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Gaza Strip runs its first marathon

Report

Something new in Gaza. The tiny Palestinian territory is only just big enough to hold a marathon. But luckily for the runners, the narrow strip of land next to the Mediterranean is almost exactly 26 miles long. 

The athletes covered it top to bottom. Hundreds of school children ran the distance in relays, running a mile or so each.

The event was organised by the United Nations. Some of their international staff even ran the whole distance. 

And some of the athletes took it pretty seriously. Nader el Masri has Olympic form. The Gazan athlete competed in the 5000 metres in Beijing in 2008. He's hoping to qualify for London 2012. He ran out a pretty easy winner, finishing in two hours 43 minutes. 

Jon Donnison, BBC News