The Race
For more information on registration for the Greatest Race on Earth 2007/08 series, please contact us on:
+44 (0) 207 711 6883
run@thegreatestrace.com
The Nairobi marathon launched the first ever Standard Chartered Greatest Race on Earth series in 2004/05, and again this year Nairobi hosts the first stage. The weather is likely to be favourable for runners, with overcast skies and a cool breeze, a surprise perhaps as Nairobi lies only a degree south of the Equator. The climate can be attributed to the 1,600m altitude, which makes Nairobi the highest marathon in the series. This however brings its own problems for runners, especially those used to running at sea-level. There is less oxygen available than normal, and runners consequently find this opening marathon more challenging.
It is often said that the best marathon runners in the world hail from Kenya. This may lead to the temptation to start hard and fast, with adrenaline pumping for the start of GROE and the level of expectation at an exceptionally high level in this homeland of long-distance running. Thousands of enthusiastic locals line the race route, savouring the spectacle and contributing to the exciting atmosphere. The start is always a colourful and action-packed scene, as traditionally dressed drummers beat out their rhythms while the runners try to find their own.
The high altitude of the Nairobi marathon makes a strong mental approach to the race essential. Runners should not start off too fast, otherwise they will suffer later on when they begin to feel the effects of the thin air. It is essential to find a good pace and maintain it – only through proper training and running a cautious race will runners be able to overcome the intense physical challenge of GROE’s first and highest marathon.
