
The following are the elite foreign runners:
42-km (men): Simretu Alemayhu, Tesfaye Bayu, Esheta Bekele, Bedaso Turbe, Gashaw Sibhat, Gebremedhin Legese, Jillo Dube, Abebe Mekonnen, Haleform Abebe Tsegaye (Ethopia), Elijah Mugo, John Mutai Kipyator, Zachary Njoonge Kihatra, Peter Chennei, Shadrack Kimeli, Kiptoon Eric Chepkwony (Kenya), Luketz Swarbooi (Namibia), Francis (Tazania), Aleksey Korobow (Russia), Elijah Mutandiro (Zimbabwe); (women): Jane Jeronoh Rotich, Naomi Wangui Ndegwa, Loice Kangogo, Jane Moraa Omoro, Joyce Kandie, Jane Nyambura Kairiuki (Kenya), Teringo Gelachew, Meseret Kona, Getennesh Urge, Tedelech Birra, Korre Alemu (Ethopia), Lene Kathereine Duss (Denmark).
10-km (men): Tewodnos Shiferahu, Kedir Burka, Birhano Addane Bazze (Ethopia), John Murithi, Simon Kasmili, Simon Tonui (Kenya); (women): Catherine Katumbu Mutwa (Kenya), Alemegna Bezabih, Ashu Kassim, Seralem Biset, Yewubet Wubet (Ethopia), Asmae Leghzaoui (Morocco).