It can take months to prepare for a marathon, so Ronen Krumholtz wants to give Canadian runners an early heads-up: the Jerusalem Marathon will be run on Friday March 16, 2012, and you’re invited.
Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat participating in the international Jerusalem Marathon last March. [Abir Sultan/Flash 90 photo]
Krumholtz, the sales and marketing director for Diesenhaus-Unitours Incoming Tourism in Tel Aviv, said the 42-kilometre race is attracting more and more people from outside Israel, and organizers see North America, including Canada, as ripe source for new participants. Only about 25 Canadians took part in this year’s event, a small part of the 250 North Americans who pounded the city’s historic pavement. Altogether 10,000 runners took part in the event, which included full marathon distances, as well as a half marathon and a very popular 10-k race. Some 1,000 runners came from outside Israel and, to no one’s surprise, the race was won by a Kenyan.
Americans, Italians, French and Germans were among the largest groups of visiting runners, Krumholtz said, and they are part of a growing segment of travellers who participate in long distance races around the world. Jerusalem marathon organizers as well as tourism promoters are hoping to get a piece of that action. Their selling point, according to Krumholtz, is Jerusalem’s “breathtaking course, which includes the Old City.”
Runners enter through the Jaffa Gate and jog through the Old City until they exit through the Zion Gate. The course itself can be difficult given the city’s hilly topography, but runners enjoy a unique racing experience of running through one of the world’s most historic cities. The race begins at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, and the course takes runners through neighbourhoods such as the German Colony, Talpiot, Katamon and the Old City, Krumholtz said.
Adding to the race’s allure is the option of adding a touring component, he continued. When not racing, runners can enjoy visits to the Galilee, travel down to the Dead Sea for a spa experience that includes massages and mud baths, and add an excursion to Jordan if they choose.
Diesenhause-Unitours, which has been hired to promote the Marathon and serve as the official travel agent, is equipped to make all arrangements, he said.
Around 1,200 rooms have been allocated to marathon participants, mostly near the start line but some with views of the Old City walls.
Oded Grofman, director of the Israel Government Tourist Office (IGTO), said Israel is becoming known to travellers for more than its historic and religious sites.
“There is a huge trend of people travelling around the world to participate in different marathons,” he said.
Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat, who has run five marathons in cities around the world, “is pushing the city as a normal city and trying to expand the number of tourists,” Grofman said. “I think [the marathon] can be a great tradition for the city.”
The IGTO is increasingly receiving calls from people interested in hiking and biking trips to the Holy Land and recently, representatives of groups planning a trip to Israel are inquiring about a sports component to their visit as well.
The Jerusalem Marathon will sponsor an information booth at the 2011 Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon Exhibition from Oct. 14 to 15. Grofman hopes to grow the number of Canadian runners at the Jerusalem Marathon to perhaps 50.
“We will build the market step by step,” Grofman said.