Daily-Star Lebanon, BEIRUT: Lebanon’s 2013 Beirut marathon kicked off Sunday morning under the slogan "Run for Lebanon," with a significant turnout amid tight security measures. More than 36,000 participants representing 104 countries took part in the 42.192-kilometere route. The marathon started at 6:30 a.m. at BIEL and the closing ceremony will take place at Martyrs’ Square in Downtown Beirut.

Twenty-one professional runners are among the marathon participants including the winner of the 2008 Dutch Rotterdam marathon, Kenyan William Kipsang as well as Kenyan runner Sammy Malakwen, the winner of a Bronze medal in the 2011 Beirut marathon.

Caretaker Sports and Youth Minister Faysal Karami highlighted the need to run this year given “the difficult circumstances engulfing the country.”

“Today, we should run for Lebanon,” the minister told reporters before he joined thousands of runners at the start line.

First Lady Wafaa Sleiman who was also among the runners in Beirut said she was running to raise awareness about women's health, under the banner of “a healthy heart for women,” she said.

She also noted that the Sunday's marathon was a message to the world that "Lebanon is stronger than the challenges it faced."

The first Beirut Marathon was launched in October 2003 with nearly 6,000 participants and has since enjoyed rapid growth and success until it reached its apex this year.

High standards enabled the Beirut Marathon Association to be certified as a Bronze IAAF Road Race Label Event Organizer in 2011 and 2012.

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