Dear all,

It is no surprise when I now officially confirm that the First Lady’s marathon shall be held on Sunday, 8 March 2015 at Nairobi’s Nyayo stadium (I had already mentioned this when informing you of the major runs of 2015).

1. Run categories – 2km, 10km and 21km

2. The registration fee is KShs.1,500/= and registration closes on 27 Feb 2015. To register, either download a form from the organizers website (http://www.beyondzero.or.ke/), fill in and drop at Uchumi/Nakumatt outlets OR register/pay online at the organizers website.

3. Tshirt and run number collection is from 28 Feb 2015 at KICC (though the online registration page says from 2 March)

4. Why we are running the First Lady’s Marathon – the funds are targeted to ensure that each of the 47 counties in Kenya have a medical unit to attend to antenatal care

5. Time of run – not stated, but just be there as early as 6.30am

My experience – it took me a minute to register online and pay by credit card. You get email confirmation with a twist – that you need to send a scan copy of your VISA card to Pesapal for verification within 12 hours. I understand their double precaution but that adds to the burden of registration and I shall call them to reconfirm. Other online payment options that I saw on that page were MPESA, Airtel money, MasterCard, Pesapal, Equity, KCB, Coop and Chase.

About the route:

If you have done the Mater Heart Run before, then you have a hint. For 21k – You start at Nyayo Stadium to city centre, then Upper Hill, then Mbagathi way back to Nyayo stadium… but wait a minute… you go back to Mombasa road, towards General Motors, then turn back to Nyayo stadium. For 10k – You just do the Mater run back to the stadium, and avoid the Mombasa road additional bit.

Preparation – if you have been to the tank (8k) or tarmac (10k) this year, three times, then you are ready for the 10km run. If not, then do them in the next 3 weeks. If you want to conquer the 21k in 26 days’ time, then you need to do 2 x ‘Mary Leakey’ runs (13k each), this and next week + 3 tarmacs + 3 tanks, in the next three weeks and you are ready.

Join me for Monday run on Tuesday, today at 5.00pm to the tank.

Wanjawa, W. B.