Kili Marathon route measured, ratified

In Summary

“This part of the route is challenging, but there is plenty of crowd support. As spectators thin out the countryside becomes more noticeable and more beautiful,” he said.

Dar es Salaam. The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) has measured and ratified the route for the forthcoming Kilimanjaro Marathon.

The event has been sanctioned by the world’s athletics governing body, IAAF. AIMS said that this year’s edition will use the same routes, which were used last year.

The route is a continuous circuit designed to ease traffic and congestion.

The route was measured and ratified by Hugh Jones, secretary of Aims, assisted by Michael Hughes of the Nairobi Marathon, Ibrahim Hussein of IAAF, and John Bayo of the Kilimanjaro Marathon Club.

Commenting on the route, Bayo, the race director, said: “We will use the same routes as last year; we are happy that AIMS has approved it. It is an astonishingly beautiful course.” He said right after the half marathon start, runners will be battling it out on the slightly steep Mweka Road.

“This part of the route is challenging, but there is plenty of crowd support. As spectators thin out the countryside becomes more noticeable and more beautiful,” he said.

He said the off-road section comes at the highest point of the course where runners dip down to cross a ravine, then climb up heavily forested slopes to re-join Lema Road with 11.5km to run.

“It’s a gentle downward slope nearly all the way and although your back is now turned to the Mount Kilimanjaro, the view remains impressive.

“When returning to Moshi town, the runners will pass under a protective canopy of trees as they approach the stadium,” Bayo said.

The event is coordinated by Executive Solutions in conjunction with Athletics Tanzania, Kilimanjaro Amateur Athletics Association and Kilimanjaro Marathon Club.

It is sponsored by Kilimanjaro Premium Lager, Tigo, GAPCO, Simba Cement, and KK Security among others. Others are Keys Hotel, TPC Sugar, CMC Automobiles Ltd, RwandAir, FNB Tanzania, Kibo Palace Hotel, UNFPA and Kilimanjaro Water.