More than 35,000 runners participated in the annual Jerusalem Marathon on Friday morning, the largest number to date.
Some 4,000 participants from 72 countries also took part in the 26.2-mile (42.195-kilometer) run, including Kipkogey Shardrak of Kenya, who was announced the winner just after 9:30 a.m. local time. Most of the runners were Jerusalemites, though thousands arrived from Haifa, Modi’in, Tel Aviv and Kfar Saba.
The event was joined by guest of honor Haile Gerselassie of Ethiopia, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 10,000-meter run and winner of four world championships for the same distance.
Marathon organizers noted that Hong Kong sent the greatest number of runners from outside Israel, followed by Los Angeles, Beijing and London.
Runners enjoyed pounding the pavement from the Knesset to the Mahane Yehuda outdoor market, Mount Scopus, the Old City of Jerusalem, David’s Tower and the scenic Haas Promenade.
And of special note: At least one proposal of marriage was made during the event.