Ethiopian Runner Wins 42-Km Race at Rain-Soaked Beirut Marathon

Ethiopian runner Kadir Pecaro won on Sunday the 42-kilometer race at the 2012 BLOM Beirut Marathon.

Hussein Awada was the first Lebanese runner to finish the same race run on Sunday with a time of 2 hours and 28 minutes.

The rainy and windy weather did not deter local and foreign runners from taking part in the marathon, which is divided into eight categories of races.

A total of 33,370 runners from 96 Arab and foreign countries took part in the race.

The event was also attended by 150 political, diplomatic, media, and social figures, including first lady Wafaa Suleiman.

The marathon is comprised of the 42.195 kilometer-race, 42.195 K race for those on wheelchairs, the 10K run for those on wheelchairs, the relay, hospitality, and youth 42.195K race, 5K youth race, 1K run with mom, 1K celebrity race, and the 10K fun run.

Youth and Sports Minister Faisal Karami stated at the race: “I am here to support this special event despite the rain.”

“This is one of the most important sports events in Lebanon,” he added according to the National News Agency Sunday.

He also revealed a plan devised by the ministry a year ago to support Lebanese runners.

Head of the Youth and Sports Parliamentary Committee MP Simon Abi Ramia, who took part in the race, described the event as historic.

“This is a sport of peace. We must accept the loss as much as we accept the victory,” he said.

In addition, a telethon to raise funds for the residents of Ashrafiyeh, who were affected by the October 19 blast in the area, was held.

It succeeded in garnering over $150,000.

Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan was killed in the October bombing that took place in a narrow street in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh neighborhood.