Around a median they ran—7 loops under a dark sky and hot and thick air. The scene itself was surreal. 

Minutes after a large fireworks display, and with the Emir of Qatar watching from an ornate amphitheater, the women’s marathon began along the Doha Corniche just before midnight. It’s always hot in Doha, but this September has been warm even by their standards. Earlier in the day, the IAAF released a statement. After much questioning, the race would be run despite the weather.

Run they did in conditions, scenery and time of day unlike any of past World Championships. Here was the most unique championship marathon in history by the numbers:

2:07 

Time on the clock when Ruth Chepngetich pulled away, leaving Rose Chelimo, Helalia Johannes and Edna Kiplagat. This is not to be confused with 2:05 AM, which is the time of day when the move happened. 

It was the first global title for Chepnegitch who earlier this year ran the third-fastest time in history at Dubai. By the finish, Chepnegtich won by over a minute in 2:32.43. Chelimo, the reigning champion, took second and Johannes was third. 

91 degrees and 73% humidity 

The weather reading at the start of the race. The midnight start time and the conditions made this a spectacle. The majority of the questions—before and after the race— were about just how athletes were going to run a marathon in a sauna. 

28

The number of women who didn’t finish the race. There were some who walked off, others were helped off in a wheelchair and even a few needed the use of a stretcher. 40 women finished meaning that only 59% of the starters crossed the line. The entire Ethiopian team dropped out.   

2

U.S. finishes in the top 15, led by Groner. The full-time nurse ran a measured, controlled race to place sixth in 2:38:44. Carrie Dimoff was the second American across the line in 13th. After the race, Groner said she stayed on east coast time since she arrived in Doha, going to bed at 6 AM and waking up at 2 PM. For her the race began at 5 in the evening. The mother of three said it was the hardest race of her career. “It’s for my children,” Groner said after the race. “It’s all for them to show them that you can do things with hard work.”

Dimoff trained in a heat chamber to prepare for the race. She said she got through the race by thinking about a different family member each lap—beginning with her late father who passed away earlier this year. “He was my biggest running fan and he didn’t get to know that I was here so the first lap was for him,” Dimoff said.   

Probably a 1000

The number of wet towels that athletes were using throughout the race. Some wore them around their neck for long stretches at a time. Others stuffed them down their shirts. Before Saturday, I’d never seen someone stuff a wet towel down their shirt in any facet of life. 

As promised, water was in abundance at the race. IAAF president Seb Coe said that they’d hand out more water here than at any other marathon. Runners held on to their water bottles like running backs cradling a football. Chepngetich even grabbed a drink in the final 400 meters.

American Roberta Groner said she grabbed her first water around the 3-kilometer mark and almost always was holding a bottle throughout the race. 

6

The amount of Qatari police officers who assisted me when I asked for the name of the structure the Emir was sitting in for the first half of the race. After using Google translate, they settled on the “the princely podium.”

8

Amount of times I wished I could change my shirt. The course was strangely accessible for media, which was great. I was able to saunter around the course and stand right next to the street as the athletes ran by. After being outside for 15 minutes, I soon realized it was cooler walking than standing still because moving forward generated the slightest breeze.