Episode 54 May El Khalil: The Woman That Brought A National Marathon To Beirut

May El Khalil is the Founder and President of the Beirut Marathon Association. The Beirut Marathon Association oversees the annual Beirut International Marathon, a race and social movement that has been held every autumn since 2003, and has attracted tens of thousands from over a hundred countries. 

From Aley, Lebanon, May spent much of her adult life in Nigeria where her husband's business was located. In Nigeria, Mrs. El Khalil became part of an international community and established the Lebanese Ladies in Nigeria. When she returned to Lebanon, she found religious differences that she never knew, and in 2001 when she was running in Dubai, she was hit by a bus and suffered a near-fatal accident that placed her in a coma. After spending two years undergoing dozens of surgeries she was able to walk again. Determined to celebrate the gift of life and mobility, she founded the marathon to help mend divisions in Lebanon.

She's a kind soul and brings light into a room. This is a previous conversation I had with her a few years ago, that was a part of an old podcast that I had, but her story and wisdom is still relevant. Enjoy this podcast episode with Mrs. May El Khalil.