Race preview: Limassol Marathon - the official marathon of Cyprus, March 24, 2013
Run
Along the Waves - blue skies, warm weather and a flat course along the
Mediterranean... If the full marathon distance is too much, there is also a half
marathon, a 10km or a 5km race to choose from.
The AIMS accredited Limassol Marathon has been running since 2006 and it has welcomed international runners since 2009. In the past three years, over 6,500 people from 45 different countries have run the race and in 2012 more than 3,000 runners from 43 different countries participated in the events.
Keenan Michael, a British Cypriot runner, has participated in all six Limassol Marathons to date and has finished in the top ten every year. He will be running again in 2013.
In 2012 Kazahoum Jebel Ahmet from Cyprus won the men's race in a time of 2:29:32 and Khazova Yulia from Russia won the women's race in 2:47:32. The record of 2:13:29 was set in 2010 by Moses Kangogo Kibet from Kenya. Sergeeva Natalia from Russia set the women's record of 2:38:56 in the same year.
The course is almost entirely flat, which makes it popular amongst beginners and experts looking to set a new personal best time.
The course begins on the seafront, by the Molos area before taking the runners along the stunning Mediterranean coastline to the ancient town of Amathus, home to Aphrodite’s temple. Runners will then be led through the city centre and past the new harbour before finishing in Limassol’s historical centre.
Along the route, runners will also see the Limassol Castle, where Richard the Lionheart allegedly married Queen Berengaria of Navarre in 1191 and crowned her Queen of England – the first Coronation and Royal Marriage to take place outside England.
