Eldoret City Marathon to have a bigger 10km fun run

Women participate in 42 km race during the forth edition of Eldoret City Marathon in Eldoret Uasin County yesterday. Emily Chebet No 2057 won the race. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

Hundreds of athletics enthusiasts are set to relish the experience of the City of Champion’s 10km fun run on Sunday.

They will be racing in a town which has produced world beaters who have shipped numerous medals from international championships.

By the final day of registration last evening, the elite 42.195km contest had attracted a big number of athletes, with a majority of them enlisting in the last minute ahead of the thrilling competition on Sunday morning.

Like the elite athletes, fun race participants from as far as Nairobi had registered as they got ready to have fun while racing with champions in the streets of Eldoret.

The fun run has been 5km since the inaugural edition in 2018 but was upgraded to 10km during the 2024 event following request of participants, according to organisers.

Organisers said they are aiming to match a massive fun race similar to the ones staged by World Marathon Majors.

Race promoter, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei is set to lead the fun run, with a number of dignitaries getting ready for the experience.

“I will be running the 10km fun race. I have been preparing for it and I will be running alongside other participants and guests,” she told KTN News on Tuesday.

Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairman Andrew Chelogoi said:  “We welcome the elite athletes to the 2024 edition of Eldoret City Marathon. At the same time we urge fans from the region and beyond to show up in their big numbers and cheer the athletes.”

Like the elite race, the 10km fun event will start at Highlands and end near Zion Mall.

Race Director Moses Tanui thanked sponsors for supporting the race which was making a comeback after cancellation in 2023, following sponsorship challenges.

“Talanta Hela sponsored this year’s prize money and we thank the Ministry of Sports for the support for standing with the race.

“We picked crucial lessons that will help the race outlive the founders,” the two-time Boston Marathon winner said on Wednesday.

Tanui said measures had been put in place to ensure security along the 42km and the 10km courses were tight.

“We urge Eldoret residents to walk on Sunday because there will be no access to motor vehicles to town. We introduced the ‘Adopt an Athlete’ initiative because we don’t want an athlete who can’t afford registration fees to stay at home,” he said.

A number of elite athletes in the start list were expected in Eldoret by last evening.

“I will be in Eldoret this (yesterday) evening because I want to acclimatize before Sunday. I also want to have an experience of the course,” Narok-based athlete Moris Leboo told Standard Sport.