מרתון טבריה ה-34 6.1.2011 Tiberias Marathon – The Marathon – Mind and Body – Sunday, 09 January 2011, 14:51 By: Eliza Stave

More then 1400 runners rushed the 34th International Tiberias Marathon. Each participant had there own purpose. Some participants wanted to break the track record, some wanted to beat their personal best, others wanted to honor someone special and some just wanted to run.

Everything was ready for the marathon. A day of approximately 2,300 runners ran the 10km, the marathon torch was lit, a press conference was held, and the traditional pasta dinner was consumed. The morning of the 6th was a very symbolic start of the day for most participants in so many different ways. A senior Israeli runner, Haile Staen, landed just four hours in the country, after an exhausting journey that began the day before the marathon in Addis Ababa. 49-year-old runner was in a taxi to Tiberias and declared upon his arrival "I'm a participant".

The night before, at the press conference, head Athletic Association made clear its dissatisfaction with Staen. Remember, this was not the first time nor the second it reached the 90 minute, and late arrival times prevented his participation. There is no question about the talent of this relentless athlete, but many argue that if he goes as he ran, of course world ranking was much higher.

Skepticism grew all morning before the marathon about the arrival of Staen, which forced the press conference speakers to refer to the five Israeli official runners. Before starting and after the arrival of Staen, we were able to see again the six senior Israelis competing head to head for the title and the World Championships in Korea criterion.

Starting point
After the Minister of Culture and Sport, MK Limor Livnat, was honored to shoot the jump shot marathon, we received the same image that is  known and almost idyllic. An amazing and colorful human swarm came running through the start line as the marathon started.  People were running for all different reasons but many heroes were present – the glory and the prize is not their business, but the right to tell their own history book because they wanted at least once in their lives the Tiberias marathon.

Point of no – repeat
The rotation point half the distance, which was placed a large gate time, similar to those found in the starting and ending points, raced the first Kenyan Leonard Muchero last 21.1 km rue three minutes at a high – rate, if he could keep it, will lead a new track record time estimated 2:07 high. While Staen halfway past the large gap from the rest of the Israelis.
 
The finish line was accompanied by tension of organizers and journalists. "Can they break the track record?" Was a universal question all the organizers and promoters of the Tiberias Marathon Journalists are already beginning to deal with their main headline which has the ability to change through out the race. But it's important to remember, last year that Leonard Muchero already won twice before (2007 and 2008) broke the track record, finished second in 2009 while breaking a personal record, set last year an international Israeli record an imaginary half marathon 1:01:42.

Then argued that the a cyclist gave him a drink containing a substance that caused him to stop running. He learned his lesson once again that running at such a fast speed was not the way to win the marathon and this year he hit his wall at the 32nd mile. The official reason Muchero gave after the race was: "I did a few weeks ago medical tests – I had a problem. Two days ago, a phone conversation with my sister and she informed me what were the results of the test and it began to worry me. In the second half of the run is only thing in my head again and again, causing me to actually stop running.

At this point the hand bike riders have been celebrating finishing line of the victories. Nati Groberge, bike marathon champion Israel hand finished 26 miles of the end-to-hand bikes as of 47:47 minutes after a great finish against Daniel Michaelovitz, members of the association challenges, crossing the line four seconds behind. Degani Meyer finished third from the warrior Z " A time 49:55 min. Pascal Berkowitz challenging, the ultimate athlete, lower limbs amputated two deals with a number of sports, won among the women with a score of 1:01:31 Q also earned her eighth place overall out of 50 riders crossed hand bike the finish line.
 
Light point
At the last mile burst forward Stephen T. Melanie, 28, from Kenya who ran before a cluster of three. His breakthrough victory gave him the time of 2:10:02 that "constitutes a personal record for his second Tiberias Marathon. "I knew the route and the weather was excellent, so that the conditions allowed me to run well." The other two ran head to head in competition, Patrick Tambah Reinhardt, 35, a native of Congo who represents France in 2:10:09 set by two seconds ahead of Kenyan rival decade younger, Julius Morioaki Wahuama.
 
Now, when only runners were left on the runway and all the other people waiting for them in the finals, there were a number of puzzles that need to be resolved. The first, will there be an Israeli criterion to Korea? No! When the clock at the finish line passed 2:17:00 and Israelis did not pass through, the disappointment was great. Now it is clear that the Israelis will have to sweat a lot this year to determine the criteria. Staen, which among all those present, is the only one who is aware of the amount of hours that can not sleep, he showed his abilities and defeated the Israelis in time of 2:18:57 was enough for him. 16th place overall winning the Israeli title only the second time. "I happy about the victory, but sad that I made the criterion. "How sad that the press focused on actually had a personal story in Ethiopia did not ask a single professional asked about the marathon. Staen end of the day turned to reporters and said:" You write what you want, but remember, I'll be in London! "

Last year's champion, Hapoel athletic brilliant songs Sharon Oren Israeli Deputy satisfied with this time of 2:21:33 with the result that brought him to 18th place overall. Other senior Israelis completed subsequent three places: a Barihon (19) won the Israeli bronze with 2:21:38, a second before Suonach Edstau (20) Maccabi Tel Aviv. Zebedee Wedge Hapoel Holon completing 21 general and Thursday between Israelis and 2:24; 2003 was an exhausting marathon time in the thirty mile or so when he looked very heavy run on his face that he invests considerable effort if only to finish the race. Maman Assert the 26-year-old Jerusalem Hasolelim Club, which was the first competitive marathon career, finished sixth among Israelis 22 rules in place very respectable 2:24:33.
 
Among the women won the Ethiopian poisonous Abiins Sisaa 21-year-old girl set an excellent result of 2:44:31 ranked her 34th place overall. Second place among the women finished 39th overall team Abtmans Gisau friend Manchu in the 28th year of 2:48:45. Immediately followed by another member delegation arrived in the Ethiopian, Marga Voldsmayete stopped the clock on 2:50:13.
 
Wind Point
There were many inspiring stories through out the race but there are two that start out the most. The first and most famous one, who won an extraordinary review by all the press, was the story of a group of "Friends of Shneur" – the story of Shneur Cheshin who was killed this year while riding his bike. Shneur ran many marathons and asked his wife to also run with him but she always preferred not to. Just after his death, with the support of family, especially his friends, she decided to fulfill the dream and run the marathon for herself and her husband. About 130 runners dressed in white shirts with purple lettering set off to run in memory of a great man. When Danny crossed the finish line, 4 hours, 43 minutes and 11 seconds after the start, there was not a dry eye in sight. They were all there to support her after her tremendous effort – her first marathon, in memory of her lover and she did it.

The second story is a less familiar story of Remy Iolzra, 47. Since the 1982 Lebanon War, shell shock affected Jeremy Sobel. Only after many years, he found that running was the best medicine in his private war against the flashes he endured. Jeremy gathered a brave bunch of people who also suffer from the shock of battle and decided to adopt the track as the healthiest thing for them, and maximize it doing his first marathon in their lives. Triumph of mind over body. Congratulations Rami Rami and his group of friends.

All in all the Marathon was a great success and we are very proud of each and every runner. Great job and we look forward to see you next year.

Source: Tiberias Marathon Organisers – By: Eliza Stave