Palestine Marathon

The Palestine Marathon is an annual road running event, including races over the marathon, half marathon, 21 km, 10 km and 5 km distances, that takes place on the streets of Bethlehem, Palestine. It was held for the first time on April 21, 2013,[1] and has been held annually since.

Palestine Marathon
Datelate March
LocationBethlehem, Palestine
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
Established2013
Course recordsMen's: 2:35:26 (2016)
Mervin Steenkamp
Women's: 3:15:10 (2017)
Katie Desprez
Official sitePalestine Marathon
Participants102 (2019)

Aims and Organisation

The Palestine Marathon was created to highlight restrictions in Palestinian freedom of movement, especially for Palestinian women.[1] The idea to organize a marathon in Bethlehem was originally conceived by two Danish entrepreneurs, Lærke Hein and Signe Fischer,[1][2] after the annual UNRWA marathon in the Gaza Strip was cancelled because Hamas authorities would not permit women and men to run together.[3][4] Fischer has stated that the idea to organise the marathon first came to her while she was stuck waiting at a checkpoint.[5] Hein and Fischer worked with local counterparts including George Zeidan,[6] establishing the Right to Movement running group,[7][1] which organised the first marathon with support from the Palestine Olympic Committee (POC).[8][9]

The fifth event in 2017 was directly organised by the POC, who changed the race's name from "Right to Movement" to "Free Movement".[10][6] The Right to Movement group released a statement after the 2017 race celebrating the event's record turnout.[11]

The 2013 event

The first Palestine Marathon took place on April 21, 2013, starting at 8AM from Manger Square. Because it was not possible to find a 42 km stretch within the Palestinian Territories without passing through Israeli checkpoints, it was decided to hold the event on an 11 km stretch, which full marathon runners would complete 4 times.[12] The starting and finishing point was at Manger Square, just opposite the Church of the Nativity, and the route went along Manger Street, through the Aida refugee camp, along the Jerusalem Hebron Street through the Dheisheh camp, ending in the city of Al-Khader, where the runners made a U-turn to run the same route back towards Manger Square.[1] The route brought runners alongside the Wall between Aida camp and Checkpoint 300. The full marathon runners had to complete the loop two times, and half-marathon runners had to complete the loop once.

The Marathon was held 6 days after the Boston Marathon bombing, and many of the runners and organizers met the day before on the Manger Square for a candle light vigil in solidarity with the victims of the bombing. Jibril Rajoub, head of the POC, asked the runners to bow their heads for one minute's silence in remembrance of the victims before the race began.[13]

In the days leading up to the course Israel barred 25 runners from the Gaza Strip to travel through Israel to reach the race in the West Bank. One of the barred runners was Majid Abu Maraheel, a long distance runner who was the Palestinian flag bearer at the 1996 Summer Olympics, and Nader al-Masri, who represented Palestine at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[14]

The fact that the race was held in Bethlehem, which is located within Area A of the West Bank, meant that Israeli citizens could not legally participate. Event organiser Signe Fischer made the difficult decision to call Israelis that had registered and ask them not to attend;[7] however, Israeli Elon Gilad posed as a Canadian in order to participate.[15]

The winner of the men's marathon was a Palestinian runner from Jericho, Abdel Nasser Awajna, who finished with a time of 3:09, while the winner of the women's marathon was Palestinian Christine Gebler with a time of 3:38.[1] 37% of participants were women.[7]

The marathon was documented in a 2014 film by Danish filmmakers Simon Caspersen and Johan Blem Larsen.[16]

The 2014 event

The route was the same as in 2013, starting and finishing point from Manger Square. Over 3000 runners from 39 different nationalities signed up for the race,[17] and 34% of the runners were women.[7] One of the runners was the famous photographer Jacob Holdt. Finisher's medals were carved from local olive wood.[18]

Runners from Gaza, including Nader al-Masri, were once again refused travel permits for the event by Israeli authorities.[19] Justifying the decision, the body for issue permits stated that “the marathon is supported by the Palestinian Authority and is tainted by political shades which delegitimize the State of Israel.”[19] The decision was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Israel.[20]

Despite greater security concerns to the prior year, including a reported threat alleging that Hamas would target the event,[7] at least two Israeli citizens illegally entered Area A in order to participate in the marathon.[5]

The 2015 event

The 2015 Palestine Marathon took place on March 27, following the same route as the two previous years starting from Manger Square. Danish organisers Hein and Fischer began to hand over organising the marathon to Zeidan and other local members of Right to Movement,[7] alongside the POC.[21] Although they initially had concerns that international attendance would drop off due to the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, a total of 3093 participants in the event - the highest yet.[22] 49 nationalities were present, and a number of members of the Danish parliament participated, including Stine Brix, Pernille Skipper, Jens Joel and Liv Holm Andersen.[23]

39% of the runners were female, the highest in the race's history - and, according to organisers, one of the highest rates in the world.[22] Prominent representatives for the event included Palestinian women Eitedal Ismail, the Director General of the Higher Council of Youth & Sports for the State of Palestine, and Vera Baboun, the first female Mayor of Bethlehem.[22]

For the first time, 46 runners from Gaza were allowed to participate in the event, and the winner was Nader al-Masri from the Gaza Strip, whose house had been destroyed in the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict.[21] Gazans also placed second and third in the men's event.[22]

The 2016 event

The Palestine marathon in 2016 took place on April 1, with the same route as the previous years. It was organised by Right to Movement, Eitedal Ismail, and other partners.[9] Support for travel arrangements was provided by Yamsafer. The race had over 4000 participants - the largest number ever, despite participants from Gaza being denied permits to travel to the event, including the winner of the third marathon, Nader al-Masri.[24] The finishing time was the fastest to date, with winner Mervin Steenkamp finishing in 02:35:26, 15 minutes ahead of the second-placed runner.[25]

The 2017 event

The 2017 Palestine Marathon took place on March 31 with the same route as the previous years. For the first year, the race included a 2k "family race",[11] alongside the 10 km, half marathon and full marathon races. The race had approximately 5,500[26] to 6000[11][10] registered participants from 65 different countries, including 150 from the United Kingdom.[27] The number of registered female participants reached 50% of registrations for the first time in the Palestine Marathon's history[28] - far above the global average of 30%.[29] 500 runners with disabilities competed in the event; Bethlehem Governor Jibrin al-Bakri said that the event “opens the space for reinforcing spots and concentrating on different social cases including rights of people with disabilities.”[10] For the first time, the POC took direct responsibility for organising the race, changing the event's name from "Right to Movement" to "Free Movement".[11][10]

36 of the 50 registered participants from Gaza were denied permits to travel to the event,[11] along with six sports administrators.[27] For the third time, 2015 winner Nader al-Masri was banned from participating.[27]

British comedian and noted marathon runner Eddie Izzard registered to run the 2017 Palestine Marathon; however, he came under criticism from the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement for performing a gig in Tel Aviv the day prior to the event.[26] The event organisers released a statement via Twitter that Izzard "cannot run" if he performed the show; Izzard replied in a statement that the Palestinian Authority was allowing him to run, but due to "others" not wanting him to, he would not participate.[26]

The 2018 event

The Palestine marathon in 2018 took place on March 23 with the same route as the previous years. The race had over 7000 participants - the largest number ever, despite participants from Gaza being denied permits to travel to the event.[30][31][32]

The 2019 event

The Palestine Marathon on March 22, 2019.

List of winners of the Palestine Marathon
Edition Year Men's winner Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Time (h:m:s)
7th 22 March 2019  Quentin Guillon (FRA) 2:42:41  Svitlana Stanko-Klymenko (UKR)[32] 3:15:14
6th 23 March 2018  Yuriy Blahodir (UKR)[32] 2:45:56  Anaïs Quemener (FRA)[32] 3:15:22
5th 31 March 2017  Mervin Steenkamp (RSA) 2:51:06  Katie Desprez (USA) 3:15:10
4th 1 April 2016  Mervin Steenkamp (RSA) 2:35:26  Alicia Saavedra (SWE) 3:30:40
3rd 27 March 2015  Nader al-Masri (PLE) 2:57:14  Maibritt Kristoffersen (DEN) 3:19:26
2nd 11 April 2014  Anders Rømer (DEN)
 Morten Hvidtfeldt (DEN)		 2:51:13  Paola Addari (ITA) 3:30:13
1st 21 April 2013  Abed El Naser Awajneh (PLE) 3:09:47  Christine Gebler (USA) 3:36:37

References
  1. Cecco, Leyland (22 April 2013). "In Pictures: 'Right to Movement Marathon'". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  2. "Runners brave rain in Bethlehem's first marathon". Gulf News. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  3. "UNRWA cancels 2013 Gaza Marathon". UNRWA. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  4. Greenwood, Phoebe; Balousha, Hazem (6 March 2013). "Gaza marathon cancelled by UN after Hamas bans women from participating". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  5. "My Race Through Walls in Palestine Marathon". Forward. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  6. "Palestine Marathon Needs Freedom from The PA". Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  7. Brown, Jonathan (28 November 2014). "Running for rights and resistance". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  8. MUGHRABI, Eyad (22 April 2013). "Palestinians hold first Bethlehem marathon". Yahoo. Associated Press. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  9. Mellish, Sam (8 April 2016). "The Travel Diary: The Palestine Marathon runs through an occupied land". Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  10. "In Photos: Thousands participate in 5th annual Free Movement Palestine Marathon". Ma'an. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  11. Khalel, Sheren (3 April 2017). "6,000 runners take part in the Palestine Marathon, demand freedom of movement for Palestinians". Mondoweiss. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  12. Walraven, Jan (12 April 2014). "More than 3,000 runners compete in second Palestine Marathon". Palestine Monitor. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  13. Abukhater, Maher (21 April 2013). "Palestinian marathon kicks off with tribute to Boston victims". LA Times. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  14. Sheizaf, Noam (15 April 2013). "IDF prevents Gaza runners from taking part in West Bank marathon". +972 Mag. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  15. Gilad, Elon (22 April 2013). "To Run a Marathon: Beyond Politics, Across the Separation Barrier". Haaretz. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  16. "Palestine Marathon (2014)". IMDB. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  17. "Thousands run in 'Palestine Marathon' in Bethlehem". Ynet. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  18. Boarini, Silvia (13 April 2014). "In Pictures: Palestine Marathon". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  19. al-Mughrabi, Nidal (10 April 2014). "Gaza athlete still running despite West Bank marathon ban". Reuters. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  20. Rudoren, Jodi (10 April 2014). "Mideast Tensions Sideline a Gazan Marathon Runner". New York Times. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  21. "Runners 'Hit the Wall' in Third Palestine Marathon". Haaretz. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  22. Brown, Jonathan (27 March 2015). "Gazans triumph at Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  23. http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Regionale/Oestjylland/2015/03/24/071040.htm
  24. Omer-Man, Michael. "PHOTOS: Thousands take part in Palestine Marathon for free movement". +972. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  25. "Palestine Marathon @ UltimateLIVE". Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  26. Ritman, Alex (31 March 2017). "Eddie Izzard Misses Palestinian Marathon Following Backlash Over Tel Aviv Gig". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  27. "Israel bans Gaza runners from Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem". Middle East Monitor. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  28. Storkaas, Adelina. "Women Runners Equal Men in Palestine Marathon". Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  29. Carter, Kate (21 April 2015). "Marathons by numbers: running the data". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  30. https://www.palestinemarathon.org/news/689.html
  31. https://www.palestinemarathon.org/news/688.html
  32. http://palestinemonitor.org/details.php?id=snsj8la17804y2qzsc2uzr
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