The AIMS 'Best Marathon Runner' Awards Gala will be held for the third time in Athens on the evening of 6 November. The following awards will be made during the evening

 BEST MARATHON RUNNER AWARDS: Leading contenders for the award in both male and female categories will be nominated during the first week in October. These will be based on performances between 01 October 2014 and 30 September 2015. AIMS member races will be asked to vote for one contender in each category before 31 October. The result will be declared for the first time during the Gala evening.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Made according to the decision of the AIMS Board of Directors to a person who has contributed significantly to the sport of Distance Running over a sustained period.

GREEN AWARD: Made by decision of the AIMS Board of Directors to the AIMS member event showing best environmental practice in the conduct of their event, on the recommendation of a specialist advisory panel

SOCIAL AWARD: Made by decision of the AIMS Board of Directors to the AIMS member event showing greatest commitment to broader social objectives in the conduct of their event.

Candidates in MEN’S category (in alphabetical order)

Ghirmay GHEBRESLASSIE (ERI) Eliud KIPCHOGE (KEN) – Finished second in Hamburg in 2:07:47 – Won World Championships in Beijing in 2:12:28   – Won Chicago Marathon in October 2014 in 2:04:11 – Won London Marathon in April 2015 in 2:04:42 – Won Berlin Marathon in September 2015 in 2:04:00 (World leading time of the year)

Candidates in WOMEN’S category (in alphabetical order)

Gladys CHERONO (KEN) Mare DIBABA (ETH) – 2nd in Dubai Marathon in January 2015 in 2:20:03 – Won Berlin Marathon in September 2015 in 2:19:25 (World leading time of the year)   – 2nd in Chicago Marathon in October 2014 in 2:25:37 – Won Xiamen Marathon in January in 2:19:52 – Won World Championships in Beijing in 2:27:35

The purpose of the BMR Award Gala is to:

1. Announce and honour the best male and female Marathon runners of the year through the AIMS BEST MARATHON RUNNER (BMR) Award.
2. Recognise and honour exceptional Marathon figureheads and personalities for their contribution to the development of the Marathon movement.
3. Publicise and promote the best practice and initiatives of AIMS members (350+ race organizers) through the establishment of special environmental and social awards.
4. Enhance the role, programs and services of AIMS.

AIMS Marathon Symposium – 7 November 2015

The 9th AIMS Marathon Symposium will be held in Athens during the morning of 7 November. Specialist speakers will address the topic of Doping in Distance Running in two sessions as relating to:

i) "Anti-doping organizations, policies and instruments"
    – including case studies by marathon organisers

ii) "Race organisers, coaches & athletes' battle against doping"
    – Preventive action plans towards doping threats"
    – Preparing for and reacting to doping incidents in your race"
    – Personal perceptions from elite athletes.

Source: AIMSworldrunning.org