Dubai half marathon: The front runners

Even after strolling across the finish line of the 2007 Johnson Arabia Half Marathon a good four minutes ahead of second placed Emad Muhbeddin, Moroccan Othmane Chaibi does not think he is Dubai Marathon material.

Chaibi, 29, finished the 21.1km race in 1hour 11minutes and 27 seconds and boasts of an impressive timing of 2hours 14minutes in the full version. But he said: "With my time now, I won't be ready for the Dubai Marathon."

However, there was no doubting his delight as he revelled in his accomplishment.

"I am happy. It was easy because I was first throughout the race," he said as beads of sweat trickled down his face.

Muhbeddin said he was "very happy" with his performance and unlike Chaibi is looking forward to the big one next month. "The 2008 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon will be my third one and I'm ready for it," said the Abu Dhabi-based Syrian. Finland's Anne-Mari Hyrylainen took 1 hour 24 minutes and 17 seconds to win the ladies open category, not bad for someone only a month old in the UAE. "I'm still in the process of moving," she said before summarising her effort. "It was a very nice race and well organised. I almost enjoyed it too much. But it's a preparatory race for me for the Dubai Marathon."

Not to be outshone by his wife, Janne Hyrylainen clinched the male's sub-veteran trophy in 1 hour 26 minutes and 21 seconds making it a twin celebration.

Malcolm Murphy, Chairman of the race organisers, Dubai Creek Striders, hailed the day as a huge success. "It was the best race we have had in terms of organisation. The police and the RTA all did a great job bearing in mind the road works and the change of route," said Murphy, who was also part of the merry band of runners.

Podium finishers