According to industry website All-Athletics.com, last year’s Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon ranked higher than marathons in cities such as Berlin, Boston and New York, taking into account factors such as the overall results and times of both the elite men and women’s events as well as the world rankings of the elite runners themselves.
A combination of perfect running conditions, iconic landmarks and an unrivalled winning purse (with significant bonuses should the winner set a new world’s best) attribute for the Dubai Marathon’s prestige.
Dubai Marathon facts
- Ethiopians have won 7 out of the last 8 men's marathons
- 2006 was the last time an Ethiopian didn't win the women's event
- Last year Shure Demise set a junior world record in the marathon where she finished 4th overall
With a world-class field already assembled for Dubai’s 2016 edition, the first race of this Olympic year over the classic 42.195km distance is expected to produce yet another fiercely-contested battle in both categories.