Bangkok Marathon
The Bangkok Marathon (also known as BDMS Bangkok Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is a marathon held annually in Bangkok, Thailand, since 1987.[2][3][4] The marathon is recognized by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).[5]
Bangkok Marathon | |
---|---|
Logo of Bangkok Marathon | |
Location | Bangkok, Thailand |
Event type | Road |
Distance | Marathon, half marathon |
Primary sponsor | BDMS |
Established | 1987 |
Course records | Men: 2:16:10 (2010) Kennedy Lilan Women: 2:41:37 (2012) Elizabeth Chemweno |
Official site | Bangkok Marathon |
Participants | 1,608 (2019) 2,566 (2018) >33,000 (all races) (2015)[1] |
History
In 1987, a marathon was held over the Rama IX Bridge in honor of the king's 60th birthday.[4] Called the Royal Marathon, it helped launch a running boom in Thailand.[4][6]
In 2013, the course of the half marathon was changed at the last minute because of concurrent Bangkok street protests which reduced the distance of the half marathon from 21.1 km (13.1 miles) to 19.7 km (12.2 miles).[7]
In 2015, the half marathon was accidentally extended from 21.1 km (13.1 miles) to 27.6 km (17.1 miles). According to organisers, the increase was due to the race officials directing runners to take a turn at the wrong place which added over 3 km extra to each of the two laps.[3][1] The mistake sparked humour and outcry in the social and news media. The Guardian called it "world's longest half marathon".[2] Some comments on social media called it a "Super Half Marathon", while some called it a byproduct of "race inflation".[2] Organizers apologized for the mistake and decided to offer a T-shirt saying "Finisher of 27.6 km" to participants who completed the "half marathon".[8][9] In addition to the half-marathon error, runners in the 10 km race reported that their GPS watches measured that race's length as approximately 9.7 km.[7]
The 2020 edition of the race was postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, before registration opened.[10][11]
Course
The course passes many historical landmarks of cultural and ethnic importance. The marathon starts and finishes in front of The Royal Grand Palace at Sanam Chai Road. The race course is sanctioned by The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and the Amateur Athletic Association of Thailand (IAAF Rules).[12]
Other races
Along with full and half marathons, 10 km and 5 km races were also held.[1]
Management
Bangkok Dusit Medical Services is the title sponsor of the marathon. The organizers of the marathon are the National Jogging Association of Thailand and local event management company Amazing Field.[1] The race is also recognized by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).[5]
Winners
Key: Course record (in bold)
Ed. | Year | Men's winner | Time[lower-alpha 1] | Women's winner | Time[lower-alpha 1] | Rf. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1987 | Eddy Hellebuyck (BEL) | 2:23:55 | Yuko Gordon (HKG) | 2:57:40 | |
2 | 1988 | Yoshihiro Hiramori (JPN) | 2:18:10 | Yuko Gordon (HKG) | 2:52:37 | |
3 | 1989 | Doug Kurtis (USA) | 2:20:15 | Cesarina Taroni (ITA) | 2:47:53 | |
4 | 1990 | Doug Kurtis (USA) | 2:27:30 | Victoria Bunard (MYA) | 2:55:15 | |
5 | 1991 | Doug Kurtis (USA) | 2:25:20 | Suzanne Ray (USA) | 2:48:52 | |
6 | 1992 | Phillip (MYA) | 2:25:24 | Lucy Ramwell (GBR) | 2:48:28 | |
7 | 1993 | Daniel Shungea (KEN) | 2:23:18 | Suman Rawat (IND) | 2:58:28 | |
8 | 1994 | Daniel Shungea (KEN) | 2:22:04 | Ren Xiujuan (CHN) | 2:49:21 | |
9 | 1995 | Daniel Shungea (KEN) | 2:28:35 | Rigzen Angmo (IND) | 2:51:14 | |
10 | 1996 | Daniel Shungea (KEN) | 2:25:24 | Tian Mei (CHN) | 2:44:30 | |
— | 1997 | not held | ||||
11 | 1998 | Michael Mukoma (KEN) | 2:18:59 | Wioletta Uryga (POL) | 2:53:00 | |
12 | 1999 | Michael Mukoma (KEN) | 2:21:30 | Wioletta Uryga (POL) | 2:46:40 | |
13 | 2000 | Vladimir Kotov (BLR) | 2:31:11 | Sunisa Sailomyen (THA) | 2:54:01 | |
14 | 2001 | Vladimir Kotov (BLR) | 2:26:55 | Wioletta Kryza (POL) | 2:48:30 | |
15 | 2002 | Jason Mayeroff (USA) | 2:27:46 | Natalya Volgina (RUS) | 2:54:05 | |
16 | 2003 | Rik Ceulemans (BEL) | 2:24:34 | Sunisa Sailomyen (THA) | 2:59:31 | |
17 | 2004 | John Sitienei (KEN) | 2:22:53 | Lillian Chelimo (KEN) | 2:57:48 | |
18 | 2005 | John Sitienei (KEN) | 2:23:57 | Saiphon Piawong (THA) | 3:02:01 | |
19 | 2006 | John Sitienei (KEN) | 2:28:02 | Wioletta Uryga (POL) | 2:56:50 | |
20 | 2007 | John Tubei (KEN) | 2:18:27 | Fridah Lodepa (KEN) | 2:51:42 | |
21 | 2008 | Nelson Rotich (KEN) | 2:19:13 | Sunisa Sailomyen (THA) | 2:48:23 | |
22 | 2009 | Francis Kibii (KEN) | 2:16:41 | Ecler Loywapet (KEN) | 2:43:49 | |
23 | 2010 | Kennedy Lilian (KEN) | 2:16:10 | Fridah Lodepa (KEN) | 2:42:47 | |
— | 2011 | not held | ||||
24 | 2012 (Feb) | Patrick Rotich (KEN) | 2:18:31 | Elizabeth Chemweno (KEN) | 2:41:37 | |
25 | 2012 (Nov) | John Samoei (KEN) | 2:30:24 | Everline Nyama (KEN) | 2:50:12 | |
26 | 2013 | John Samoei (KEN) | 2:30:27 | Sunisa Sailomyen (THA) | 3:02:31 | |
27 | 2014 | Lukas Muteti (KEN) | 2:33:52 | Arpassara Prasarthinpimai (THA) | 3:15:00 | |
28 | 2015 | Nelson Kiptoo (KEN) | 2:35:45 | Arpassara Prasarthinpimai (THA) | 3:12:03 | |
— | 2016 | not held | ||||
30 | 2017 | Peter Kipleting (KEN) | 2:26:13 | Mahlet Shewangizaw (ETH) | 2:52:42 | |
31 | 2018 | Wendwesen Tilahun (ETH) | 2:26:39 | Julia Njari (KEN) | 2:53:31 | |
32 | 2019 | Philip Lagat (KEN) | 2:33:55 | Etaferahu Dubale (ETH) | 2:55:14 | |
2020 | postponed due to coronavirus pandemic | [10] |
References
- "Anger in Bangkok over not so half marathon". Newsweek. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- Associated Press in Bangkok (1970-01-01). "Bangkok half-marathon becomes world's longest after wrong U-turn | World news". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- "Bangkok marathon miscalculates distance, runners kept going unaware". IBNLive. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- https://archive.is/20201106080511/https://www.bangkokpost.com/print/398208/#selection-101.0-101.504
- "AIMS – Calendar of Races". Aimsworldrunning.org. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20201106082505/https://www.thebigchilli.com/feature-stories/journey-through-thailands-past-1987-19916520372
- Murray Hunter (2015-11-15). "Outcry after organizers accidentally add 7km to Bangkok half marathon". Asian Correspondent. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- "'Finisher of 27.6km': Bangkok's botched half-marathon offers T-shirt apology". Asian Correspondent. 2015-02-24. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- Messman, Lauren (2015-11-17). "Bangkok Accidentally Held the World's Longest Half-Marathon | VICE | Canada". VICE. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20201106083537/https://mobile.twitter.com/bkkmarathon1988/status/1303172709380026368
- https://web.archive.org/web/20201106083207/http://www.bkkmarathon.com/home-EN.php
- "BKKMarathon.COM :".