• The Gaza Strip's first marathon

    Palestinian runner Nader al-Masri, who trained on pot-holed roads and past bombed-out buildings, won the Gaza Strip's first marathon on Thursday.

    Marco Longari / AFP - Getty Images

    A Hamas policeman talks on the phone as Palestinian Olympic athlete Nader al-Masri, left, and a fellow runner speed along the waterfront in Gaza City on May 5 as they compete in the Gaza Strip's first-ever marathon which runs the entire length of the coastal enclave.

    Masri, who represented Palestine in the 5,000 meters at the Beijing Olympics, was one of nine runners along the full 42.2-km (26-mile) distance. He completed the course in two hours, 42 minutes, 47 seconds.

    Mohammed Abed / AFP - Getty Images

    Palestinian schoolboys run in Beit Hanun on May 5 during the Gaza Strip's first-ever marathon. Children ran short stretches of the race in a relay format.

     The course started in the northern town of Beit Hanoun, a border area where Israel and Palestinian militants have frequently clashed, and ended in Rafah, to the southeast, on the Gaza-Egypt frontier. Continue reading.

    Marco Longari / AFP - Getty Images

    Palestinian Olympic athlete Nader al-Masri runs past a fish market in Gaza City on May 5 as he competes in the Gaza Strip's first-ever marathon. Al-Masri went on to win the race.

    The Palestinian runner finished the race in 2 hours, 42 minutes, 47 seconds. TODAY.com's Dara Brown reports.