Istanbul holds world's only intercontinental marathon

Driving rain and chilly winds Sunday did not deter thousands of people, young and old, professional and amateur, from participating in the world's only marathon to span two continents in Turkey's largest city Istanbul.

An estimated 100,000 people joined the 33rd edition of the Eurasia Marathon in various categories.

It is one of the few times in the year that one of the two iconic Bosphorus bridges connecting the Asian and European sides of Istanbul is opened to pedestrian traffic, Xinhua reported.

The highest interest was in the free walk, open to amateurs with about 80,000 people registering to participate in the event.

In the professional categories, prize money of $50,000 each was available for the winner in the men's and women's full marathon of 42km, $4,000 each for the winner in 15km run and $5,000each for the winners in the wheelchair marathon.

Kenya's Vincent Kiplagat won the full marathon Sunday repeating his feat from last year in the men's race while Alemitu Abera from Ethiopia won the women' s event.

The 15km event was dominated by athletes from Ethiopia with Atsedu Tsegai winning the men's event and Sosena Gezau taking top honour in the women's race.

The run apart from spanning two continents also takes in some of Istanbul' s famous landmarks along its route.