<P> The race is held in January each year, the first being run on 14 January 2000 . In April 2007, it was announced that the 2008 race would become the world's richest long distance running event in history, with one million dollars offered for a world record and $250,000 for first place for both the men and women . </P> <P> The 2008 race was won by Haile Gebrselassie in a time of 2: 04: 53, making it the second fastest marathon of all time, but not fast enough to claim a world record and the million dollar prize . </P> <P> The 2012 edition proved to be one of the fastest finishing fields at that point: a record of four athletes ran under two hours and five minutes . Ayele Abshero won in a course record time of 2: 04: 23 hours, which was the fourth quickest on the all - time lists and the fastest time ever run by an athlete on their marathon debut . The other podium finishers also entered the all - time top ten: runner - up Dino Sefir became the eighth fastest man with 2: 04: 50 hours, while Markos Geneti became the ninth with 2: 04: 54 hours . Behind them, Jonathan Kiplimo Maiyo became the 13th fastest man with 2: 04: 56 hours and Tadese Tola became the 16th fastest with 2: 05: 10 hours . </P> <P> The women's side was also fast: Aselefech Mergia ran a course and Ethiopian record time of 2: 19: 31 hours to win, becoming the seventh fastest woman ever . For the first time in history, the top three runners of a race all finished under two hours and twenty minutes: debutante and runner - up Lucy Wangui Kabuu became the eighth fastest woman with a time of 2: 19: 34 hours and Mare Dibaba became the 15th fastest woman in 2: 19: 52 hours . Behind her, fellow Ethiopians Bezunesh Bekele and Aberu Kebede moved up to the 16th and 17th fastest of all - time . </P>

Who won berlin marathon 4 times dubai marathon 3 times and to complete 42k within 2hrs 4 mins