JEDDAH, 3 March 2005 — Most of the more than 13,893 registered runners came on time for the races at the 4th Jeddah Charity Marathon — the fundraiser, organized by Al-Bir Charity Association, yesterday. They all looked excited at the prospects of participating in a mass run and contributing toward charity.
Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal congratulated the winners and presented them with prizes. The first winner in the Samsung 12km Challenge in the students group was Wael Al-Jadani, who went home with a Renault Cleo 2005. Bakri Idriss, who came second, won a laptop with a printer and SR3,000 cash prize and the third winner Hamada Banawi walked away with an office computer with printer and SR2,000.
In the same group featuring non-students, Mokhallad Al-Otaibi won SR20,000 as first prize, followed by Bakr Al-Mowallad whose second prize included a laptop with a printer and SR3,000. The third prize winner was Ali Al-Amri who received an office computer with printer and SR2,000.
“We all enjoyed running, more so for charity,” Wael Al-Jadani remarked while receiving his prize.
The well laid out courses for three different categories of races were all along crowded by spectators who continued to cheer their favorite runners.
The race that drew a big applause was the 1 km Disabled Race, which started and ended at La Costa Beach. Participants included the physically challenged including deaf, dumb, visually impaired and those in wheelchair. “I’ve been preparing for this race for the last two months and am now here,” Nasser Malki, the first prize winner in the wheelchair race said. Moosa Ahmed came second. All those taking part in the wheelchair race were enthusiastic about participation. “We both belong to the Saudi national team,” Malki said.
In the Saudia Water 5 km race, the winner was Mohammmed Al-Haj Ahmed who received a laptop with printer and SR2,000, second was Ibrahim Al-Haj Ahmed who was presented with a laptop with printer and SR1,000 and the third winner was Hussain Sheikh Ali who got a computer with printer and SR500.
The other prizewinners were Hamad Muhammad Hazzazi, Muhammad Ahmed Fouad, Ahmed Al-Jafri, Omar Al-Shehri, and Hussain Bakheet Al-Amri.
In the Samsung Challenge 2,885 participated, while in the Saudia Water race 10,429 entered including 200 people of special needs. In all SR200,000 worth of prizes were given away.
Going by the number of participants, the organizers termed the JCM 2005 as the biggest event of its kind in the Middle East.
Some of the runners in each of three categories did not last the distance. “I’ve had no running practice for the last so many years. I just took part thinking I would be able to revive my old pastime,” a Filipino employee of a courier company said.
Although the organizers had insisted on a medical check-up for participants, not all of them went through it.
“Some buses transporting the participants arrived at the venue behind schedule, yet we allowed them to run,” Saleh ibn Ali Al-Turki, president of Nesma Holding Co., one of the event sponsors, and chairman of Al Bir Charity Association told Arab News.
Talal Khalid Idriss, board member of Al Bir Charity and co-organizer of the event with the Ministry of Education who supervised the JCM, said the charity run was a “big success” for many reasons. Firstly, this will change the perception that running is not only for the die-hard runners. Secondly, since the JCM registered non-students for the first time, in the Samsung 12 km Challenge, it has convinced everyone that anyone can take part.
“I joined runners in the starting area, but could not go beyond a few meters, as I felt exhausted,” Abdul Karim Uthandi, 40, an Indian working in a printing company at Jeddah Industrial City, said. He sought medical help from the Red Crescent.
The courses of all races were laid out close to each other. A few even crossed the central reservation, the tapes or metal barriers placed by the organizers.
In fact, each kilometer was clearly marked. Water and medical stations were also clearly marked by signposts 100 meters in advance. There were some who took an incorrect route and were disqualified.
The Samsung 12 km Challenge and the Saudia Water 5 km Fun Run shared a common route for the first 2.5 km. At this mark the 5 km runners were supposed to turn left around the roundabout and continue in the opposite direction back to the finish line. Despite repeated instructions, there were some runners who took the incorrect side when splitting and took the wrong direction.
The Red Crescent Organization of Jeddah manned medical stations along the routes which had Red Crescent signposts. The marathon has brought couch potatoes like me and a non-runner to participate a national event by being a spectator, Khaled Mahmoud, 56, an Egyptian media executive said.
The JCM’s dedicated website carried race information, training advice, and a facility to allow participants to register online, in addition to timing every 12 km runner with the internationally acclaimed ChampionChip timing system and finally awarding every 12 km finisher with a souvenir race medal. The JCM 2005 was the only second event ever in the Middle East to have been timed with ChampionChip.
“We’re using the JCM 2005 as a stepping stone for the launch of a full 42 km international marathon next year with the invitation of some of the leading marathon runners in the world,” Idriss said. “The plan is bold, yet very achievable and sets to place the Kingdom in yet another arena of international standard sporting events. Hopefully, next year will see the participation of a greater number of city residents, including expats and visitors form abroad coming together for one day a year to help raise money for the Al Bir Charity projects in Jeddah.
The first Beirut International Marathon welcomed 52 nationalities and over 600 foreign visitors.
“An ambitious fundraising campaign is being planned as well as the adherence to international sporting regulations, regular training sessions conducted by international coaches and the goal to maximize the event’s potential to get Jeddah running. Already several international athletes have expressed interest in running what would be a fast and flat course through the city and international sporting media is watching the development of the JCM with great interest.
“A marathon is a personal challenge incorporating a lot of sweat and fun and we hope that together this will be exactly what we provide,” Nathan Clayton of Premier Marathons, an organizational and consultancy company to marathons in the Middle East and Asia, said.
Visibly satisfied with the turnout of runners and their participation, Clayton said his company also took care of the logistical aspects of the race ensuring that such components as water stations are correctly positioned and manned with a plentiful supply of Saudia Water, the official water of the JCM 2005, elements to eliminate cheating are implemented and start and finish procedures are controlled and easily navigated.
A full risk assessment was also undertaken to ensure the safety of the participants on the course and special commemorative medals for all finishers of the 12 km event were designed and manufactured in South Africa.
As the JCM was initially set up as the Charity Race for raising funds, one of the key focuses for the JCM 2006 will be to introduce new, exciting productive ways to participate and raise funds to support the activities of the Al Bir Charity. Any surplus funds raised from this year’s event will be dedicated to providing a computer laboratory in each of the schools in Jeddah.
Clayton has already lined up several international elite athletes who are interested in competing in the JCM 2006 and feels that although this year’s even will still be on a local scale despite more than 13,000 runners, it is a good base to start for the planning of next year’s event, which he hopes, will someday rival his production in Beirut in terms of participation and media coverage to take the No. 1 slot in the marathons of the Middle East.
