A Look back at the 2019 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, the Men’s race: the RBR Podcast

The 2019 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon showed the exciting performances that come out of Dubai so early in the year. In near perfect weather, with a very fast course, and near perfect pacing, top young marathoners from Ethiopia and Kenya battled it out. Two men broke the course record, and also were under 2:04. And the performances continued…

Getaneh Molla, 2:03:34, 2019 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, photo by Giancarlo Columbo

What makes Dubai so special? Having witnessed it for two years, this writer believes that the support of the local government, local sponsors, Standard Chartered Bank and adidas are part of the story. Part of the story is also the mercurial Peter Connerton, whose colorful approach to sport in the U.A.E. has taken the Dubai Mararthon to one of the top few dozen marathons to a consistent top five event each year, at the very least.

The lack of appearance money pits some of the unknown elites, who have spent their careers on the track, or roads and show up in Dubai to do battle and collect a good payday.

Special thanks to The Shoe Addicts’ Mike Deering, on his production skills with the podcast and patience with aforementioned author.

Here’s our preview on the 2019 race: https://youtu.be/28TuwQydhrQ

And here’s our podcast on the Men’s race:

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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