Ejgayehu Taye and Isaia Lasoi are lead contenders in the 2025 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon. The race happens on Saturday, February 1.

Taye of Ethiopia and Lasoi of Kenya reckon that they are very fit — at world record level.

Women

World championships bronze medallist, and Olympian, Taye has rarely raced on the roads. If she can bring her track form to Ras Al Khaimah, she will be a contender for victory in 2025. Her sole performance in the half marathon was in Valencia three months ago. She finished ahead of last year’s RAK winner Tsigie Gebrselama.

Taye ran 64:14 in Valencia on what her manager reports was less than adequate preparation. Yonas Mekonnon says, “Taye decided to try for the world record based on her recent training. RAK ‘half’ will be her second half marathon. When she compares training based on the quality and volume, the hope for RAK half is much better. She trained for not more than six weeks after the track season was over and the longest training was 25km. However, this time she has been regularly covering more than 28km with 3:30 pace at altitude. Her goal in this race is the world record.”

 Isaia Lasoi. Photo credit: Giancarlo Colombo / Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon

Men

The Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon has regularly returned world record times. Since Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya ran 58:53 (before super shoes) in the inaugural event in 2007. The women then took over. With the likes of Mary Keitany, Peres Jepchirchir and Ababel Yeshaneh setting women’s records during the last decade. But such have been the advances in shoe technology and the boost of energy gels. In the interim, the current men’s record is over a minute faster. Yomif Kejelcha clocked 57:30 in Valencia three months ago. The women’s record is an equally formidable 62:52. It was set by his colleague Letesenbet Gidey at the same race over three years ago.

In contrast, the RAK record is eminently breachable, at least on the women’s side. As it happens, Taye’s debut 64:14 is exactly the same as the RAK course record time. It was set in 2022 by another colleague Girmawit Gebrzihair who runs again next weekend. Gebrzihair looks to be in prime form too, following a rapid 29:34 for the Valencia 10k on January 12.

In the men’s race, Lasoi is hoping to emulate recent top three finishers who returned to win the following year. Lasoi came through for third last year, and is nothing if not ambitious. He clocked 58:10 in Copenhagen last autumn. And stated afterwards, “Eager to run 57 minutes in half marathon in future.”

This is the second year that Pace Events will oversee RAK half-marathon. Which is the long-time organizer of the neighbouring Dubai Marathon. Race Director Peter Connerton says, “We’re looking to build on the success of last year’s event. And continue to bring both fast, exciting elite racing to Ras Al Khaimah. In addition to a well-supported popular race, supported by the community.”

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