ISTANBUL: Thousands of people will come together in Turkey’s biggest city on Sunday to take part in the Istanbul Marathon, the world’s only road race where people can run from Asia to Europe.
The 38th Vodafone Istanbul Marathon’s campaign for this year is: “We are running for the July 15 martyrs.”
The deadly coup attempt killed 246 people and injured nearly 2,200 others.
Saturday’s marathon will host 90 elite athletes, including 28 top Turkish runners, as well as thousands of people who just want to challenge themselves by running 42 kilometers (26 miles).
The Istanbul road race has three categories: a marathon, as well as 15 kilometer and 10 kilometer events.
A free 8 kilometer Heroes Run will see people casually race or just walk along the Bosporus. A race for wheelchair-bound competitors will also be held.
The races will start on the Asian side of the July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge, formerly known as the Bosporus Bridge, and end on the historic peninsula of the European side.
The marathon will end in Sultanahmet Square; the 15km and 10km races will finish in the nearby Eminönü district. The Heroes Run will end in front of the Ottoman-era Dolmabahçe Palace in Beşiktaş district.
Roads on the marathon’s route will be closed for traffic starting at 6:00 a.m. and will be opened partially for traffic until 2:30 p.m. Drivers are advised to use alternative routes and public transportation during the marathon.
This year’s elite athletes are mostly from Turkey, in addition to Belarus, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Russia and Ukraine.
In the men’s category, Kenyan runners Peter Kiptoo Kiplagat and Vincent Kiprop Chepkok; Ethiopians Shura Kitata Tola, Tariku Jufar Robi and Birhanu Gedefa; Ukrainian Oleksandr Sitkovskyy; and Djiboutian Mumin Gala are the names expected to put up a strong performance.
In the women’s category, Ethiopian athletes Fatuma Sado and Sechale Dalasa; Kenyan Agnes Barsosio and Lithuanian Diana Lobacevske will be among the top runners.
Relatives of the July 15 martyrs will also cross the bridge with a huge Turkish flag and meet in Zincirlikuyu junction.
