Registration for this year’s Machakos 10km Great Run has started in earnest to attract many athletes, competing to conserve the environment.
The race will also attract expectant mothers who will be competing in the 200m.
With the race entering its 4th edition on July 20th 2024 at the People’s Park in Machakos county, race Director Philip Muia said that this year’s event will be bigger and better with the purpose of creating awareness of climate change that has affected the globe.
“This road race event it’s primarily meant to create an awareness of climate change and help the community to initiate local climate change actions aimed at improving forest cover, not just in Machakos but across the country because athletes who will run and have been running come from across the country,” said Muia.
Muia said that it is a fun day challenge that is organized by active and retired athletes from Athletics Kenya’s Machakos, Kitui and Makueni.
“Apart from running, this year will be hosting the event at Machakos People’s Park with the ultimate goal of donating, planting and sustaining over 50,000 trees annually,” he explained.
He added that their vision is to be the biggest initiative in Kenya and Africa advocating climate change awareness.
“All the athletes and officials are required to grow a tree and nurture it. It is not just planting but growing, maintaining the plated tree to greater heights,” he said.
During the 2023 edition, the organizers planted over 1500 and distributed over 10000 tree seedlings to the Community.
“For us to achieve this we work closely with the Kenya Research Institute, Kenya Forest Service as well as the County Government of Machakos to ensure that we reach our target,” added Muia, the retired athlete.
Last year, Samuel Mailu won 10km men’s 10km race with a time of 28.01 and Edna Kimutai won Women race with a time of 31.30.
Elite athletes will be competing in the 10km for both men and women then 5km family and fun run, 4x400m from teams Corporate Road Relay.
There will be a total of Kshs 1,000,000 price money for the green run
“The most exciting part will be when all expectant mothers will be facing off in the 200m challenge. The race has been dubbed Expectant Mothers Challenge Race.
“The most exciting part will be when all expectant mothers will be facing off in the 200m challenge. The race has been dubbed Expectant Mothers Challenge Race.