In its second edition, the Beirut Marathon Association’s City Race brought 2,600 runners back onto the streets of the capital, turning an early Sunday morning into a celebration of sport, community, and resilience.
Just after dawn on a September Sunday, Beirut woke up to the sound of running shoes on asphalt rather them car horns. In the heart of the city, 2,600 runners lined up on Prince Bashir Street in Al-Azarieh, next to the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, ready to take part in the Beirut Marathon Association’s second City Race.
Organised in partnership with Virgin Unite, the Governorate of Beirut, the Municipality of Beirut, and the Lebanese Athletics Federation, the event offered more than a race. It offered a rare moment when people of different ages, backgrounds, and regions could quite literally move in the same direction. From experienced athletes to first-time joggers, the crowd flowed through the capital’s streets towards the Beirut Waterfront finish line, transforming the city into an open-air track.
A Race Designed for the Whole City
The City Race was built to be inclusive. The programme featured:
- 10 km competitive race for men and women, attracting club runners and elite athletes.
- 5 km fun run, open to all ages and abilities, designed to bring families and casual runners into the event.
- 3 km roller derby, adding a playful, dynamic element with skaters sharing the course.
The route itself showcased parts of Beirut that residents and visitors usually only experience through traffic. Starting in the historic downtown and finishing on the open seafront at the Beirut Waterfront, runners had the rare experience of crossing main arteries on foot, cheered on by volunteers and spectators.
“A Symbol of Hope and Positive Energy”
Before the starting gun, Beirut Marathon Association president Mai El-Khalil addressed the runners with a short but emotional message. She expressed pride in welcoming participants back to the streets and described the marathon community as a symbol of hope, positive energy, and a belief that the city can keep moving forward.
The Lebanese national anthem then played over the loudspeakers, followed by a solemn moment of silence in memory of the late artist Ziad Rahbani. It was a reminder that even on a day devoted to sport, Beirut carries its cultural and emotional history with it.
Within minutes, the quiet reflection gave way to the sharp crack of the starting signal. At 6:30 a.m., the 10 km competitive race set off. The 5 km fun run followed later at 8:00 a.m., allowing a second wave of runners—and supporters lining the pavements—to experience the course.
From Elite Runners to School Students
The front of the field was packed with club athletes and members of the Lebanese Army, all chasing times and podium places. Behind them was a very different group: more than 1,200 students from public schools, Islamic orphanages, charitable organisations, and National Education Scouts delegations from across Lebanon.
For many of these young participants, the City Race was not about chasing records. It was about belonging to something larger than themselves—a moving sea of colour that said, if only for a few hours, that Beirut’s streets belong to people, not just cars and crises.
The final event of the day, a 3 km roller derby, underlined that spirit. Skaters glided through the streets, adding music, movement, and a playful ending to a morning built around effort and community.
Who Took the Tape?
In the men’s 10 km competitive race, Ali Reda Kanaan of the Lebanese Army crossed the line first, securing the top spot and underlining the strong presence of military runners in Lebanon’s distance events. The women’s race was similarly competitive, though the existing course records for both men and women remained intact.
The current benchmark for the 10 km distance still belongs to Lebanese runner Zaid Al-Sayed, who is based in Germany and set his best time in a race in Australia. On the women’s side, the best mark remains with Ethiopian athlete Bantu Repetto. Their performances form the targets future City Race participants will aim for in the coming years.
At the finish, winners received commemorative shields on stage. Cash prizes are set to follow for the top three men and women—USD 750 for first place, USD 500 for second, and USD 300 for third—once routine anti-doping procedures confirm the final results.
Safety, Support, and a City-Wide Operation
Turning a busy capital into a safe race course is no small task. Behind the scenes, a large support network made the City Race possible.
A unit from the Lebanese Army provided security along the route, while the Internal Security Forces managed road closures and traffic diversions. Their presence allowed runners to move freely through areas that, on a normal weekday, would be packed with cars.
A dedicated medical plan was also in place. Around 35 young volunteers from the Lebanese Red Cross were stationed at intervals to respond to injuries or exhaustion. A fully equipped medical centre from the Lebanese American University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital (LAU UMC-RH) stood ready near the finish, supported by a team of physical therapists to help runners recover.
Logistics were handled by around 150 young men and women from the Lebanese Red Cross Youth Department, who took on everything from distributing water to guiding participants and managing crowd flow. Their work meant that most runners only had to think about one thing: putting one foot in front of the other.
Running as a Statement of Resilience
In a country managing economic strain, political uncertainty, and the emotional weight of recent years, a road race might seem like a small thing. Yet events like the City Race carry a meaning that goes beyond sport.
When thousands of people gather to run together, they are making a quiet but powerful statement: that public space matters, that the city is still for its residents, and that collective effort is possible, even in difficult times. For Beirut, which has endured everything from explosions to financial collapse, reclaiming the streets in trainers rather than protest banners sends a different kind of signal—one of endurance, not denial.
The presence of so many school students and young volunteers adds an extra layer to that message. It suggests a generation that still wants to show up, participate, and build traditions that look forward instead of only looking back.
Beyond the Finish Line
By the time the final runners and skaters crossed the finish line at the Beirut Waterfront, the race clocks had stopped, but the impact of the morning was still visible: tired smiles, group photos, medals tangled with race bibs, and children trying on their parents’ finisher medals.
For some, the City Race was preparation for longer distances and international marathons. For others, it was their first organised run—or simply a different way of spending a Sunday with friends. For the city itself, it was something deeper: a reminder that Beirut can still host big, joyful civic events that bring people together instead of driving them apart.
As the Beirut Marathon Association looks ahead to future editions, the hope is that the numbers will keep growing—not just in terms of runners, but in terms of the belief that Lebanon’s streets can be places of movement, health, and shared pride. For one morning at least, 2,600 runners proved that vision is still very much alive.
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