{"id":860,"date":"2011-11-12T08:22:09","date_gmt":"2011-11-12T14:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/?p=860"},"modified":"2011-11-12T08:22:09","modified_gmt":"2011-11-12T14:22:09","slug":"bett-on-athens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/featured\/bett-on-athens\/","title":{"rendered":"Bett on Athens"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Raymond<\/a>

Raymond Bett for Athens Classic<\/p><\/div>\n

When When Raymond Bett won the Athens Classic Marathon last year in 2.12.40, knocking two seconds off the event record on one of the toughest courses in the world, he was presented with the fact that Stefano Baldini won the 2004 Olympic title on the same course in 2.10.55. \u201cI can do that,\u201d said Bett. Back to defend his title on Sunday, Bett reiterated that estimation today, Friday.\"\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not wise to underestimate a Kenyan marathoner; as many did two weeks ago when Wilson Kipsang said he could get close to colleague Patrick Makau\u2019s world record of 2.03.38, in Frankfurt. Kipsang missed the mark by four seconds.<\/p>\n

There are a number of factors in Bett\u2019s favour this year, not the least the weather. Baldini won the Olympic title in Athenian mid-summer, whereas Sunday morning promises 12-13C (mid-50sF), but with a wind off the Aegean Sea, that\u2019s to say, at the runners\u2019 backs for much of the route from Marathon to Athens.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the field has one of the hardest marathon courses to contend with. The first 10k is relatively flat, including the diversion around the burial ground of the Athenian soldiers killed in the Battle of Marathon. But then the course rises for the next 20 kilometres before a gradual decline to the finish in the Panathenaiko, the spectacular marble stadium built for the 1896 Olympics.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I was told before last year\u2019s race,\u201d said Bett, \u201cwas that it was hard. But I was shocked. But I took it easy, and stayed at the back of the group until 39k. So I have the advantage of knowing the course, and I also have two pacemakers from my group who are in good form, so they will help me\u201d.<\/p>\n

The men in question are marathon debutants, Gilbert Maina and Allan Ndiwa, the latter having an impressive 60.45 half-marathon to his credit. They are due to accompany Bett up to 30k, ie the top of the hills outside Athens, and if they feel good intend to continue. \u201cIf they do, that will be an extra advantage,\u201d said the confident Bett, ignoring the occasional phenomenon of a pacemaker winning the race.<\/p>\n

Bett also has some interesting insights on the recent surge in the already burgeoning Kenyan domination of the world marathon scene. He himself is representative of the typical Kenyan athlete, who sees running as a way out of (relative) poverty. \u201cI\u2019d left school, and was looking for a job, but really there is no work, or very little, so I was just hanging around\u201d. Fortunately for him, he was hanging around in Iten, a town in the western highlands of Kenya, whose 10,000 population comprises, he reckons, \u201cabout 2000 runners. One of the coaches knew I\u2019d been a good runner in school, so he said, why don\u2019t you start training? It\u2019s the same with many others, there are not many jobs, so everyone wants to run; it becomes our career\u201d<\/p>\n

Bett only began running seriously in 2007, and immediately became one of those hundreds if not thousands of young Kenyan runners who don\u2019t even consider the overcrowded world of track racing, and have gone straight to the marathon.\u00a0 As for the latest surge, which has propelled two dozen Kenyans to the top of the world lists this year alone \u2013 between 2.03.38 and 2.06.31, the latter would have been second only to world record as recently as the turn of the century \u2013 Bett thinks that the introduction of the gymnasium into Kenyan social life has been crucial. \u201cThere were never gyms before two years ago, now we all go to the gym to do strength work. It\u2019s made a big difference\u201d.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, according to elite race director, Raschid Ben Meziane, this might be one marathon that a Kenyan does not win. He favours his compatriot, Abdelkrim Boubker of Morocco. \u201cHe\u2019s had three races in Europe this year, and he\u2019s won them all. He only did 2.14.40 in Leiden (marathon), but he was running by himself, and he won the Dordrecht half-marathon, and a tough 30k as well\u201d.<\/p>\n

The marathon itself continues to be a rare success in an otherwise gloomy economic scene for Athens and Greece. Prior to last year\u2019s 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon, participants had risen to 4,500 in number, and last year\u2019s celebration saw that shoot up to 12,500. But an accredited 8,500 for Sunday\u2019s event is still seen as a huge success, in view of the recent civil disturbances related to the economic crisis. The numbers have convinced the organisers that the Greek public has finally switched on to their marathon heritage.<\/p>\n

That is also underlined by recent affiliations. Firstly, the marathon has a new sponsor, OPAP, the national lottery, which has signed a contract for six years. The Greek federation, SEGAS, which organises the race, has recently signed an accord with UNESCO, which recognises the cultural heritage of the event; and proceeds from the marathon will go to educational programmes in Africa.<\/p>\n

Outside the race itself, there is the now perennial Marathon Symposium, which includes the ceremonial lighting of the Marathon Flame (at the tumulus, the burial ground) at Marathon itself; the symposium concentrates this year on medical back-up for a mass event. In addition, with backing from SEGAS and the city government, the Association of International Marathons, AIMS opened a permanent office in Athens on Thursday. last year in 2.12.40, knocking two seconds off the event record on one of the toughest courses in the world, he was presented with the fact that Stefano Baldini won the 2004 Olympic title on the same course in 2.10.55. \u201cI can do that,\u201d said Bett. Back to defend his title on Sunday, Bett reiterated that estimation today, Friday.\"\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not wise to underestimate a Kenyan marathoner; as many did two weeks ago when Wilson Kipsang said he could get close to colleague Patrick Makau\u2019s world record of 2.03.38, in Frankfurt. Kipsang missed the mark by four seconds.<\/p>\n

There are a number of factors in Bett\u2019s favour this year, not the least the weather. Baldini won the Olympic title in Athenian mid-summer, whereas Sunday morning promises 12-13C (mid-50sF), but with a wind off the Aegean Sea, that\u2019s to say, at the runners\u2019 backs for much of the route from Marathon to Athens.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the field has one of the hardest marathon courses to contend with. The first 10k is relatively flat, including the diversion around the burial ground of the Athenian soldiers killed in the Battle of Marathon. But then the course rises for the next 20 kilometres before a gradual decline to the finish in the Panathenaiko, the spectacular marble stadium built for the 1896 Olympics.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I was told before last year\u2019s race,\u201d said Bett, \u201cwas that it was hard. But I was shocked. But I took it easy, and stayed at the back of the group until 39k. So I have the advantage of knowing the course, and I also have two pacemakers from my group who are in good form, so they will help me\u201d.<\/p>\n

The men in question are marathon debutants, Gilbert Maina and Allan Ndiwa, the latter having an impressive 60.45 half-marathon to his credit. They are due to accompany Bett up to 30k, ie the top of the hills outside Athens, and if they feel good intend to continue. \u201cIf they do, that will be an extra advantage,\u201d said the confident Bett, ignoring the occasional phenomenon of a pacemaker winning the race.<\/p>\n

Bett also has some interesting insights on the recent surge in the already burgeoning Kenyan domination of the world marathon scene. He himself is representative of the typical Kenyan athlete, who sees running as a way out of (relative) poverty. \u201cI\u2019d left school, and was looking for a job, but really there is no work, or very little, so I was just hanging around\u201d. Fortunately for him, he was hanging around in Iten, a town in the western highlands of Kenya, whose 10,000 population comprises, he reckons, \u201cabout 2000 runners. One of the coaches knew I\u2019d been a good runner in school, so he said, why don\u2019t you start training? It\u2019s the same with many others, there are not many jobs, so everyone wants to run; it becomes our career\u201d<\/p>\n

Bett only began running seriously in 2007, and immediately became one of those hundreds if not thousands of young Kenyan runners who don\u2019t even consider the overcrowded world of track racing, and have gone straight to the marathon.\u00a0 As for the latest surge, which has propelled two dozen Kenyans to the top of the world lists this year alone \u2013 between 2.03.38 and 2.06.31, the latter would have been second only to world record as recently as the turn of the century \u2013 Bett thinks that the introduction of the gymnasium into Kenyan social life has been crucial. \u201cThere were never gyms before two years ago, now we all go to the gym to do strength work. It\u2019s made a big difference\u201d.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, according to elite race director, Raschid Ben Meziane, this might be one marathon that a Kenyan does not win. He favours his compatriot, Abdelkrim Boubker of Morocco. \u201cHe\u2019s had three races in Europe this year, and he\u2019s won them all. He only did 2.14.40 in Leiden (marathon), but he was running by himself, and he won the Dordrecht half-marathon, and a tough 30k as well\u201d.<\/p>\n

The marathon itself continues to be a rare success in an otherwise gloomy economic scene for Athens and Greece. Prior to last year\u2019s 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon, participants had risen to 4,500 in number, and last year\u2019s celebration saw that shoot up to 12,500. But an accredited 8,500 for Sunday\u2019s event is still seen as a huge success, in view of the recent civil disturbances related to the economic crisis. The numbers have convinced the organisers that the Greek public has finally switched on to their marathon heritage.<\/p>\n

That is also underlined by recent affiliations. Firstly, the marathon has a new sponsor, OPAP, the national lottery, which has signed a contract for six years. The Greek federation, SEGAS, which organises the race, has recently signed an accord with UNESCO, which recognises the cultural heritage of the event; and proceeds from the marathon will go to educational programmes in Africa.<\/p>\n

Outside the race itself, there is the now perennial Marathon Symposium, which includes the ceremonial lighting of the Marathon Flame (at the tumulus, the burial ground) at Marathon itself; the symposium concentrates this year on medical back-up for a mass event. In addition, with backing from SEGAS and the city government, the Association of International Marathons, AIMS opened a permanent office in Athens on Thursday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When When Raymond Bett won the Athens Classic Marathon last year in 2.12.40, knocking two seconds off the event record on one of the toughest courses in the world, he was presented with the fact that Stefano Baldini won the 2004 Olympic title on the same course in 2.10.55. \u201cI can do that,\u201d said Bett. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":861,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[72,18,29,35],"tags":[90,155,578,733],"class_list":["post-860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-athens","category-featured","category-kenya","category-new-york","tag-90","tag-athens","tag-marathon","tag-raymond-bett"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=860"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}