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Fez – The Dila Sports Development Association (DSDA) organized on February 25 the third edition of the Fez Running Festival. The event featured 5,10 and 21 kilometer circuits.
According to the organizers of the marathon event, hundreds of runners submitted their registration credentials on Thursday, February 22, at the main gate of Parc Amerique Latine in Fez.
The registration fees for this event were fixed at MAD 120 ($12) for participants in all 3 categories.
On the eve of the main event, a two-kilometer race was held on February 24 for children , which lasted for 1 hour and 45 minutes.
The rest of the marathon races in the adult category took place on February 25, and lasted for almost 3 hours.
Key voices from the race
Poised on the sidelines of this exciting event, Morocco World News (MWN) took some exclusive interviews with key finalists and organizers of the running festival.
Khalid Erratibi, winner of the 21 kilometers circuit, described the competition as fierce in the first 10 kilometers, however, he managed to adapt himself to the race in the remaining 11.
“There were many difficulties throughout the race, but that didn’t stop me from emerging victorious,” Erratibi said during an interview with MWN.
Erratibi added that his was the first time he has ever run the marathon in the city. “I finished the race in third place thanks to the enormous efforts of my personal coach, Hassan Elghachoui, whom I (would) like to thank after God,” he remarked.
He continued, “I dedicate this achievement to my friends and fellow athletes who assisted me throughout my training. I also like to express my gratitude to the organizers and the journalists who covered this event, offering us both support and encouragement.”
The 21 kilometers circuit runner-up, Said Asmaar, for his part, described the event as successful, noting that the organizers deserve all the credit in this regard.
“I have been suffering from an injury which almost stopped me from competing. However, my love for this sport pushed me to participate eventually”, Asmaar told MWN.
“The circuit was a hard one, but fortunately I managed to finish second”, he added.
Asmaar also remarked that winning such a competition after one attempt is an impossible task, therefore, he took it upon himself to take part in other events as part of his preparation for this year’s edition.
MWN also interviewed Abdelali Chaaibi, winner of the 5 kilometers circuit, who commented that the event took place in very favorable conditions.
“The race overall was not that hard, however, I only picked up my pace after the first 1.5 kilometers”, he said.
“This is my first time participating in the marathon”, Chaaibi added, noting that he took part in a few running events in the past, but he still considers his participation in the Fez Running Festival his best achievement thus far.
For their part, the officials of the Fez Running Festival also spoke with MWN about the finalists for the event. “In the 10 kilometer male category, Bouazza Kessaoui won first place, Adnan Mouhammadi finished second, and Marouane Fethi came third.”
They added that in the women’s category, Aya Fethi won first place of the 5 kilometer circuit, followed by Ghita Behari and Youssra Houssni.
In the women’s 10 kilometer cricut, Soukaina Hamam emerged while Fatima-Zahra Elbouchi came second and Hanan Znibech in third.
As for the 21 kilometers circuit, Meriem Bennani finished first, while Lamiae Lehlou came second, followed by Rim Lehlou crossing the line as third.
MWN also spoke to former Moroccan athlete and Fez Marathon organizer, Abderrahime Bouramdane, who said that this event encourages civil society to engage in sporting events, provided the positive mental and physical impact such events can have on participants.
It is also a chance to try something new and enjoy this sporting activity, he added.
Bouramdane continued on to say that the Fez Running Festival will include other categories next year and shall become a trademark in the city.
The Fez Running Festival; for sport and for charity
The marathon kicked off at the City Center Park. Participants ran through the Palace Gate, Bab Boujloud, then through Jnan Sbil garden, Bab Riafa, and Bab Al Makina in the old part of town, before heading back to their starting point, marking the end of the challenging, yet spectacular event.
During the circuit, athletes crossed large avenues and boulevards all throughout Fez, including Essdiens boulevard, Alaouites boulevard, Hassane II avenue, and Allal ben Abdellah avenue.
Upon completing the race, winners of all 3 categories received medals for their notable achievements.
The award ceremony was attended by a number of prominent Fassi personalities such as former Olympic medalist Brahim Lahlafi, the Bacha of Fez, and several National Security officials.
The event was also sponsored by a number of Moroccan companies and institutions, including SONAC, SIOF, and Borj Fez.
According to the Fez marathon’s official website, this event stood out as a celebration of athleticism and history alike, in one of Morocco’s most ancient cities, Fez.
“This event represents a magical and festive occasion that brings together running enthusiasts from all over the country,” the website added.
The marathon aimed at providing a unique experience for all participants and promoting the image of Fez as Morocco’s spiritual capital.
This competition also served as a fundraiser for notable charity causes to combat chronic disease. Proceeds provided support to a number of associations for chronic illnesses including diabetes, bowel cancer, and breast cancer. The event also promoted health through sports by providing equal opportunities for participation to all Moroccan regions.
This year’s running festival comes after two successful editions in the city of Fez. The first edition took place on March 26-27, 2022, while the second was on March 11-12, 2023.
The organizers decided to hold the 2024 edition in February, since the month of March coincides with the holy month of Ramadan in Morocco.
Next year’s edition is expected to feature 3 categories, including the 10, 21 and 42 kilometer circuits. The time and place for this event are to be determined.
Read also: Fez to Host Third Running Marathon Festival on February 25
