[URBAN BEAT] İstanbul’s growing running community

Riva Road Races

The Riva Road Races, a new series of running events in the Black Sea village of Riva, are an important step in the development of İstanbul’s running culture. In this city of 14 million, there are surprisingly few 10k runs, leaving new runners few opportunities to compete at medium distances before taking on the 15k and full marathon races in the Eurasia Marathon.

Organized by volunteer sports advocates Zeynel Alhan and Çağlar İbrahim Taş, the Riva Road Races occur bi-monthly. Participation has grown, largely through announcements on Facebook, from 22 runners in the first 10k event in May to 199 in the fourth 10k race, held in mid-November. In September’s triathlon, eight men (led by Duygun Yurteri, who finished in 1:08:01) and eight women (led by Bahar Saygılı, 1:23:21) completed the full event (750m swim, 20k bicycle, 5k run). Taş notes the events have been successful because they have attracted runners of all ages -- youth, middle age and older. Adidas has become a sponsor, and Alhan and Taş aim to hold a 15k race and half-marathon in the coming year.

Most runners appreciate the chance not only to compete but to run along a course that cuts through pastures where sheep, horses and cows graze. Alhan says safety, rather than scenery, is the primary concern in organizing these events. The gendarmerie and medics with ambulances are present for each event.

RunTurkey

Having selected İstanbul for one of 25 cities participating in its Human Race last year, Nike continues to sponsor four running groups in different parts of İstanbul and has expanded its RunTurkey program to include Ankara and izmir. In July, RunTurkey organized a 5k evening fun run. With the aid of a DJ, four trainers led hundreds of runners through a series of warm-up exercises before the race began. On the edge of the sea with the sun setting behind the city skyline, it was a memorable run and was followed by a party at the finish line.

İstanbul Eurasia Marathon

Held this year on Oct. 18, İstanbul’s 31st Eurasia Marathon reached new highs, in spite of heavy rains just before the start. More than 800 runners (131 women and 788 men) completed the full marathon, 22 percent more than in 2008. Turkish participation was up by a third in the full marathon and 31 percent in the 15k race. With nearly 2,200 finishers, overall participation in the 15k grew an amazing 41 percent over last year. The numbers are a cause for celebration.

İstanbul celebrated champion runners as well as its growing running culture. Bizunesh Urgesa of Ethiopia finished first (2:32:45) in the women’s full marathon. Ashu Kasim of Ethiopia was second (2:34:54) and Svetlana Semova of Russia placed third (2:37:04). Bahar Doğan of Turkey finished fifth (2:38:54). In the men’s full marathon, Kasime Adilo Roba of Ethiopia placed first (2:12:14); Faisal Baden Shebto of Qatar was second (2:12:54) and Joseph Kahugu of Kenya finished third (2:13:32). Bekir Karayel was the first Turkish male to cross the finish line (2:23:17).

Henok Teseaye Heyi of Ethiopia won the men’s 15k in 45:18. Mare Ibrahimova of Azerbaijan won the women’s 15k in 50:56.

Again this year, as every year, tens of thousands of people joined the 8k Fun Run for the chance to walk across the Bosporus Bridge, otherwise closed to pedestrians. For the first time, however, organizers offered timing chips to a limited number of participants in the 8k Fun Run. 753 runners (301 women and 452 men) took advantage of the offer. It is worth noting that 35 percent of Turkish runners in the 8k run were women, as compared to 15 percent in the 15k and eight percent in the 42.2k event.

First Zeytinburnu road race

Zeytinburnu (the district just west of İstanbul’s historic peninsula) took a big step in the right direction with its first annual Republic Day Run on Nov. 1. Braving cold, blustery winds, 224 runners (20 women and 204 men) completed the seven kilometer course. Zeytinburnu Mayor Murat Aydın, seeking to increase participation in next year’s event, told runners that the race would start in the afternoon (14:00, Friday, Oct. 29, 2010) and that medals would be made of real gold and silver.

Good places for running in İstanbul

For those looking for good places to run in İstanbul, keep in mind that the city’s best running paths are along the waterfronts. Visitors to the city might choose a hotel with easy access to running paths. A hotel in Bebek (on the European side), provides perfect access to the concrete path stretching approximately 15 km from Kuruçeşme to Sarıyer. Those who stay in Kadıköy, Caddebostan or Bostancı (on the Asian side), have easy access to the 20 km path next to the Marmara Sea.

From Sultanahmet, in the heart of historic İstanbul, one can run on nearly continuous sidewalks and paths that follow the walls of Constantinople. From the Hagia Sophia, run through Gülhane Park to the Bosphorus, then follow the path (to the right) along the Marmara Sea to the western defense walls. Then north along the walls (first constructed in the 5th century) to the Golden Horn and back to Gülhane Park. This course is roughly 20 km.

If you stay in Nişantaşı, Maçka or Taksim, Maçka Park has a soft-surface running path, which is a nice break from the usual concrete. The track at Galatasaray Football Stadium in Mecidiyeköy is open to the public in the morning. Business travelers staying in Levent or Maslak must resort to a running machine or take a 10-minute taxi ride to the Bosporus. On Saturday mornings, the Adım Adım runners welcome everyone to the Belgrade Forest (www.adimadim.org).