The Most Inspirational Marathon Moments of 2009
By Sharon Ekstrom

The first decade of the new millennium saw marathoning changed forever, as professional athletes ran faster than their predecessors had ever imagined. On the men’s side, the 2:06 barrier that was broken just once before 2000, was surpassed 24 times, while the world record was pushed below the seeming impossible barrier of 2:04. After a drought in the 90s through 2000, American distance runners emerged as formidable competitors, earning medals at the Olympics and other high profile international races. The 21st Century was also a new era for the female marathoner with record numbers drawing to the sport; and a new female marathon world record from Paula Radcliffe (2:15:25) in a time that may never be beaten.

Record numbers of runners came to the sport and distance – driven by the inspirational results of these professional and some regional runners – and 2009 continued the trend. With 2009 just behind us, MarathonGuide.com revisits some of the marathon moments that inspired us most in 2009.

2009’s Most Inspirational Moments – Men’s Marathoners

Meb Keflezighi: A Year of Personal Bests and An Historic Win
– US Olympian Meb Keflezighi has perennially been an inspiration to all of us – and many will point to Keflezighi’s Silver Medal at the 2004 Olympics as an inspiration and turning point in American running. Keflezighi has always been a hero with top performances at the New York City and Boston Marathons among other achievements. But all All came to a halt in 2007 and 2008 when injury impeded his performances – the biggest disappointment was failing to make the 2008 US Olympic team.

Following that devastating 2008, Keflezighi has shown us that with the right heart and spirit, one can recover and then go on to do the impossible. Throughout 2009, Keflezighi continued to set new personal bests in various distances and captured several USA championship titles in the first three quarters of the year. Never the runner with the “fastest” credentials in a top international field, Keflezighi entered the New York City Marathon as an underdog in a field with some of the fastest marathoners in the world, including an American who had bettered Keflezighi’s best time on multiple occasions. But against all odds, Keflezighi did what he always does – he believed and taught us to believe – and through spirit alone he beat all comers at the New York City Marathon, the first American to win New York in nearly 30 years and setting a new personal best on a tough course… Now when anyone says they are injured and might not get back, we should all say: “why don’t you try to be just a bit like Meb…” as this champion has proven that faith and hard work pay off and good guys can finish first.

Sammy Wanjiru Emerges As the Best
Some thought that Sammy Wanjiru might be a flash in the pan when he began marathoning; but his performances in 2009 were proof that this was an athlete not only capable of winning, but with staying power and determined to make history at every race. Wanjiru, the half-marathon world record holder, debuted in the marathon in December 2007 at the Fukuoka Marathon just days after his twenty-first birthday – winning the esteemed race in 2:06:39 – what might be a fast time for many, but remarkably his slowest ever – and then following that with a runner-up finish at the 2008 London Marathon (2:05:24). On a hot and humid day, Wanjiru won the Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympics in record time of 2:06:32. Many felt that Wanjiru’s luck would run out or that he would crash and burn after winning Gold at the 2008 Beijing Games, yet Wanjiru continues to improve and set new records.

In 2009, every race that Wanjiru ran was inspirational. As if his prior performances weren’t good enough, Wanjiru set new records at the 2009 London Marathon (2:05:10) and 2009 Chicago Marathon (2:05:41). And, as if those finishing times weren’t impressive enough, Wanjiru’s first half split at London was the fastest first half of a marathon time ever recorded (61:35) and his win at Chicago ranks as the fastest marathon ever run in the the Americas. And wanjiru inspires with his continued optimism and take-no-prisoners philosophy as he has his eyes set on an attempt at a new World Record for 2010.

Everything About the Rotterdam Marathon
While all fans of the marathon expected fast times out of London, Berlin and Chicago, the Rotterdam Marathon proved that perhaps those “major” marathons aren’t the best or fastest after all. At the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon three lesser-known Kenyans had finishes that rocked the running world and raised the bar for speed. In one race, the top three finishers (all Kenyan) vaulted into the 2nd, 3rd and 6th positions on the all-time marathon finisher list: Duncan Kibet (2:04:27), James Kwambai (2:04:27) and Abel Kirui (2:05:04). These men had huge personal bests – Kirui and Kwambai bettering their finishes by more than 1-1/2 minutes and Kibet by nearly 3-1/2. We now know that sub-2:05 is a time that can be achieved by more than a few and that there are just so many men running oh so fast.

American Men and the 2009 New York City Marathon
At the 2009 New York City Marathon, American men had an inspirational showing. While top finishes at these world class races tend to be dominated by Kenyans, Ethiopians and the occasional Moroccan, the New York City Marathon saw an incredibly strong showing by Americans. Amidst an especially deep international field, six Americans finished in the top ten spots. Meb Keflezighi’s win – the first time since an American has won the race since Alberto Salazar’s victory in 1982 – was inspiring enough, but the success of the rest of the American field gives us hope and the glimpse of the beginning of a resurgence of spectacular American elite running.

1. Keflezighi, Meb 2:09:15
4. Hall, Ryan 2:10:36
7. Torres, Jorge 2:13:00
8. Arciniaga, Nick 2:13:46
9. Abdirahman, Abdi 2:14:00
10. Lehmkuhle, Jason 2:14:39

Ryan Hall Inspires
Touted as the next great American marathoner, Hall burst into the spotlight when he won the 2007 Half-Marathon National Championship setting an American Record in 59:43. He debuted in the marathon months later at the 2007 London Marathon keeping pace with the top marathoners in the world including Gebrselassie, Khannouchi, Tergat, Lel and Ramaala. Hall’s next effort led to a victory at the 2008 US Olympic Marathon Team Trials in 2:09:02 and a trip to the Olympics. Hall continued to attract attention with a 2:06:17 (5th place) finish at the 2008 London Marathon.

At the 2009 Boston Marathon, the hype and oddsmakers had Hall set to be the first American to win Boston since Greg Meyer’s victory in 1983. And while Hall did not win, what he did do doubly inspired us…. Hall’s first mile splits clocked 4:40, 4:42, 4:43, 4:44 – the fastest the race has ever seen and it was Hall alone pushing that pace. No fear – wow. The pace calmed down a bit, but after the pack surged at mile 17, Hall faded to 8th place dropping off the lead pack after the Newton Hills – all watching saw Hall falter and expected that would be the end of the race for the American. But what Hall did to inspire us is that even as he felt exhausted and out – somehow he reached back into himself and fought his way back onto the podium, gaining a third place finish in 2:09:40 after he appeared to be completely out of the game. While an American did not win the race that day, two Americans took third place: Hall in the men’s race and Goucher in the women’s race. Hall’s heroic start to the race and especially his spirit to not give in inspire all of us.

2009’s Most Inspirational Moments – Women’s Marathoners
Liliya Shobukhova Debuts, Then Dominates
Liliya Shobukhova of Russia debuted in the marathon in 2009 and quickly became a top female contender overnight. At the 2009 London Marathon this 10000m specialist took on veteran Russian marathoners and finished 2:24:24 (3rd place). While one race is not a career predictor, Shobukhova entered the 2009 Chicago Marathon as one of the stronger runners in the field, but a wild card given her lack of experience. After the 35K split, in a strategic play after taking a drink from the final fuel station, she surged dropping three competitors who were the marathon champions of the Houston (2009), Berlin (2008) and London (2008 & 2009), Boston (2007) and Chicago (2008). Yet, what was particularly inspirational about her performance was that she ran the final mile of the race at breakneck speed (4:35) to ensure victory.

Deena Kastor
American record holder and Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor became a household name when she medaled in the marathon distance at the 2004 Athens Olympics. A favorite on elite rosters worldwide, Kastor became 5th fastest woman in the world with a 2:19:36 from the 2006 London Marathon. With a career in full swing, Kastor was a top pick for the 2008 Olympics; but her dreams faded when she suffered a break in her foot in the first 5k of the race.

Any runner who has ever been injured knows the physical and psychological challenges of recovery and returning to competition. So, MarathonGuide.com applauds Kastor’s comeback. She returned to the marathon distance with a positive attitude at the 2009 Chicago Marathon. While she held onto the lead pack through the 35K mark, Kastor faded and finished first American in 6th place (2:28:50). While Kastor is capable of faster times, she was pleased with the results and looks forward to the 2010 running season.

Desiree Davila – Most Improved AND The Next American Medalist?
While Desiree Davila may not be a household name, this Hansons-Brooks teammate had shown improvements especially in 2009 and proved inspirational at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. In 2007, she debuted in the distance at the Boston Marathon with a 2:44:56 (18th place) and returned the following year to run the US Olympic Trials finishing 13th in a 2:37:50. Davila continued to plug away despite being off-the-radar on international elite rosters; until she earned a respectable 5th place at the 2008 Chicago Marathon (2:31:33).

While all eyes were on American Kara Goucher to medal at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Davila ran her own race and at her own pace without expectations. 22 seconds behind the leaders by 10K, Davila picked off runners falling off the lead pack. Her patience and persistence paid off with an incredible personal best and first sub 2:30 marathon in 2:27:53 (11th place) – a huge improvement on anything she had done before and a time that put her into the top three American women now running the marathon.

Joan Benoit Samuelson – Records at All Ages
Perhaps, the greatest female American distance runner ever, Joan Benoit Samuelson, may be the only legend still actively competing two decades after her prime in the sport. With wins of the Boston Marathon (1979 and 1983), Chicago Marathon (1985), Columbus Marathon (1992), Benoit Samuelson most notably won Olympic gold in the very first women’s marathon at the 1984 Olympics running the race seventeen days after knee surgery in 2:24:52. With a long list of accolades from racing, she remains the 15th fastest woman in the world in a time of 2:21:21 from the 1985 Chicago Marathon. While Benoit Samuelson ran every single US Olympic women’s marathon team trials since women were allowed to compete in the distance at the Games, she ran the 2008 US Olympic Women’s Trials in 2:49:08 winning the US 50+ record.

Going into 2009, Benoit-Samuelson who remains an avid competitor entered the 2009 New York City Marathon for fun and to commemorate 25 years of her first marathon victory. With no time goals in mind, she promised “I’ve never run over 3 hours, and I’ve never dropped out of a race. So hopefully that won’t happen here in New York.” Benoit Samuelson ran an incredible 2:49:09 breaking the 50+ division record. Not only does she remain a talented competitor, she remains an inspiration to us all that we are capable of anything if we put our minds to it.