27/01/2012 | C. Martin
More than 18,000 runners took part in this year's Dubai marathon, which saw a record amount of entries.
Event director Peter Connerton said it was a "special year" for the annual marathon, due to so many of its participants hoping to win places on their teams for London 2012.
The race proved to be an event filled with firsts as distance runner Hendrick Ramaala became the first South African to qualify for five Olympic Games.
Ramaala beat the time he needed to achieve his place by nearly three minutes when he finished 19th in the race, clocking in at two hours, 12 minutes and 12 seconds.
The president of the UAE Athletic Federation, Ahmed Al Kamali, said that the race had never seen so many elite competitors travelling to Dubai to take part among amateur runners.
If running is not your idea of fun, there is so much more to do and see during a holiday in Dubai . After time spent exploring the vibrant desert city, why not slow down the pace on the white sands of the Maldives during a twin holiday, allowing you to get the best of both worlds?
Copyright Press Association 2012