World Championships Marathon - Doha 2019

This year's competition took place in the sweltering heat of Doha, the capital city of the State of Qatar, and extended across the magnificent seven-kilometre Doha Corniche. The Corniche is a horseshoe shape boulevard along the beautiful Doha Bay, which athletes were required to complete a rigorous total of 6 laps.

Despite the race commencing at midnight, the capital's temperatures retained a scorching 90 degrees Fahrenheit with a 70 per cent humidity level. Almost half of the 68 female contestants who started the race were forced to quit, due to the unbearable conditions, with many needing medical assistance.

British athlete Charlotte Purdue was the sole entrant representing the UK in the race. Unfortunately, she too was forced to withdraw from the Doha marathon after completing just three laps of the course. Sixteen athletes reportedly failed to reach the marathons halfway point as conditions started to take their toll. Even the most determined runners were seen to be stepping out of this unbearable event, after doing all they could too cool down. Earlier in the week, Purdue told Athletics Weekly that she felt 'as prepared as possible' for the IAAF World Championships Marathon, following challenging training sessions in heat chambers ahead of the event.

However, Charlotte admitted that she found conditions in the Dubai holding camp much more challenging than she had anticipated. She even clocked an impressive half-marathon personal best of 68:08 at the Great North Run earlier this year, which only added to her already remarkable reputation. Back in 2017, Purdue finished the marathon in 13th position and had hoped to improve this achievement for 2019. Unfortunately, the third-fastest British female marathon runner was forced to end her challenge prematurely as the unbearable conditions were just too much.

Kenyan runner, Ruth Chepngetich was first in the Doha Marathon, with a gold medal time of 2 hours and 32 minutes. Only 40 of the 68 female athletes were able to complete the race, leaving organisers of the 2019 World Championships facing extreme criticism from competitors. As conditions proved difficult, concerns have also been raised for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2022, which will take place in the same location. This year's disturbing record of failed attempts have led to questions around the safety of athletes, as scenes of runners being stretchered off of the course emerged. The Sun released photographs from Friday's event, which showed female runners collapsing to the ground in tears. Even those who completed the marathon could be seen struggling to recover enough to celebrate.

The men's Doha Marathon took place on Sunday the 6th of October 2019 and fortunately conditions were less aggressive than the preceding women's event. The capital's temperatures were reported to be around 49 per cent humidity, less brutal than the earlier 70 per cent that the female athletes faced, although temperatures remained high at 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Out of the 73 athletes who started the course, 55 were able to finish with British athlete Callum Hawkins missing out on a medal by 6 seconds. Hawkins managed to finish in fourth place, despite leading in the final mile.

The Scottish runner finished in fourth place back in 2017 and was hopeful of improving with a medal-winning position in Doha. Hawkins told a source that he had been preparing for the intense Doha conditions by training in his garden shed with heaters he bought from a supermarket. He hoped that his unconventional methods of preparation would help him prepare for the problematic temperatures he would soon face in the Qatar Capital. In 2018, Hawkins sadly collapsed in the 25th mile, while leading at the Commonwealth Games. Doha was supposed to be the athlete's chance to rectify his previous heart-breaking defeats, but the dream was short-lived. Despite running superbly, his efforts were not enough, and Hawkins painfully missed out on a medal-winning finish by 6 seconds.

After two-thirds of the race, the 27-year-old appeared to be slipping behind the leading athletes. However, after a quick surge, Hawkins claimed the lead in the Doha Marathon with less than one mile remaining. However, he shortly fell back to the fourth position behind Ethiopian opponents Lelisa Desisa and Mosinet Geremew with Kenyan runner Amos Kipruto closely behind. After triumphantly enduring the unbearable Doha heat, Hawkins finished in fourth place with a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes and 57 seconds. He told the Telegraph following the race that he was left feeling "Gutted", adding that he had given it his all and “Couldn't do any more".

Winner of the race, Lelisa Desia claimed that the race, for him, was not difficult as he had been training, especially for the harsh Doha conditions. He went on to tell the Telegraph that he found the course very similar to his training sessions. In the marathon's final stages, the Ethiopian and 2013 silver medallist began an exciting sprint for the lead, seeing him claim a victorious gold medal finish.

Callum Hawkins told the BBC following the race that he "really wanted a medal" after his fourth-place finish in the Commonwealth Games 18 months ago. The Scottish athlete went on to admit that his Ethiopian opponents were too strong in the end, but he is hopeful of gaining pre-selection for the 2020 Tokyo Marathon next year. Callum Hawkins can be proud of his efforts in Doha this year, proving he has improved following last year’s photographs of him collapsing at Australia's Commonwealth Games. Although he did not finish with a medal-winning position this year, he has delivered an excellent tolerance of these severe running conditions and will be hoping to improve on his ninth-placed marathon finish in next year’s Olympic Games.

The upcoming Tokyo Marathon will take place on the 1st of March 2020. We wish Callum Hawkins, and all other applicants the very best of luck. Why not show your support with a 'Road To Tokyo bracelet.