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

One of the big themes in the Dubai Marathon over the past several years has been the continuing evolution in women’s distance running. 2019 was no exception, as Ruth Chepngetich and Worknesh Degeffa battled for over 40 kilometers, with both destroying the course record, and both setting big PBs. Ruth Chepngetich won in 2:17.08, a new course record and new PB. Two women under 2:18!

Ruth Chepngetich, 2019 Dubai Marathon, 2:17.08, photo by Giancarlo Colombo

What makes Dubai so fast? The course is fast. The pace making is good, but it is the battles between the top athletes over the final ten kilometers that take the race from good to amazing.

The depth of the women’s fields continues to impress, as do the leading performances. Ruth Chepngetich showed, with her win in Dubai, that she should be a player in any marathon championship race in the world. Chepngetich had just run 2:18.35 in Istanbul last November. She will be ready for a race in the spring.

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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