Fellow marathoners,
Happy New Year 2017 and welcome to yet another exciting run year, though we are already 4-months deep into the run calendar, which starts November and ends October, when we do the International marathon.
Let me give you a sneak preview of the major 2017 runs on our calendar:
1. March 12, 2017 (Sunday - confirmed) – First Lady’s marathon – Nairobi/Nyayo stadium. Registration is already open, early bird@1,000 until Jan. 14, thereafter 1,600 on site or 1,250 online until Mar. 5.
2. May (week 2-3) – Mater Heart Run – Nairobi/Nyayo stadium – Registration is 1,000 (Tshirt), can add 700 (shorts), 400 (caps)
3. June 24, 2017 (Saturday - confirmed) – Lewa marathon – Nanyuki/Lewa conservancy – Registration is $250 (*with additional minimum fundraising of $1,500 per person?)
4. July (week 1, likely 8th) – Sotokoto marathon – Nairobi/Uhuru Garden – Registration (online only) is 1,000 + 50 transaction fees
5. September 10, 2017 (Saturday – tentative) – Ndakaini marathon – Thika/Ndakaini dam – Registration is 1,000 (amateur) or 1,200 (elite), usually a 200/= discount offered for online registration. Add 700/= if you need transport from Nairobi to and from the venue.
6. September (week 4) – Menengai marathon –Nakuru/Nakuru town – The last time I heard of it was 2015. It seems not to have taken place in 2016. It is doubtful for 2017.
7. October 29, 2017 (Sunday - confirmed) – Nairobi International marathon – Nairobi/Nyayo stadium – Registration is 2,000 (online registration and payment only)
8. November (week 3-4) – Kass marathon – Eldoret/Eldoret town – Registration is 500, then add transport and accommodated in Eldoret before (and after) the event
9. November (week 4)– Kakamega Ingo marathon – Kakamega/Kakamega forest – Registration is 1,000, then add transport and accommodated at ‘Ingo’ before (and after) the event
10.December (week 1 & week 3) – Kisumu marathon (Dec. 1 run and a separate Safaricom run) – Kisumu/Kisumu town
*according to information on the organizers website
The menu is so full that I am full already!
I advise all runners to target one non-competitive run (Mater run) and any other three major marathons. I see First Lady, Sotokoto, Ndakaini and Nairobi Marathon as being the easier ones to participate in. I am set for them this year.
*Latest news (through an email message that I have just got from the organizers)- The 2017 edition of the First lady’s run, which was to start us off has been cancelled. This is a run that I had already registered for. A press release from office of the FL reads in part that, "...This year, I was looking forward to running yet another marathon - a Gratitude Marathon.... However, I have never been willing to politicize this agenda. As a consequence I feel it necessary to cancel the First Lady's Half Marathon this year." The message further confirms that the ultimate goal of the cause is to build the Beyond Zero Referral Hospital. This is a goal that I support as a Kenyan. I was looking forward too for this year opener marathon, but this is not to be.
Nonetheless, let us now focus on the Mater-Lewa-Sotokoto trio.
WWB, Nairobi, Kenya
