by Larry Eder
The 2026 Dubai Marathon presser was held on January 30, 2026. It was held on the 11th floor at the Ciel Dubai Marina Hotel, a brand new hotel in the Dubai Marina (it is only four months old). The turn-out for the Dubai Marathon Presser included Peter Connerton, Race Director, Paula Radcliffe,MBE amabassador for the Dubai Marathon (former WR holder, and color commentator for Dubai Marathon program), Richard Whitehead MBE, (who is running his 102nd marathon in Dubai). Ahmed Al Kamali , is on the stage, in robes. Mr. Al Kamali has been involved in the Dubai marathon since its inception and is a power broker in the UAE sports culture.
Each year that I go to Dubai (was there 2013-2019), I live streamed the presser. I do it for several reasons, one to give our readers a more insider view of these events, for a reference for me and my team, and also to chronice a very unique approach to sport in Dubai. The interviews of everyone is done by Alan Ewans, the Manager of Communications for the event. Questions are asked by Pat Butcher, renowned athletics journalist, Tim Hutching, 4th place at 1984 Olympic 5,000m, phenomenal athletics commentator, the media in the seats and then, yours truly.
I try to ask questions of the athletes, of Peter and of the powers that be to see what is different about this race each year. The truth is, the Dubai Marathon is, well unique. No appearance money, Peter Connerton believes that he puts the money into performance bonuses and deep finish money.
What he gets is incredible performances by many athletes early in their career, for example, Tamirat Tola, who won NYC and the Paris Olympics. Early in the race history, Haile Gebreslassie won three straight years and put the Dubai marathon on the map!
This year, it was pretty clear that the race was wide open and that we would be having two great races. Over the past few years, the women get to work early and push the pace and the men are a bit hesitant early on, in the pace department.
The 2026 Dubai Marathon would deliver the fastest Men’s and Women’s time for the marathon in the world on 1 February. For me, the Dubai Marathon presser is part of the story.
Special thanks to MIke Deering. MIke is the production manager for all bespoke podcasts posted on RunBlogRun and runningnetwork.com, developed by Fortius Media Group, LLC. RunBlogRun produces #SocialingtheDistance, #ConversationswithLarry, #athleticschat, as well as special collabe series, such as #TheJourneytoCompete (a collaboration with NIKE).
