Dubai: The stage is set for the 12th edition of the Dubai Marathon which begins tomorrow.
For the past three years, it was the legendary Haile Gebrselassie who breezed to victory to occupy the winner's throne, walking away with the hefty prize money.
"It will be a wide open race this year and it has attracted top runners from around the world again," Peter Connerton, event director, said.
The men's and women's prize of $250,000 will lead to an intense race to the winners' podium.
A new route, starting from outside the old Hard Rock Café — off the Shaikh Zayed Road and in front of the American University Dubai — awaits the runners.
"The course is flat and fast like in the previous years. We had to change the route again to meet the demands of the fast development of this city," Peter Hodgson, the course designer told Gulf News.
Facilities
The route will run from the Nakheel Metro Station along Al Sufouh Road and Jumeirah Beach road past the Jumeirah Mosque before turning at Union House, which proudly displays the UAE's flag.
The runners will then head back in the opposite direction on the same route turning into the Dubai Media City for a finish in front of the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre.
Signboards have already been placed along the entire length of the route to direct the runners.
Water will be available every 2.5 kilometre starting from the five kilometre mark.
