18 Oct. 2015 – Beirut Marathon Association did an amazing achievement of receiving the World Marathon Record Holder Paula RADCLIFFE to be the guest of honor for the 13th edition of BDL Beirut Marathon that is being held on the 8th of November.
After having Haile GEBRESELASSIE last year, who is one living legend of the long distance running, this time its a woman and more specifically the Marathon World record holder of 2:15:25! Having such amazing personalities and sports greats in Lebanon is really important for the sports in Lebanon and to attract the attention of the media around the world!
The Association previously welcomed the Kenyan runner Paul TERGAT REAPER who held the Marathon world record from 2003 to 2007 with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.and his compatriot Tigla LOROUPE. Edwin MOSES was also one of the great personalities BMA has received in Lebanon. Edwin is an Olympic Champion in 400m Hurdles.
Paula RADCLIFFE will arrive in Lebanon on the 5th of November and the BMA is preparing a long schedule regarding Paul’s presence in Lebanon. The president of the Association, May EL KHALIL, said that having such personalities is one of the protocol of organizing international marathons, but what differentiate us from the rest of the world is that we don’t have the capabilities that have and our situation here in Lebanon is different security wise. But when the role model athletes leave Lebanon, they become Lebanese ambassadors in the world who talk about the positive Lebanon. Paula will stay to the 9th of November in our country.
Her presence is also a great motivation for the runners of the BDL Beirut Marathon especially our Lebanese Marathon runners! 
Paula RADCLIFFE’s achievements:
5000 m: 14:29.11
10,000 m: 30:01.09
Half Marathon: 1:06:47
Marathon: 2:15:25 World Record in 2003
She won 3 times the London Marathon (2002-2003-2005). She also won New York marathon three times (2004-2007-2008). She won the Chicago Marathon in 2002. She won the IAAF World Half Marathon in 2000, 2001 and 2003, the IAAF World Marathon championship in 2005.
She represented Great Britain four times in the Olympic Games but wasn’t able to win any title. She won the Best personality of the year by BBC and three times by the AIMS. She retired from sports last year after running the London Marathon.
She was nominated Ambassador of the World Half Marathon Championship that will be held in 26th of March 2016 in her country. Radcliffe has frequently made high-profile condemnations of the use of performance-enhancing drugs in athletics. She supports WADA and was one of the few who protested against other athletes that have taken performance enhancing drugs.
We are proud to have such an inspiring personality here in Lebanon. We look forward to meet Paula and learn from her experience. We wish her a pleasant stay and to our athletes to really benefit from her presence!
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