10km fun run introduced in Eldoret City Marathon as preparations continue

Organizers of the much-anticipated fifth edition of the Eldoret City Marathon have included the 10km fun run set to give participants a chance to enjoy themselves while racing with champions on the streets of Eldoret.

This race will allow competitors to feel like champions as they run alongside professionals and future stars.

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

This inclusion of the fun run is aimed at matching a massive fun race similar to the World Marathon Majors. The organizers also hope the race will outlive them.

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

This year’s race matron, Uasin Gishu women representative Gladys Boss Shollei will lead the fun run and will be joined by several dignitaries.

“I will be running the 10km fun race. I have been preparing for it and I will be running alongside other participants and guests. I want to urge other people to turn up in large numbers. Let us fill the streets of Eldoret,” Shollei said.

At the same time, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) chairman Andrew Chelogoi welcomed athletes and fans to the event, noting that this year it will be bigger and better.

“We welcome the elite athletes to the 2024 edition of the 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,” he called on.

This year’s prize money has been sponsored by the Ministry of Sports through the Talanta Hela initiative.

Race Director Moses Tanui noted that previous edition’s challenges are behind them and were ready to stage a world-class event. He assured that security was beefed up ahead of the event.

“We picked crucial lessons that will help the race outlive the founders. 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.

Meanwhile, several elite athletes have confirmed participation in the event.

Heading the list is the recent big name in cross country, Asbel Kiprop (do not confuse him for the three-time 1500m champion). Kiprop will be joined by 2018 Nice Half Marathon champion Emmanuel Kipsang, 2022 Bilbao Bizkaia Marathon runner-up Thomas Ekiru, and 21-year-old Dominic Kipchirchir among other notable stars.

Nakuru-based athlete Benard Kipkemoi will also be hoping to register a personal best in the marathon. Kipkemoi won the 2015 edition of Torino Half Marathon and will be hoping to shine in Eldoret on Sunday.

Neighbors, Uganda have also not been left out. They will be represented by several athletes including olympian Abraham Kiplimo. He comes from Kapchorwa District in Uganda.

Kiplimo won his maiden international medal during the 2014 Commonwealth Games, finishing behind Michael Shelley of Australia and Kenya’s Stephen Kwelio Chemlany in a time of 2:12:23 hours.