Efe Sarı races to the top at the Istanbul Half Marathon
Efe Sarı, a student at Istanbul Medipol University, described his preparation process for the competition by saying, “For the last two months, I went to bed thinking about running and woke up thinking about running.” He secured first place in the 20–23 age category at the Istanbul Half Marathon, which holds the World Athletics “Gold Label” status. Stating that he reaped the rewards of his intense training schedule at the finish line, Sarı emphasized that his achievement was the result of disciplined and dedicated work.
At the Istanbul Half Marathon, evaluated with World Athletics’ prestigious “Gold Label” status and held for the 21st time this year, an Istanbul Medipol University student achieved a remarkable success.
Starting from the Yenikapı Rally Area, athletes followed the route along Kennedy Avenue through Kumkapı, Cankurtaran, Çatladıkapı, Sarayburnu, Sirkeci, and Eminönü before proceeding toward Karaköy. After crossing the Galata Bridge and making the return turn, the course continued through Eminönü, Unkapanı, Cibali, and Ayvansaray, concluding at the Yenikapı Event Area.
Efe Sarı, a third-year student in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the School of Health Sciences of Istanbul Medipol University, brought pride to the university by finishing first in the 20–23 age category in the 21.1-kilometer half marathon race.
“I WENT TO BED THINKING ABOUT RUNNING AND WOKE UP THINKING ABOUT RUNNING”
Reflecting on the competition following his success, Efe Sarı stated that the achievement was the result of an intensive and disciplined preparation period and said:
“Since I started running, I have never experienced a race day that I enjoyed this much. This process taught me that if you truly want something, you must make serious sacrifices for it. Doing double training sessions a day, interval workouts, tempo runs, and running 130–140 kilometers per week for 8–9 consecutive weeks was extremely exhausting both mentally and physically. Waking up every morning feeling completely exhausted and still knowing that you had to go out and train was something that seriously tested a person’s psychology. Especially during the last two months, I largely withdrew from social life. My life had become entirely about running; I went to bed thinking about running and woke up thinking about running. However, when you finally see the finish line and feel that happiness at the end of the race, all the fatigue and sacrifices suddenly become insignificant.”
Sarı also expressed his gratitude to his family, coach, and friends for their support and stated that he aims to achieve even better results in the future.
Last Update Date: 01/06/2026 - 14:10
