Lahore Marathon

The Lahore Marathon is an annual road marathon held in Lahore, Pakistan on 2005, 2006, and 2012. The main event is the traditional 42.195 km marathon race. Other races in the marathon include a 10 km race, 5 km "Family Fun Run", and 3 km races for people with physical and visual impairment. The marathon is preceded by a gala dinner for international athletes, foreign dignitaries, government and corporate leaders. Approximately 26,000 people participated in the Lahore Marathon in total in 2007, making it one of the major marathons of the world.[1]

History

The inaugural marathon took place on 30 January 2005, with over 60 elite runners participating in a field of 17,500. Tseko Mpolokeng of South Africa was the first winner of the competition, with a time of 2:16:57. The first Pakistani to cross the finish line was Mohammad Aslam. Jane Kariuki of Kenya was the first winner of the women's division.

The second running of the marathon took place on 29 January 2006. The 2007 edition took place on 14 January 2007.

The course

The 42 km traditional marathon is a closed circuit which begins and ends at the gates of Gaddafi Stadium in Gulberg.

Runners begin by crossing the Ferozepur Road bridge and pass the historic districts of Ichhra and Mozang before reaching Chauburji. The course passes the Data Durbar Complex and approaches the half way stage, where it loops back towards the finish line in between Minar-e-Pakistan and Lahore Fort. Runners run alongside the famous Badshahi Masjid and pass the Bhati Gate and Taksali Gate of the Walled City of Lahore. The course then runs through The Mall, passing several notable sites such as Lahore Museum, Kim's Gun, and Bagh-e-Jinnah. The route turns onto Canal Road and makes a loop around Kalma Chowk, before finishing at the gates of Gaddafi Stadium.

Results

This is a list of the winners of the Lahore Marathon.

Men's race

Year	Athlete	Country	Time
2005	Tseko Mpolokeng	Template:Flagicon South Africa	2:16:57
2006	Halefom Tsegaye	Template:Flagicon Kenya	2:16:01
2007	Ketma Amerssissa	Template:Flagicon Ethiopia	2:15:26

Women's race

Year	Athlete	Country	Time
2005	Jane Kariuki	Template:Flagicon Kenya	2:43:03
2006	Jane Nyambura	Template:Flagicon Kenya	2:34:57
2007	Merima Danboba	Template:Flagicon Ethiopia	2:32:54

Wheel chair race

Year	Athlete	Country	Time
2006	Mohammed Azhar	Template:Flagicon Pakistan	-
2007	Mohammad Azhar	Template:Flagicon Pakistan	13:27
2012	Abdul Hadi	Template:Flagicon Pakistan	12:45

Tricycle race

Year	Athlete	Country	Time
2006	Abdullah khan niazi	Template:Flagicon Pakistan	11:47
2007	Mohammad Noor Qureshi	Template:Flagicon Pakistan	13:13

External links

• LaborPakistan.org - 'Marathon for Civil Liberties', Farooq Sulehria, Pakistan Labor Party