JERUSALEM, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- About 7,000 runners on Friday competed in the annual Dead Sea Marathon races along the southern shores of the salt lake in southeastern Israel, the lowest place on earth.
The races, of a full marathon, half marathon, 50 km, 10 km, and 5 km, included a running section towards the center of the sea on the border embankment between Israel and Jordan in the southern part of the Dead Sea.
Normally, only security forces and authorized workers are allowed to enter this section, but it is open to everyone only once a year on the day of the marathon.
The winner of the men's full marathon was Spain's Sergio Turull, who timed two hours, 47 minutes and four seconds, while Israel's Anna Prais won the women's marathon in 3:21:29.
The two winners received a prize of 1,400 shekels (about 409 U.S. dollars) each.
