Eldoret City Marathon effect changes to course

Organisers of the fifth edition of the Eldoret City Marathon have made changes to the course of the race ahead of this year's edition on October 1.

Race director Moses Tanui said the changes were informed by challenges athletes faced in returning to the starting point now that the race had different start and finish points.

Tanui said they realised athletes were facing numerous travel challenges commuting from the Sogomo finishing point over four years.

The changes will see the race start and finish at Central Primary School in Eldoret, which Tanui hopes will help lure top-notch runners.

“This year’s route has been changed and we will start and finish at the same point, Central Primary School in Eldoret. This will held erase the logistical challenges we have had when athletes try to find their way back to where they had dropped their personal effects," said Tanui a former world 10,000m silver medalist.

Tanui, a two-time Boston Marathon winner, was speaking during a tree planting exercise at Eldoret Special School, in line with the theme of the race, 'Climate Action'.

With less than ten days to the race, Tanui said they have already secured electronic running numbers while several foreign runners have also enlisted.

“Several athletes from Uganda, Ethiopia, and USA are among the over 500 athletes who have registered so far. We are expecting the numbers to soar as we get closer to race since Kenyans are known to embrace last-minute rush,” he said.

The Eldoret Special School principal David Yegon said: "These children need people like us to take care of them and it is good to come together to make their environment better. Whatever you have done here today will go in our history books. We invite you to be with us again.” 

Anthony Musyoka, the North Rift region forest conservancy officer, said the tree planting exercise augurs well with their quest to heed President William Ruto's directive to plant 15 billion in 10 years.

“We have had a good collaboration by planting about 3,700 within the arboretum. We are planting trees within the school for a better and friendly environment,” he said.