Jerusalem Marathon 2013

How it has grown!

The Jerusalem Marathon 2013 is a major sporting event with

20,000 runners, who come from 50 countries all around the world.

In 2010, there were 3,500 runners in the Jerusalem Half Marathon.

The work involved in transforming Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

into the gathering point,

 the starting line,

and the special finish line for the full marathon has been a major project.

 Jerusalem Marathon 2011 ended in a muddy mess that took months to repair.

With this new platform in place there should be no such problems.

For Jerusalem Marathon 2012 there was rain and hail,

but this year better weather is predicted.

Flags have been hung 

lining the streets

along the route.

Direction signs around Jerusalem are hard to miss this year.

For weeks, runners have been training on the streets, but

first they have to check in at the International Convention Center

and pick up their number and official shirt.

These are the shirts that will fill the streets this year.

There are also several shorter races running with different start times.

Many worthy organizations are entered in these races to

raise money and awareness for their causes,  OneFamily and ALEH

 are just two that had special registration booths this week.

Some people will complain. 

 Traffic will stop as the runners take to the streets.

But everyone has to agree that Jerusalem Marathon has certainly grown.