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.

Gan SAcher, Jerusalem marathon photo

The work involved in transforming Gan Sacher, Sacher Park,

Jerusalem marathon photo

into the gathering point,

Jerusalem marathon photo

 the starting line,

Jerusalem Marathon image

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.

Jerusalem marathon photo

Flags have been hung 

Jerusalem marathon photo

lining the streets

Jerusalem marathon photo

along the route.

Jerusalem marathon photo

Direction signs around Jerusalem are hard to miss this year.

Jerusalem marathon picture

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

Jerusalem marathon image

first they have to check in at the International Convention Center

Jerusalem marathon photos

and pick up their number and official shirt.

Jerusalem marathon shirt

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

Jerusalem marathon photo

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

Jerusalem marathon photo

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.

Jerusalem marathon photo

Some people will complain. 

 Traffic will stop as the runners take to the streets.

Jerusalem marathon sign

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

Jerusalem Half Marathon

 Early morning rain cleaned the air and cool temperatures were perfect  for 

the 18th Jerusalem International Half  Marathon 

and 10-Kilometer Run on March 18, 2010. 

The beautiful weather and street closings provided 3,500 runners,

including Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem, ideal conditions for the run.

Not everyone was aware of the race, though;

 drivers got out of their cars to discuss the situation,

some people left taxis to walk to their destinations.

At 10:00 am the lead car started the 10k  race from Givat Ram. 

The first runners came down Burla Street and turned to the park.

It was a colorful day, as runners wore

 red shirts,

lots of blue shirts,

some yellow shirts,

and green shirts.

Whether  going it alone..

or running in the pack,  everyone turned out to run for

 personal satisfaction and sport,

and for Shalva, the Association for the Mentally and Physically

Challenged Children in Israel,

which also had a special 400-meter race for 150 special needs children.

So much positive energy in Jerusalem.

 

In  2011 the first Jerusalem full marathon began,

so this race also became the last half marathon race day.