New half-marathon world record (Sammy Wanjiru 58:53)

Yesterday (9th February, 2007) it paid off for Ras al-Khaimah a small part of UAE, to offer a prize purse of 155.000 USD for a half-marathon. It has been all over the news for last 48 hours since Sammy Wanjiru (Kenya) reclaimed his half-marathon world record winning Ras al-Khaimah International Half-marathon. He covered the 21.1km in amazing 58min and 53sec (2:47,5/km).

Read the BBC and IAAF articles.

Sammy held the half-marathon world record before (2005) until Heile Gebrselassie took it from him in 2006. I trust Sammy when he says he is happy to have the record back but Heile also announced he will take it away again on the first half-marathon he gets a chance to run.

I love the competition in endurance sports: reminds me of the most recent Stadler vs. McCormack, or the never-ending Tergat vs. South African Ramaala, or Hour record battle between Obree and Boardman.

I need to find a rival… my virtual competition with Robin is helping a bit but I think he will not be able to keep up for much longer… Sorry Robin, you have to face the truth at some point…

Again, the point of large prize money does pay off for race organizers and local officials etc etc - the more money = the better results = more press. PR effect of world record is enormous and Ras al-Khaimah paid for it only few hundred thousand dollars, probably nothing to what usually a PR campaign can cost.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 10th, 2007 at 9:29 am and is filed under 155.000 USD, 58:53, Chris Boardman, Chris McCormack, Graeme Obree, Haile Gebrselassie, Hendrick Ramaala, Hour record, Ironman, Norman Stadler, Paul Tergat, Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah International half-marathon, Robin Frankland, Sammy Wanjiru, South Africa, cycling, half-maratho, prize money, prize purse, rivality, running, triathlon. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.