Dima and Lama Hattab Jordanian marathoners without peer

1/26/2003 4:10:00 AM


A career that began in short distance running rapidly developed into marathon proportions.
by : Lubna Khader, Star Writer

JORDAN (Star) - A career that began in short distance running rapidly developed into marathon proportions. Twins Lama and Dima Hattab, 21, have become the first Jordanian female athletes ever to compete as marathon runners. The Star sat down with the pair to discuss their experiences and expectations, particularly for the upcoming Desert Cup.The pair began early, running around the yard and back and forth to school. With their mother's support and encouragement, the girls began to compete in school championships, and they began to win."We started in 1997," said Dima, "training in Petra Stadium for short distances like the 400 and 800 meter. Coach Ahmed Al Masri saw us and encouraged us as well. He taught us the principles of short distance running, joining us as coach at the Amman club."They continued short distance running until 1999 when they fell under the tutelage of coach Siham Neamat. It was she that pushed the pair toward marathon distances. "It was coach Neamat that suggested we participate in half a marathon as a beginning, so we took part in the Dead Sea Half Marathon," explained Dima.Lama won third place and Dima fourth. "It was a great result as first time participants. Our participation in the marathon qualified us for nomination to the Jordanian team," said Lama. The two formidable athletes explained they had to compete with the men because, up until their arrival, there were no Jordanian females participating in half marathons. They ran a 1 hour:38 minute half marathon. The federation required only a 1:41 to qualify. With that they were a part of the team. "We were able to take our place on the Jordanian team participating in the Pan-Arab Games taking place in Amman in 1999," said Lama.The 1999 Pan-Arab Games included marathon participants from Morocco, Algeria, Iraq, Syria, and Tunisia with a total of 17 participants. The competition was tough, but Lama won seventh place. That led to training for the two in Iraq with the Jordanian team. The pair explained it was difficult to move from short distance runs to marathons. "There is a big difference between the two," explained Lama. "In short distance you only need five minutes to warm-up for a race. In long you need at least half an hour. The whole discipline is different. The amount of training time is near double. Marathons require you to run with a strategy."In 2000 the pair participated in the Dead to Red Marathon, designed to promote and encourage marathon running in the Kingdom. Participants were from Jordan and abroad. The girls put together a team of exclusively Jordanian runners, three girls and five boys. They went out to win the race for Jordan and came home with first place.Following Red to Dead they were trained by a Chinese coach, Dai Dehol, for three months. "He provided us tremendous support right when we needed it," said Lama.This led up to 2000's Dead Sea Marathon. Dima participated as part of the "Ultra" marathon, so named for any run over 50 Km. Lama participated as a marathoner, running 42 Km. They both took home first place. Dima was the only Arab participant in her race. Later that same year they made the decision to participate in the grueling Desert Cup through Wadi Rum, a 168 Km race. "There were more than 250 participants from 13 countries. We showed up and found we were not only youngest women participating but the only Arabs participants in the competition," said Dima. They came in ninth. "It was a great challenge for us. This was the first time we participated in such a long distance as this," she continued.They followed that challenge with Morocco's Marathon Des Sables in 2001. The Marathon Des Sables is 242 km, divided into six stages over seven days. It includes more than 700 hundred participants from all over the world. The first day is 25 Km, then 34 Km, 38 Km. The fourth and fifth day stretched it to a tremendous 82 Km. The sixth dropped down to a 'marathon' length of less than 50km, while the seventh day pushed them back into 'Ultra' territory. Dima came in 36th, Lama 37th out of 150 female participants.The two returned to Jordan's own Desert Cup in 2001. This time participants pushed 236 with 37 female participants. Lama and Dima were running fourth into the last stage, when they got lost. The Desert Cup's environ is tremendously confusing and challenging, but with the aid of a mobile phone the two got back on track and still managed to finish. They crossed the line, hand-in-hand, for a tie at ninth.In Cup team participation Lama, along with teammates Salameh Al Aqrea and Mohammed Al Sweti, won third place amongst 15 teams. Lama and Dima both expressed a common concern of athletes in the Kingdom: Funding. Like so many Jordanian athletes, their sport needs sponsors so these tremendous athletes can compete in local and international events. "Running a marathon is expensive," explained Lama and Dima. "Taking part in the Desert Cup for a single participant costs $1500. Participation in marathons outside the Kingdom cost at least $3000. As you can imagine, without sponsorship it's difficult to participate."The two explained that the Federation had not organized any female marathons since the conclusion of Pan Arab Games in 1999. But the twins have another concern. "The Federation was pushing us to participate in races they chose for us, all of them short distance runs. We were forced to withdraw from the Jordanian team. As we explained there is a big difference between preparing for short distance and long distance runs. We couldn't afford to stay. It would have reduced our ability," explained the pair, both hoping recent changes in the Federation might bring needed change. Lama and Dima did want to make clear their heartfelt thanks for all of the media support and attention they have received. That focus and the companies that have sponsored their participation are the only way the two-some could continue. Lama and Dima are not resting on their laurels. They'll be in Berlin the last week of September to participate in the Berlin Marathon. In October, they'll take another run at the Dead Sea Ultra Marathon, before concluding the year with the tremendous Desert Cup in November. No mobiles will be allowed this year. We wish them the best of luck!