Whereas path operating and mountain operating are well-established sports activities in Kenya, they’re taking a giant developmental leap ahead with the just-unveiled 2025 Magical Kenya Mountain and Path Sequence.
Kicking off on the finish of this week, this new sequence begins with the Tindiret Barng’etuny Mountain Run in Nandi County on January 18. The opening race can even kind the choice race for Kenyan groups for the 2025 World Mountain and Path Working Championships, set for September 25 to twenty-eight, 2025, in Spain. Subsequent, on Could 1, it’ll take within the 21-kilometer Nyamira Nice Run, earlier than touring to the extensively famend Mount Kenya Mountain Run on June 8.
Mount Kenya, the place the famed Mount Kenya race takes place. Photograph: By Franco Pecchio – initially posted to Flickr as 200812_kenya_90, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7011630
The sequence will proceed into the summer time and fall with the Aberdares Path Run on August 24, and the Mount Longonot Path Problem on November 16, earlier than culminating within the Mount Elgon Mountain Run on December 7.
The sequence is a three way partnership by the Kenyan Tourism Board and Athletics Kenya, and it goals to each nurture the nation’s personal path operating and mountain operating expertise in addition to to draw extra journey and operating vacationers to go to Kenya from abroad.
June Chepkemei, CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board, stated, “We dwell in a rustic that’s adorned with thrilling landscapes and superb journey experiences that we’re joyful to carry to the desk. We kick off in 2025 the Magical Kenya Mountain and Path Sequence with Tindiret Barng’etuny Mountain Run. We due to this fact name upon the journey vacationers, the sports activities[people], and the nice Kenyans to affix us on this path.” She added, “Kenya is way more, it’s certainly an journey vacation spot.”
June Chepkemei (entrance left), CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board, on the launch of Magical Kenya Mountain and Path Sequence. On the far proper is Jackson Tuwei, President of Athletics Kenya and Vice President of World Athletics. Photograph: Athletics Kenya
The sequence will soak up 4 of Kenya’s iconic nationwide parks: Mount Kenya Nationwide Park, Aberdares Nationwide Park, Mount Elgon Nationwide Park, and Mount Longonot Nationwide Park. Gladys Kosgei, Director of Advertising on the Kenya Wildlife Service is smitten by their inclusion, and stated, “Path runs within the parks will improve visibility for these locations whereas permitting members to attach with nature in a novel manner.”
Over the previous few years, Kenyan runners have been making waves in worldwide mountain operating, with stars akin to Patrick Kipngeno, Joyce Muthoni Njeru, Philemon Kiriago, Philaries Kisang taking prime spots at each the Golden Path World Sequence and the Mountain Working World Cup, the latter hosted by the World Mountain Working Affiliation.
Joyce Muthoni Njeru of Kenya celebrates a win on the 2024 Val Bregaglia Path in Italy. In a really shut 2024 Mountain Working World Cup, she took second behind world cup winner Scout Adkin. Photograph: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Kipngeno, who was the general males’s sequence winner on the 2024 Mountain Working World Cup, was additionally topped the uphill world champion at the latest 2023 World Mountain Working Championships.
The brand new sequence not solely invitations runners from all over the world to expertise racing the place these nice athletes began out, but additionally has the potential to raise extra gifted path runners and mountain runners in Kenya. Will a brand new Kipngeno or Njeru come up from this sequence?
The 2023 World Mountain Working Championships Uphill race males’s podium (l-to-r): 2. Levi Kiprotich, 1. Patrick Kipngeno, and three. Josphat Kiprotich. Photograph: Marco Gulberti/World Mountain Working Affiliation
2025 Magical Kenya Mountain and Path Sequence
- January 18 – Tindiret Barng’etuny Mountain Run
- Could 1 – Nyamira Nice Run
- June 8 – Mount Kenya Mountain Run
- August 24 – Aberdares Path Run
- November 16 – Mount Longonot Path Problem
- December 7 – Mount Elgon Mountain Run