Achrafieh 10452 race fills Sassine Square; Ali Reda Kanaan and Bryony Stein win

Sassine Square in Achrafieh was packed on Sunday for the Achrafieh 10452 race, a run whose distance of 10,452 metres echoes Lebanon's surface area in square kilometres, Al-Markazia reported. Runners came from across the country, joined by families and supporters.

Lebanese runner Ali Reda Kanaan won the men's professional race over the full distance and British runner Bryony Stein won the women's race. Organisers congratulated the winners in all categories and thanked sponsors, media partners, municipalities and volunteers.

The event is organised by The Right Path association, which said the race carries a social message beyond sport: supporting the most vulnerable and helping secure the basics of a dignified life. Painter Bernard Renno painted live on the square and sponsoring companies set up stands for participants and visitors.

Organisers described the day as a national gathering that went beyond competition at a time when the country is weighed down by war fears and economic strain, calling Sassine Square “a space where hearts meet and love of Lebanon is translated into action”.