Securing the services of the defending champion is normally a sign that a race is in fine shape. So, it is, that Tigist Girma, winner of last year&rsquo;s Blom Bank Beirut Marathon, will return to the Lebanese capital for this IAAF Silver Label Road Race on 12 November.
The 24-year-old Ethiopian surprised many with her victory a year ago running the second half of the race pretty much alone and in temperatures that soared above 22C. It was also her third marathon of the year. Still, she recorded a time of 2:32:48.
&ldquo;It was good race for me,&rdquo; she says from her training base in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia&rsquo;s capital. &ldquo;I had been working hard to win this race. I did win so I am happy that I met my goal. It was very difficult to run a long distance without a strong competitor who can push me to run a fast time.&rdquo;
Earlier this year, 11 June, Girma was invited to run the Lanzhou Marathon in China. Again she finished on the podium claiming second place in a new personal best time of 2:32:15. Clearly, though, she is not satisfied with her times and has ambitions beyond 2:30.
&ldquo;Winning the 2016 Beirut Marathon,&rdquo; she reveals, &ldquo;gave me good inspiration to keep fighting and I followed the same training program I used to prepare for the 2016 Beirut marathon. I was also training to run a fast time
&ldquo;The Lanzhou marathon had the perfect conditions for me. But I still didn't accomplish my target. So I am training to beat the Beirut marathon course record this year. My target is 2:28:00 this year.
&ldquo;Right now I am doing all the training in the program my coach gave me and I run 172 kilometres a week.&rdquo;
That Beirut event record is 2:29:15 set in 2014 by her compatriot, Mulahabt Tsega. Changes to the course, including the elimination of an infamous climb along the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, should help Girma in her quest for a new personal best if not an event record.
Girma lives with her boyfriend in Addis. She moved from her childhood home in Sheshemane to Addis just two years ago to pursue a professional running career and trains under the guidance of veteran coach Haji Adilo. When she is not training or recovering from the hard sessions she enjoys watching movies at home or attending church.
Among the elite runners she regularly trains with are Amane Gobena (2:21:51 at the 2016 Tokyo Marathon) 2015 world champion Mare Dibaba and recent Berlin marathon winner and three-time Olympic champion, Tirunesh Dibaba.
&ldquo;This is one of my biggest advantages to train with experienced and successful athletes and I have learned a lot from them,&rdquo; she declares. &ldquo;Amane, especially, advises me on every aspect. She advises me how to regulate my weight and how to train to run a fast time. Amane always told me that I am talented and young and I must train hard to unlock my potential.&rdquo;
Organisers had previously announced that 2016 Beirut men&rsquo;s champion, Edwin Kiptoo, will also be returning to defend his title.
Paul Gains (organisers) for the IAAF

Securing the services of the defending champion is normally a sign that a race is in fine shape. So, it is, that Tigist Girma, winner of last year’s Blom Bank Beirut Marathon, will return to the Lebanese capital for this IAAF Silver Label Road Race on 12 November.

Girma To defend Beirut Marathon title

Oppressive heat and humidity conspired against athletes at the Blom Bank Beirut Marathon on Sunday (13), denying them any chance of fast times at the IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
Indeed, even before IAAF President Sebastian Coe had fired the starter&rsquo;s pistol at 7:00am, the temperature had reached 21C and climbed quickly in the absence of any cloud cover, reaching 25C at the finish.
Kenya&rsquo;s Edwin Kibet Kiptoo proved strongest on the day, crossing the finish line at Martyr&rsquo;s Square in a time of 2:13:19 with Abebe Gizachew of Ethiopia coming in second (2:14:06).
The defending champion from Kenya, Jackson Limo, finished third in 2:15:02 to round out the podium places.
&ldquo;Today was very hot and very humid,&rdquo; said the 28-year-old winner. &ldquo;It was a good race and I was comfortable in winning. My target was 2:09 but today you cannot run for time. The humidity, it was very hot. From 31 to 32km I looked back and there were no people behind. I was able to increase my lead to the finish.&rdquo;
Two pacemakers had been charged with the responsibility of towing the field through an opening half of 1:04:30, but with the pacemakers exercising a great degree of caution, they reached halfway almost four minutes slower than expected. Not surprisingly there were nine athletes in contention at that point. Kiptoo ran the second half much faster and that proved the undoing of his rivals.
&ldquo;The pace was a little slow today because of the heat,&rdquo; said a disappointed Limo afterwards. &ldquo;We tried to push but the time didn't come. I saw when we were halfway that the pace was too slow. I knew we weren't going to run a good time.
&ldquo;I was expecting to defend my title but unfortunately I didn&rsquo;t. But I am very happy with the results. At about 32km Kiptoo pushed and I tried to go with him but I had a small stitch in my stomach. I tried to close the gap to get on the podium.&rdquo;
The women&rsquo;s race became a solo effort shortly after the half way point as 23-year-old Tigist Girma of Ethiopia followed closely on the heels of a designated pacemaker, dropping the entire field.
The pacemaker had been expected to take Girma right to the finish but he experienced cramps and, for a short time, followed the young Ethiopian until he could run no farther.
Girma finished in 2:32:48 to claim her first ever marathon victory &ndash; she was seventh in Lanzhou in June and second at this year&rsquo;s Marrakech Marathon. Despite the heat and the fact this was her third marathon of 2016, her time was a personal best.
&ldquo;I am very, very happy that I won this marathon; the Beirut marathon is good for me,&rdquo; she said with a smile. &ldquo;The pacemaker ran well until his legs hurt and he dropped back.
&ldquo;I trained very hard in preparation for this race. My coach is Haji Adilo and I train with his group with runners like Mare Dibaba, Amane Gobena and Tirunesh Dibaba. I am very, very happy.&rdquo;
A broad grin creased her face when she was asked if she had expected to win in Beirut. Both she and Kiptoo will receive US$10,000 for their respective victories.
A crowd of Ethiopians, resplendent in their national colours and waving the country&rsquo;s flag, were conspicuous at the finish. They had further reason to celebrate. Their compatriots Seada Kedir, who won in Beirut in both 2011 and 2012, and Alemenesh Guta rounded out the top three. Kedir finished in 2:34:12 with Guta crossing the line in 2:37:23.
More than 43,000 runners of all ages took to the streets for a variety of events from a 1km children&rsquo;s run to the full marathon. IAAF President Sebastian Coe boldly took part in the 7km fun run along with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
Paul Gains (organisers) for the IAAF

Oppressive heat and humidity conspired against athletes at the Blom Bank Beirut Marathon on Sunday (13), denying them any chance of fast times at the IAAF Silver Label Road Race.

Girma To defend Beirut Marathon title

Girma and Kiptoo victorious at Beirut Marathon