The Great Wall Marathon - 18th May 2013

Whilst watching things on YouTube today I was served an ad for 'The Great Wall Marathon' (18th May 2013.)

I clicked on the ad and was taken through to a video trailer for the event:


The description of the video states:

"The Great Wall Marathon will put your ability to the test with its steep ascent of 5,164 steps. The World Heritage listed fortification is the largest human-made structure in the world and symbolises sheer human strength and fortitude. Tap into the special Great Wall spirit and join us for this spectacular run which will take you on a journey through ancient Chinese history and stunning scenery. Conquer the Great Wall with Albatros Travel. http://www.great-wall-marathon.com."

Looks an amazing event, but not something my budget or time can sort out this year - I'll put it on the list marked 'future' though!

Olympics Marathon man Guor Marial will run for the whole world as he has no country...

Saw this in the newspaper today, an amazing / touching story titled 'marathon man with no country':

Marathon man with no country

"A refugee runner without a country will represent the whole world in tomorrow's marathon after surviving a war-torn childhood and being separated from his family.

Guor Marial will run under the flag of the International Olympic Committee because South Sudan, where he was born, does not have its own Olympic organisations, after splitting from the Muslim north of the country following a vicious civil war.

The 28-year old has not seen his family for almost 20 years but said they will walk 40 miles to get to the nearest town with a TV to watch him compete.  Marial now lives in Arizona but could not run for the US because he does not have a passport or citizenship."

Amazing story and if ever there was an example of "it's the taking part that counts"...

UPDATE:

Guor Marial finished 47th in the London 2012 Olympics men's marathon with a time of 2 hours 19 minutes 32 seconds.