Best of Jerusalem Marathon 2018

The International Jerusalem Marathon 2018 has run its course. Over 30,000 people ran the various races, from the full-marathon to family-friendly short routes.

Jerusalem Marathon Finish line 2018

The short runs and half-marathon used this finish line which was set up next to Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, a couple of weeks ago.

Gan Sacher finish line Jerusalem Marathon

The full-marathon track comes into the park and this is its finish line. Somehow so close, it looks so far away.

Jerusalem Marathon lead runners

On Friday morning as we walked to the park, the security in front of the front runners of the full-marathon passed us. The streets were mostly deserted, except for the leading full-marathon runners.

Beatie Deutsch runs to lead female runners in Jerusalem marathon

Beatie Deutsch ran by so fast, I could only catch her back, as she raced by in pace with the leading men. A mother of five children, she won first place for Israeli Women in the full-marathon race.

Full marathon runners Jerusalem marathon

Thousands ran the full-marathon route, with more Jerusalem residents participating than in the past.

Jerusalem Marathon runner stops to take selfie on course

International tourists also numbered in the thousands, and stopping to take a selfie was not uncommon.

Jerusalem Marathon in Gan Sacher

Gan Sacher had activities for runners and their supporters, and exhibitions of sports items for sale.

Jerusalem Marathon synagogue for morning prayers

The park had a synagogue near the information tent. Early starting times required many to get up before dawn. Some groups had organized prayer times.

Jerusalem marathon in Gan Sacher

By 9:00 am, the park was beginning to fill with this year’s official purple race shirts.

Moshe Lion with winners of men's half marathon Jerusalem Marathon 2018

There are so many races going at once, it is impossible to be everywhere. For the Men’s half-marathon winner presentation, Mayoral hopeful Moshe Lion was on the stage with the winners, wearing running shorts.

5 K winner Jerusalem marathon 5 kilometers

This young woman won the Women’s 5K race and received a medal and flowers.

Jerusalem Marathon 2018 winner before braking tape

Instead of running up and down the park from one end to the other over and over doing a personal marathon, this year I waited for the full-marathon winners to arrive. The motorcycle went to the side, and the cyclists escorted Shadrack Kipkogey (27) of Kenya to the finish line.

Winner Jerusalem Marathon 2018

Only as Kipkogey crossed the finish line for the second year in a row, winning first place in the Jerusalem Marathon, did his escort turn away.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat with elite runners Jerusalem marathon 2018

The first place, full-marathon winners were photographed with Mayor Nir Barkat and special marathon guest, Olympic runner and World Champion long distance runner Haile Gebrselassie from Ethiopia.

Races for Jerusalem Marathon

But all the tens of thousands who ran the shorter races were also winners in my book.

Jerusalem Marathon Druze families with OneFamily group

The dozens of organizations who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for good causes were also winners. OneFamily helps victims of terror, and their supporters included Druze families.

Jerusalem Marathon man standing on his head in Gan Sacher

Another upside-down day in Jerusalem, Israel. With streets closed and traffic blocked all morning in parts of the city, not all were happy, and many left town the night before.

With so many people filling the streets and the park, multiple starting times and two finish lines, it was impossible to find family members without a set meeting time and location.

 

Jerusalem Marathon 2018 man wearing ice cream shirt at finish line

However, every year I seem to find one marathon runner more than once. This year the man in the sleeveless ice cream shirt was headed to the full marathon finish as I was heading home.
Jerusalem Marathon 2018 runners

I had photographed same runner heading out in the morning on my way to the park.

Jerusalem Marathon 2018 people heading home after main races

Walking home was the only way to go. Many runners were going much slower after the race.

Jerusalem Marathon 10 K race three girls walking to Gan Sacher

But these girls walking the 10K were not lacking in enthusiasm as they made their way to the finish line.

Jerusalem Marathon medals 2018

All runners or walkers who passed the finish line received a medal. All participants were winners.

The 8th Jerusalem International Marathon had serious security along the way.

It was a colorful, cool day.

More photos posted on Facebook can be found HERE

Jerusalem Marathon special message shirt

Like last year, one photo of people I did not know was posted on Facebook on Friday afternoon and within minutes, it was noticed and tagged and commented on.

“Pancreatic cancer is tough. So am I.”

Quite a wow message to end another year from the marathon on the streets of Jerusalem, Israel.