The big winners of the 23th edition of the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon are Bernard Koech, from Kenya, at the men’s category, Edna Kiplagat, also from Kenya, at the women’s category, and the Spaniard Roger Puigbo at the wheelchairs’ race.

At the male’s race, Koech has been confirmed as the favorite, finishing the contest in 59:54 minutes, though failing to earn the promised 50 000 Euros prize for the world record (58:30), established by Zerzenay Tadese, from Eritrea, in 2011, at this very event.

At the female’s competition, the world champion Edna Kiplagat from Kenya, who has already won the races in New York and Los Angeles, has triumphed in Lisbon with 1:08:48.

From Maratona Clube de Portugal came the best Portuguese athletes in the competition: José Rocha is our best man, in 11th place, and Dulce Félix is our best woman, ranked 5th.

In the wheelchairs’ race, Roger Puigbo from Spain is Lisbon’s winner, leaving behind in 2nd place the Swiss Heinz Frei and the Spanish Jordi Madera in 3rd.

This year, the Vitalis Rosa Mota award was received by Frank Shorter, Olympic champion at the Munich Marathon in 1972; this award is given to individuals with an important role in the development of athletics.

The former American athlete believes his Olympic gold medal has increased the number of runners in his country.

Shorter came to Portugal specifically to receive the award and felt quite glad to reunite with Rosa Mota after such long time; knowing the Portuguese legend for around 30 years, he joked:

“Rosa, you needed only to invite me for a visit, there was no need to give me an award!

Here are some achievements of the honoree:

• Gold medal at the Olympic marathon in Munich 1972
• Silver medal at the Olympic marathon in Montreal 1976
• Two gold medals at the Pan American Games in 1971, one for the marathon and the other for the 10,000 m
• Winner of the Fukuoka Marathon in 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974
• National cross-country champion between 1970 and 1973

The Vitalis Rosa Mota award previous winners are:

1999 – Alberto Juantorena

2000 – Gelindo Bordi

2001 – Carlos Lopes

2002 – Grete Waitz

2003 – Francisco Lázaro

2004 – David Bedford

2005 – Rosa Mota

2006 – Albertina Dias

2007 – Rita Borralho

2008 – António Pinto

2009 – Manuela Machado

2010 – António Leitão

2011 – Armando Aldeagalega

2012 – Carlos Móia

The Electricity Museum, in Belém, hosted the press conference that launched the 23rd edition of the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, 48 hours before the big day.

It is expected to be the most participated Lisbon Half Marathon ever, considering the 37 000 registrations and the amount of race numbers offered by sponsors. Thus, 40.000 people will be crossing the river Tejo on foot. The big news is that on this edition the Portuguese were very quick doing the paperwork and registrations, leaving only 6000 free vacancies for the last period of registration.

Last minute news concern a change in the course, which will include a passage by Cais do Sodré, a recently improved area of the city: a victory for both the city and the race. After this announcement, Maratona Clube de Portugal president and event organizer Carlos Móia thanked Paco Borão, president of the AIMS- Association of International Marathons, Jorge Vieira, president of the Portuguese Athletics Federation and Alexandre Mestre, secretary of state for Sports and Youth.

Paulo Campos Costa, head of EDP’s image and communication department,  reminded that the partnership with the Lisbon Half Marathon is the company’s eldest, and decided to introduce the new graphic image in this race.

Jorge Vieira, president of the Portuguese Athletics Federation, encouraged the Portuguese to be more active in order to improve the results on an international level, praising Maratona Clube de Portugal for their work in this regard: “We must combine efforts to make the coexistence of federated athletics with popular athletics possible”, the president said.

Alexandre Mestre, secretary of state for Sports and Youth, stressed the fact that this race has participants of all ages, of both sexes, of different social status and different nationalities, being even capable to engage people in terms of employment. On behalf of the Government and the Portuguese, Alexandre Mestre thanked Carlos Móia for everything he has done for sports in this country.

The president of AIMS, Paco Borao, has welcomed “the most important half marathon in the world”, ensuring he was not just being nice because “this is the race that established the world record”. Paco Borao finished his speech hoping for good weather and a big party at the day of the race.

May the celebrations be great!

The president of Maratona Club de Portugal, Carlos Móia, says “This is the maximum number accepted by the organization in order to ensure all the conditions to those participating in the race. It is not the number of applications but rather the anticipation in which the maximum number has been reached that it is quite surprising”.

“These are times when all events, whether sports or cultural, have been suffering pronounced breaks in terms of participants and public”, says Carlos Móia, recalling that some Champions League games have not reached 37 000 spectators in the stadiums, in a country where football is the dominant sport. Therefore, “it is particularly rewarding to see that this event has not suffered the slightest break”.

Carlos Móia believes the event would easily reach 42 000 participants if the registrations had been kept open and no kind of constraints had taken place. According to the president of Maratona Club de Portugal, this is something that shows “the vitality and the recognition of this race among the Portuguese”.

The EDP Half Marathon will feature some of the best international athletes and a persuasive 50 000€ prize will be offered to beat the world’s record, for both male and female. The record was set in the 2010 edition of the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon.

The distribution of race numbers will begin on the 20th, in SportExpo, located at Belém’s dock, next to the Electricity Museum. SportExpo will have some novelties and the main sponsors will be present. The organization expects the participants to get their race numbers before the last day of term. “It is very important that participants pass at Belém’s dock, right from the first day, to pick up their equipment and race numbers. Anticipation could mean more comfort for the participants, as the last day can eventually have longer queues and some confusion”, explains the president of Maratona Club de Portugal.

A month from the start of the event, the 23rd Edition of the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon was presented to the press. In the CTT Station, at Restauradores, in the center of Lisbon, Carlos Móia, president of Maratona Clube de Portugal, noted with sheer delight the large volume of registrations already recorded in this edition, despite the austerity environment felt across the country: over 33 thousand. Such great number of participants is unprecedented at this point.

Among over 33 000 athletes, many are foreigners, because, as was recalled by the organizer of the event, which renewed the IAAF gold seal, the world half marathon record continues in Lisbon, bringing ​​a lot of candidates in search of this year’s 50 thousand euros prize.

Miguel Salema Garção, corporate communication director of CTT, was honored to receive this this press conference at his home, and noted the presence of CTT, for several years supporting such an extraordinary event as the wheelchairs race.

Also present at the event, the vice provider of Santa Casa da Misericórdia, Fernando Paes Afonso, stressed the support of this institution to so many sporting activities, of which the Lisbon Half Marathon is one more example. He concluded emphasizing that, in the events supported by Santa Casa, there is a guaranteed win: either a prize or the certainty that we are helping.

On behalf of the Secretary of State for Sport and Youth, absent from the country, Lídia Praça reaffirmed the support of Instituto da Juventude to this initiative, recognizing its great importance in encouraging sports among young people, and wished every success on behalf of the government of Portugal.

Finally, Adidas, which has unveiled the new LHM T-shirt, scheduled for the day of the race the worldwide launch of new running shoes, which speaks well of the international prestige attained by this race.

When there is still over a month for EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, the 30,000 registrations’ mark has been largely exceeded. 32,000 people are now confirmed to participate in the most popular race in Portuguese athletics. A number never before reached so far in advance in any of the 23 previous editions.

The unprecedented level of enrolment is expected to maintain in the coming days, so the organization informs that it can only provide another 6000 registrations. Once these have been completed, the organization will have to terminate the registration process so it can respond effectively to all logistical requirements that an event of this size entails.

“Despite all my experience, the truth is that these numbers surprise me. Amongst all the negative news, I hope the Lisbon Half Marathon can bring some optimism to all those who honour us with their presence. The number of registrations attained is truly encouraging,” said Carlos Móia, president of Maratona Clube de Portugal, who believes “the registrations cannot remain open much longer.”

Official Registration Location

Registration at Banif Agencies – limit: 35 000

Banif is the official location for registering in the EDP Half Marathon and the Vodafone Mini Marathon, offering a special price to all who register directly in the country’s agencies. If you prefer and are a Banif client, please sign up online using the website www.banif.pt.

Prices at Banif Agencies

Until January 31 February 8, 2013

• Mini Marathon – € 13.00

• Half Marathon – € 16.00

From February 9 to March 15 2013

• Mini Marathon – € 19.00

• Half Marathon – € 22.00

  “Special VIP” Registrations

 There will be registrations for “special VIP” bib numbers, subject to a limit. The registration fee for VIP bib numbers is EUR 100.00. Holders of this type of “special VIP” bib number will be entitled to:

•  Transportation from the events’ official hotel to the race start;
• Direct access to the front of the race;
• Area for collecting equipment;
• Entry in the VIP area (after the race) for a breakfast.

 Online Registrations

Online registrations for the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon and the Vodafone Mini Marathon are now available. Sign up early to get the best prices and secure a place at the starting line.

Click here to begin the process.

Prices include all Active.com registration fees

 Registration:

Event Name: EDP Lisbon Half Marathon

Date / Time: Sunday, March 24, 10.30 am

Starting Location: Bridge 25th of April, Lisbon, Portugal

Online prices (all fees included)

Half Marathon

€ 33 – Until January 31, 2013

€ 39 – From 1 Feb. to 15 Mar., or until exhausted

€ 50 – At SportExpo (provided they do not run out and cash payment only)

Mini Marathon

€ 25 – Until January 31, 2013

€ 29 – From 1 Feb. to 15 Mar., or until exhausted

€ 35 – At SportExpo (provided they do not run out and cash only payment)

Registration prices include:

Half Marathon

• Adidas Technical T-Shirt
• Free Transportation in Lisbon – Metro, Carris and Fertagus – and on the south bank – MTS, TST and Fertagus
• Insurance
• Water and Powerade supply
• Participation Medal
• Race Bag
• Official Time and Diploma

Mini Marathon

• Cotton Adidas T-shirt
• Free Transportation in Lisbon – Metro, Carris and Fertagus – and on the south bank – MTS, TST and Fertagus
• Insurance
• Water and Powerade Supply
• Participation Medal
• Race Bag

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The British athlete crossed the line more than one minute ahead of his more direct pursuers, the Spanish Roger Puigbo and the Swiss Heinz Frei.

This impressive record in the wheelchairs’ race joins other historical marks achieved in the Lisbon half marathon, like the distance world record in the male ranking, by Zersenay Tadese, in 2010.

In the women’s category, the podium was entirely Swiss, with Manuela Schar occupying the top spot, followed by Sandra Keller and Patricia Hager.

Men
1 WEIR, DAVID 00:43:41 GBR
2 PUIGBO, ROGER 00:44:50 SPA
3 FREI, HEINZ 00:44:51 SWI
4 MADERA, JORDI 00:46:33 SPA
5 SCHABORT, KRIGE 00:47:12 SAF
6 LAWSON, SIMON 00:47:48 GBR
7 LOTSCHER, TOBIAS 00:48:29 SWI
8 SILVA, ALEXANDRINO 00:48:35 POR
9 MCARTHUR, BRETT 00:48:36 AUS
10 SAMUELSSON, PIERRE 00:49:11 SWE

Women
1 SCHAR, MANUELA 00:55:24 SWI
2 HAGER, SANDRA 00:58:46 SWI
3 KELLER, PATRICIA 01:01:18 SWI
4 VERVOOT, MARIEKE 01:02:42 BEL
5 SOTURNO, YADIRA 01:22:00 VEN