Mohammed
Mourhit unveils World Half Marathon Championship course in Brussels
Philippe Vande Weyer (Le Soir Brussels)
28 March 2002 – Brussels, Belgium - Just three days after
failing to win a third title in a row at the World Cross-Country Championships in Dublin -
he quit the race after 6 km when he realized he wouldn't catch the leaders - Mohammed
Mourhit took a front seat for the official presentation of the World Half Marathon
Championships this Wednesday 27 March in Brussels.
The Moroccan-born Belgian, who will try to win on home soil as he did in the Ostend mud in 2001, saw how the Brussels organizers have drawn one of the most spectacular and picturesque courses in the history of this race for the 2002 edition, which will take place on 5 May.
The two 10.5 km loops will cover the heart of the Belgian capital city, starting on the boulevard Anspach, in front of the Brussels Stock Exchange, right behind the famous Grand Place, before passing by the Midi train station, the canal, the Botanic Garden (at the top of a steep hill considered to be the major difficulty of the race), the Parliament, the King's Palace, the Sablon (a famous antique district), the Palace of Justice, the popular neighborhood of the Marolles, the Royal Library, the Grand Place - where the runners will actually go through the City Hall (!) and, last but not least, the statue of the Manneken Pis.
Just like in 1993, the finish line will be drawn on the magnificent Grand Place itself. To prevent any foot injury that could occur on the cobblestones that pave the site, the runners will cover their last bit of the race on a carpet. A red carpet, of course!
Joggers from Belgium and around the world will be able to run on the same course in the afternoon of 5 May during a big popular race open to the general public. More information on http://www.irisrun.be.
