Nairobi marathon route changed

The route of the eighth edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has been diverted from the Mombasa road to include Nairobi central business district. Organisers of the annual event, scheduled for 31 October, have made the change for two reasons: from a logistical point of view they wish to cater for the increasing amount of participants while from a promotional angle the extended route will showcase the city's attractions to a new public.

The new route begins at Nyayo national stadium through to Uhuru highway, turns

at University Way roundabout towards Mombasa Road via Kenyatta, Harambee and Haile Selassie Avenues, before finishing in Nyayo stadium. Organisers believe that the marathon, which attracts approximately 15,000 runners every year, could soon be rated among the biggest names in world marathons: Boston, London and New York.

Those interested in participating in this year's event can register at any Standard Chartered bank branch at a cost of Sh1,000 for individuals, Sh500 for the family fun run and Sh50,000 per team for the corporate challenge. The marathon is a charity fundraising event, the proceeds of which go towards the support of Seeing is Believing, an initiative established by the bank to help eradicate blindness in children under the age of nine. The funds raised from last year's event restored vision to over 750 children.

Last year's marathon also saw a course record of 2:10:12 set by winner Moses Kigen. Of the world