The race began last Friday morning in the dark. At 6AM, the elite Men and women took off on the streets of Dubai, U.A.E. The men went out fast, 14:40 for 5k, 29:11 for 10K, 43:37 for 15k and 58:11 for 20k. By the half marathon, ten men were together, with a pace of 1:01:45 being achieved at the HM. Guye Adole, Lenni Berhanu were there, but not for long. The race began to break up at 25k, hit in 1:13:11, as Herpasse Negase, debut marathoner Getanah Molla and Asefa Mengstu. Emmanuel Saina fought gamely to stay in fourth as the trio passed 30k in 1:37.42 and the last pace maker was gone.
And then, there were three..
Asefa Mengstu, Getanah Molla, Herpasse Negasa, photo by Giancarlo Columbo
This podcast, short though it is, tells you the story of the battle of Asefa Mengstu, Herpasse Negase and Getanah Molla, a man who has run sub 13 minutes for 5000m last August and a 60 minute half in 2017. His 2:03:34 was a matter of time, and in Dubai, with great pace making, fine weather, a fast course and a financial incentive to race to the finish, Mr. Molla broke the course record.
Special thanks to Mike Deering on expediting the podcast through my travel schedule.
