The winners will be formally announced Wednesday at the Al-Bir Charity organization's offices in the city.

Although marathon races are normally just over 42 km in length, the Jeddah event was shorter and was divided into four separate races. The first two, 1 km and 3 km respectively and named Al-Bir Path in honor of Al-Bir Charity organization, were for disabled competitors.

The third race, the Nesma Path, covering over five km, was for runners over 18 and started at the Oceanography Faculty roundabout near Obhur Creek. The main 15-km Mobily race for professional and amateur runners ended in front of Roshan Mall at 7 p.m. with the crowds cheering on the runners.

"I hope Al-Bir's race will bring more attention to people with paraplegia. For someone to be a paraplegic and be able to cover the distance ... I think it says a lot," said 22-year-old paraplegic Nasser Al-Malki who participated in the event.

The race was thoroughly international. Fifty-year-old Frenchman Gaby Sanquer, who finished the race in one hour and seven minutes, told Arab News: "This race was great for my health. It's the third time I've run this race. It's well organized and the security was very good. I'm glad to be part of it."

Another Frenchman, Christopher Bernardie, was running the race for the fourth time. He completed it in an hour.

Organizing committee chairman Abdullah Bakhashab said he was pleased how the marathon had gone and hoped it would be even more successful in future.

This is Mobily's seventh marathon held in Jeddah; the race is cosponsored by Nesma Company and by Al-Bir Charity organization.