by Justin LagatSuch is the quality of elite racing across the world that races such as RAK half marathon are similar to prize fights. The RAK half marathon has built itself into one of, if not, the finest half marathon in the world. Fast course, right time of the year, and the absolutely finest field, and you have a half dozen women and men who want to be at the top of the podium.
Justin Lagat wrote this fine piece on the RAK Half marathon. Justin writes a weekly column for RunBlogRun, entitled, A view from Kenya.
Peres Jepchirchir, photo by PhotoRun.net
The Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) half marathon usually assembles some of the worlds best elite fields every year for their races, but, perhaps this year’s event in particular, saw the best fields ever assembled for any half marathon race, especially the women’s field. An epic race was to be expected.
The battle for RAK Half marathon supremacy begins, photo by PhotoRun.net
Even from the early stages of the race, Peres Jepchichir seemed to have been up to something special as she stayed focused just right behind the two male pace setters. Past the midway, when only the three of them; her, Mary Keitany and Joyciline Jepkosgei had remained in the leading pack, it was Jepchichir who would at times appear to be parallel with the pace setter who had remained with them when the other had gone back to pace the chasing pack that included Jemima Sumgong and Tirunesh Dibaba.
Jemima Sumgong, photo by PhotoRun.net
The race would soon turn into a duel between Keitany and Jepchirchir at around 15km when Jepkosgei started to loose ground on the two. Jepchirchir always appeared to be slightly ahead as though trying to shake off her competitor before they could get nearer to the finish line, but Keitany kept hanging on at a striking distance, not willing to hand her any early victory before she could cross the finish line. This could have resulted in the two pushing the pace harder in the last stages of the race. The last 5km split for Jepchirchir was an amazing 15:10 minutes; a time faster than the 5,000m qualifying time for the London world championships by over 10 seconds!
Peres Jepchirchir, photo by PhotoRun.net
Perhaps, afraid of Keitany overtaking her just at the line, Jepchirchir never looked back as she kept digging hard to cross the finish line in a new world record of 1:05.06. Keitany came closely behind to finish second in a new personal best time of 1:05.13. The third position went to the new star, Joyciline Jepkosgei as she finished in 1:06.08, a time that put her inside the top ten all-time list over the distance.
Mary Keitany, photo by PhotoRun.net
Joyciline Jepkosgei, photo by PhotoRun.net
As expected in the men’s race, Bedan Karoki made the race interesting by pushing the pace to some crazy speed at some points and then going back again to relax behind the leading pack at some stages. It has become a typical way of racing for him, making it look like a “fartlek” speed workout. One would wonder what would happen if he stays patient and run an even pace. But, then again, he is focusing on London Marathon in April and this could have been part of his serious speed workout ahead of his debut.
Bedan Karoki battles Augustine Choge, photo by PhotoRun.net
The last stages in the men’s race saw Augustine Choge take the lead for a while before Karoki again burst into speed and changed the order of the single file of the three runners still in the leading pack. Yegrem Demalash overtook Choge as the two pushed hard to try and close the gap that had been created by Karoki, but Karoki stayed more consistent and maintained his speed for a longer time, keeping the gap till he crossed the finish line in 59:10. Demalash followed in 59:19 while Choge came third in 59:26 to complete the podium positions.
Bedan Karoki, photo by PhotoRun.net
