Of all the races in the United Arab Emirates that I have seen, spoken about and run, this one is second only to the Abu Dhabi Striders Half Marathon/10K. So much attention goes into it that if you are able to run it, i highly advice doing so.

T-Shirts/Swag: The race has a partnership with UPS and this works out remarkably. You get the race shirt and swag bag well in advance of the race. Saucony has provided light weight racing shirts. The bold red color makes it stand out, while the RAK Half Marathon logo could be bigger, the shirt quality and material are second to none. You also get coupons for coffee, Saucony store and several other vendors. Along with this, on race day, there are gifts and goodies from other race sponsors. The medal is one of the most unique I have. The bent medal looks like a shoe string, over the races iconic design. This one doesn't just blend into a collection.

Aid Stations: This was one of the first races to truly accommodate for the heat of the emirate. Every 5km (3 miles) you had a choice between water and sports drink (tasted like gatorade, but can't be sure) but intermittently there were water stations that were well stocked and fully operational.

Course Scenery: Here is where the big let down is. RAK is one of the least scenic places to run. If part of the race was on the fabulous beaches that are not that far from the course then this immediately becomes 5 stars. While one of the mosques you see on course is fabulously designed and a testament to architecture, it blends into my memory next to the grocery stores and run down streets.

Parking/Access: There was construction on the main road, so getting in the night before was a bit of a log jam, the morning off;however, runners used the mall parking lot next to the race start, seemed pretty easy. There are also a few hotels less than a mile from the start, making for a quick walk.

Race Management: Aside from a few police officers on motor cycles that weaved through crowds of the runners, this was a very well organized, I felt safe at all times on the course, traffic wasn't an issue and the roads were wide open and made for truly a fast experience.

RAK Half Marathon has been measured as the fastest marathon in the world, a statement that I find it hard to argue with.