20,000 runners to take part in Dubai Marathon in Janaury

Ayele Abshero from Ethiopia won the 2012 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon The 2013 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon looks set to break its own record with an increase in the number of runners taking part. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the race on January 25 is expected to attract over 20,000 runners, beating the 17,141 who took part last year.
In the latest development, Kenyan runner Moses Cheruiyot Mosop has confirmed that he will be taking part in his first Dubai Marathon.
Mosop won the 10,000-metre bronze at the 2005 Athletics World Championships. He also claimed silver at the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, and gold with Kenya in 2007 and 2009.
Event Director Peter Connerton said: "There is no doubt Moses has excellent racing pedigree. He won the Chicago Marathon in 2011 and was selected for the Kenyan Olympic team for London but had to withdraw due to injury."
Connerton is not surprised with the interest Emiratis have shown in the marathon. "No sooner had the 2012 event finished that we were being asked when registration would open for the 2013 race. The Dubai Marathon is an event every runner in the emirates wants to be a part of,” he added.
The event was recently granted Gold Label status by the International Association of Athletics Federations.