by Larry Eder
This is a story about the highlights of the 2025 RAK Half Marathon presser, which took place on January 30, 2025, at 11 AM local time.
Now in its 18th year, the Ras Al Khaimah half-marathon presser took place on January 30, 2025, from 11 AM to 12 noon local time. It produced some fascinating comments.
For my first visit in 2018, I covered the presser live while my son, Adam, manned the video camera, and my brother, Brian, took photos. It was a fun and exciting year.
Pace Events took over this event for the second year now. Last year, in 2024, the RAK half marathon had a field that included a soon-to-be Olympic gold medalist in the marathon (Tamirat Tola, also a winner of the Dubai Marathon, also won by his wife, sister-in-law, and brother) and former world record holder at the half marathon (Peres Jepchirchir).
The presser includes Isaia Lasoi (Kenya ) and Girmawit Gebrzihair (Ethiopia). Both fields are strong, but watch the women’s field for real action.
Pace Events manages the event, with Peter Connerton as race Director and Alan Ewans as communications director. A global team, including race management, attended the Dubai marathon (another Pace event, which took place on January 12, 2025), ITP media (the global streaming team), and a class field for the announcement of Tim Hutchings and Paula Radcliffe.
Iconic writer Pat Butcher wrote the definitive books on Steve Ovett, Seb Coe, and Emil Zatopek, as well as a wonderful monography on Alain Mimoun.
The course is on Marjan Island, keeping the course fast and furious. There will be more changes to the course this year, to make it a bit faster.
Peter Connerton, the race director, was pleased with the ten thousand registrants, and one suspects it will continue to grow for Saturday, February 1, 2025.
VP of RAK Tourism Development, Iyad Rasby, was very enthusiastic about the growth, noting that he hoped to see over 20,000 registered runners by the end of the decade (he had pointed out that 35,000 runners would be pretty cool, too).
Peter Connerton noted that it will take a few years but wants to see the race continue to grow, and we believe it will!
Isaia Laloi noted that he would like a 57-minute time, but a world record would be even better (a bit overenthusiastically).
While Girmawit Gebrzihair did not speak, Paula Radcliffe, former WR at the marathon, noted that the women’s field looked very fast on paper!
Enjoy the presser, and let me know what you think!
Significant splits, very cool temperatures (with humidity), and all athletes housed at the Double Tree Marjan Island keep coordination as focused as possible.
Last year, it was windy and foggy; they are hoping for better weather.
This year, 10,000 runners were registered in the half marathon, up 80 percent from 2024!
However, there is much to manage in such an elite race. The Tourism Development Authority of Ras Al Khaimah aims to bring a global audience to RAK.
Sitting outside, near the pool, one hears Russian, Polish, Czech, Italian, Kazakstani, British English, and, with me, a bit of midwestern American English.
Fans worldwide can enter the race for free if they stay at the HQ hotel this year, the DoubleTree Marjan Island!
Watch for more stories on Friday!
