The virtual run for the 18th edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon kicked off Monday 25th October, 2021 at Karura Forest. The virtual runs will be taking place throughout the week from the 25th to 31st of October, 2021.
There are various virtual running spots across the country which have been segmented for participants to join other runners for the run. These are in Thika, Kisumu, Kakamega, Nakuru, Kitale, Siaya, Eldoret, Kericho, Mombasa, Meru, Nanyuki, and other towns.
In Nairobi, participants will be converging in the green spaces in Sanctuary, Karura and Arboretum.
The Physical Marathon limited to 2500 elite runners will be held on the Southern Bypass route and is set for the 31st October 2021 at the Carnivore Grounds. The marathon, which has previously been fully physical, now adopted a hybrid format that includes both physical and virtual participation with the aim of reducing physical interaction and reducing the spread of COVID-19.
The virtual marathon will be targeting 13,500 participants to encourage active lifestyles. To enter the virtual run, interested participants will be required to check the SCNM website on the registration portal and pay a standard fee of Ksh. 1,000.
To be selected among the 13,500 virtual participants, one will be required to download the Strava app, then sign up for the challenge (5Kms, 10km, 21kms, 42kms or 42kms relay).
To allow for safety provisions for the runners, the Nairobi Traffic department has designed a road closure diversions schedule to see traffic to and out of the Southern Bypass diverted to alternative roads between 1200h and 1300h on Sunday 31st October, 2021.
Speaking during the virtual run at Karura, Peter Gitau, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee said, “The kit collection exercise is still ongoing. For participants in Nairobi, they can pick their kits at KICC. For the ones across the country, they will be delivered at our offices across the country. For the international participants, we have partnered with DHL to have them delivered. In addition to keeping yourself active, we will also be planting trees. After every finish, we will have every participant been given a tree to plant at the location of their choosing. We plan to plant at least 6,000 trees across the country.”