Khalid El-Boumlili Clinches Victory at Rock ‘n Roll Marathon
Born in Meknes, Morocco, on 10 April 1978, Khalid El-Boumlili has steadily made his presence known in the world of international marathons. Crossing the finish line in a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, 16 seconds, at the San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon in California, United States, on 31 May 2009, El-Boumlili notched up a victory which will no doubt go down as a highlight of his career. Covering a distance of 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers), the San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon forms part of the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon Series, which includes events in Phoenix, Arizona; Nashville, Tennessee; Seattle, Washington; Virginia Beach, Virginia; San Jose, California; Chicago, Illinois; San Antonio, Texas; and Las Vegas, Nevada.
The more than 16,000 runners competing in the San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon started off at Balboa Park on 6th Avenue at Palm heading north. The route wound its way through some of the most scenic parts of the city before reaching the finishing line on the Parade Deck in the Marine Corp Recruiting Depot. The day started off with a fine drizzle, settling into almost perfect conditions for runners. An estimated 165,000 spectators cheered their favorites on, with live music and entertainment adding to the party atmosphere.
Khalid El-Boumlili reportedly started off his competitive sporting career as a cyclist, but soon realized that his true talents lie with long-distance running. Some of the highlights of his career include his debut win at the Marrakech Marathon in January 2004; competing in the 2004 Athens Olympics; clinching first place at the Casablanca Marathon in 2006; taking second place in Dubai in 2007; and achieving third place in the Boston Marathon in April 2008. He can now add his victory at the San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon to his list of achievements.
This dedicated runner trains with the Moroccan national team at high altitude in Meknes and Irfune in Morocco. In his leisure time, El-Boumlili enjoys watching sports and listening to Middle Eastern music. No doubt his fellow Moroccans, especially the sports fans, are proud of Khalid El-Boumlili’s achievement and will be watching his progress with keen interest.
