This was the 30th annual Tiberias International Marathon, which runs from Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee around the southern shore to En Gev which is on the opposite shore, and back. It runs past the traditional Baptism site of Jesus on the Jordan River as well as military relics from the 1967 6-day war. It is unique in that it is the only marathon in Israel, and is entirely below sea level. It is mostly flat but this year (2007) we faced ferocious winds off the Golan Heights on the eastern shore of the sea. It was certainly the most memorable marathon that I have run. Mal James (gazarunning) was kind enough to let me ride along with him to the Tiberias International Marathon, 4 January 2007. That was only possible because we met through Phedippidations.
The two blue stripes on the ribbon reflect the national flag of Israel (this is the only marathon held in Israel and it is a point of pride for them), and they represent the two bodies of water that Israel lies between, the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River (Mal told me this). This isn’t a political statement or anything, it’s just the only example I can remember of a race medal where the ribbon actually had symbolic meaning and I thought that was interesting.
Running Bib Info:
Tiberias Marathon
Municipality of Tiberias (Israel)
January 04, 2007
Official Time: 4:04:01 (unofficial, at this point)
Offical Race Website is at: http://www.tiberias-marathon.co.il/en
Read more at Mal’s Race Report on his Blog: Point 1 of 1 percent
Submitted by Russ Johnson
