Mercedes Marathon

The Mercedes Marathon is an annual February running event, founded in 2002 by Valerie McLean. The event attracts athletes from across the United States and around the world to take part in the 26.22 mile race through the streets of both Birmingham and portions of Homewood and Mountain Brook. The weekend event also features a half marathon, a kids' marathon and a 5K as part of the event. For 2007, over 8,100 participants were expected to compete in one or more events. 686 completed the full marathon. 856 runners pre-registered for the 2009 marathon.

For 2009 the course of the marathon was changed to a double-loop entirely within the city limits of Birmingham. The impetus for the change was the difficulty of making two crossings over Red Mountain.

The primary sponsor for the event since its inception has been the German automaker Mercedes-Benz who operates their lone American facility in Vance, Alabama, halfway between Bessemer and Tuscaloosa. Proceeds of nearly a half million dollars from the event went to the local charities including Children's Hospital, The Bell Center and Kid One for the 2007 event.

Top men's marathon finishing times

• February 10, 2002 - Elly Rono of Kenya with a time of 2:21:00 (record)
• February 9, 2003 - Chuck Engle of Carroll, Ohio with a time of 2:36:14
• February 8, 2004 - Mike Korir with a time of 2:30:11
• February 13, 2005 - Sammy Nyamongo of Asheville, North Carolina with a time of 2:26:17.15
• February 12, 2006 - Ibrahim Limo of Albuquerque, New Mexico with a time of 2:29:32.44
• February 11, 2007 - Esteban Vanegas of Alma, Michigan with a time of 2:34:13
• February 10, 2008 - Gilbert Kiptoo of Danbury, Connecticut with a time of 2:23:18
• February 15, 2009 - David Cheruiyot of Kenya (via Las Cruces, New Mexico) with a time of 2:23:25

Top women's marathon finishing times

• 2002 - Olena Fadeyeva of the Ukraine with a time of 2:40:00 (record)
• 2003 - Cheryl Boessow of Birmingham with a time of 3:06:56
• 2004 - Dorota Gruca of Las Cruces, New Mexico with a time of 2:56:06
• 2005 - Alison Holinka of Chapel Hill, North Carolina with a time of 2:53:48.50
• 2006 - Jessica Bilss of Merrillville, Indiana with a time of 2:57:16.58
• 2007 - Christy Nielsen of Omaha, Nebraska with a time of 2:53:06
• 2008 - Atalelech Asfaw of Bronx, New York with a time of 2:46:14
• 2009 - Jessica Jacobs of Maylene with a time of 2:54:58

References

• Mercedes Marathon Results
• Crenshaw, Solomon Jr. (February 10, 2007) "Race weekend bigger than imagined." Birmingham News
• Crenshaw, Solomon Jr. (September 28, 2008) "Marathon will double-loop, stay in Birmingham city limits." Birmingham News

External links

• Mercedes Marathon official website