Safaricom Launches the 2016 Safaricom Marathon

The annual Safaricom Marathon was launched yesterday at Michael Joseph Centre in Nairobi with people urged to come out in large numbers and register. This is the 17th event since the initiation of the program and will take place on the 25th of June in 2016.

The event has also been organized by Tusk Trust as well as Lewa and fully supported by the telecommunication Safaricom and will take place at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. This year’s event is expected to host a total of 1200 runners from over 20 countries across Africa. The Safaricom Marathon that has been there for the last 17 years is considered by many in the field as one of the biggest, recognized and the toughest marathon in the world. It is the only event where runners of all ages and abilities take part from walking racers, armatures to professional athletes.

Safaricom Marathon prides itself with the only event organized through the most East Africa’s scenery with Mt. Kenya coming in view on the south as well as spectacular Samburu as well as Mount Ololokwe. The event usually involve three categories of races including full marathon, half marathon and the children race.

According to the organizers of the race, half marathon runners usually run one loop of the whole course, full marathon runners usually go two times under the guard of a large team of experienced rangers with two helicopters hovering above as well as a spotter plane hovering in air throughout the race.

There is also always water stations as well as first aid points are situated every 2.5 km along the course for athletes to be attended and a medical support at the finish is provided by AMREF – the flying doctors, the Kenya Red Cross and local hospitals. After the launch, registration is now ongoing as people eagerly wait for the D-day.

Article by Juma Fred.