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Marathon Details - Nairobi Marathon

International Marathons > Kenya > Nairobi > Nairobi Marathon

Nairobi Marathon

Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon & Half Marathon, 10K, 5K

Nairobi, Kenya

October 26, 2025

http://www.nairobimarathon.com

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Address:	StandardChartered@Chiromo 48 Westlands Road Nairobi Kenya
Phone Number:	+254 20 3293811
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (17)

Course 3.2

Organization 3.1

Spectators 3.2

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Number of comments: 17 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

A. L. from Nairobi, Kenya (11/19/2019) "Worst finish in 30 years of running" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Nairobi Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Kenya is the home of runners, not running. This course is badly administered and not in line with international standards. All of the races are concurrent (half/full/10km) and the course layout is poor and confusing. Unless you run under 2:50 the finish is absolute chaos. Finish at 3:30 and you will finish concurrently with the 10km walkers who are walking 5 people abreast and taking selfies under the finish banner. The finish chute also had an ice cream sales cart in the middle. If you run the finish, expect a collision. The finisher area is TERRIBLE. No water, no food and expect a 30min wait just to get in. Marathons in 25+ countries and this is probably the worst, just because how bad the finish is and how rude the other competitors are (mostly walkers). This race is for the 30 racers at the front and the thousands of walkers, not for general marathon runners. There are other races in Kenya like Lewa or Kakamega that are worth the journey and experience. This is a bad city marathon NOT worth the trip from abroad. If you happen to be in town and want to run, prepare to be frustrated and disappointed at the experience.
K. R. from Nairobi (10/30/2014) "Improve toilets for women!!!!!!!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 How do I check my personal time from the last Sunday run. Also you need make runners aware while running they spit without checking over their shoulder if it's clear. As they spit on you while passing by. That is really sick! Also we need cleaner toilets for women as you've had them in the past which I've used. I love running the standard chartered as it is well organized. Thanks to all the volunteers.
T. B. from Nairobi (11/7/2010) "The marathon could have been better" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Nairobi Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I found the marathon well organized. However, a major problem concerns the water points: the distance between the 2nd and 3rd water point was really far, and as a result many were feeling sick by the 3rd point. The other negative point pertains to the route markings. I noticed many people cutting the route, especially in town near the rail station. So next time ensure that there is no way for people to do that. Overall, it was well organized, with porta-potties available throughout the course. Looking forward to next year's race.
C. O. from Nairobi (11/5/2009) "Great improvements this year." (about: 2009) 2 previous marathons \| 2 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Professionalizing the management of the event - for example, establishing a corporate autonomous entity to oversee the marathon - will take the event to a higher platform. I feel the event contributes immensely to health promotion among the participants, a goal that can be pursued further, in a bigger way. Rope in the ministry of public health, for example, and make the participation even bigger. Still, great improvements this year.
P. K. from Kenya - Nairobi (10/31/2009) "No medal for my efforts" (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 4-5 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I'd guess that 90% of the full marathon runners never did the second circuit; I was very disappointed. I did not even receive a medal. Can the full marathon be better organized?
J. K. from Nairobi, Kenya (10/29/2009) "Fun" (about: 2009) 3 previous marathons \| 2 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The event started a bit late but kicked off well. This was my second participation after the 2007 edition. This year I only ran the 10K road race. In 2007 I did the 21K marathon. Then, the route was very different and had no loop. We ran via Waiyaki Way, and then through Lavington. This circuit was much better, as you don't get to see where you will go. Let the organizers do it that way next time.
Hellen Githungo from Nairobi (10/17/2008) "A great marathon with an even greater future!" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I have had the opportunity to participate in this marathon three times and only missed last year, even though I registered. In 2006, I had a wonderful road race where I did the 10K road race in 54 minutes... only to be awarded number 632. Then the ladies after me got lower numbers, even as low as 150!! I was sooo disappointed! Other than that, it's a great marathon. Please avoid such demoralizing mistakes.
Mark Hankins from Nairobi (9/17/2008) "Improving each year" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 It's great to see Kenya offering opportunities for developing local talent. The out-and-back course is not inspiring, but the organization of the race has gotten better each year.
j. s. from American in Japan (5/31/2008) "poor management" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I ran in 2007. The marathon started one hour later than the previous year; they started the half on the wrong course; and they ran out of water around mile 20. But I am going to give them another chance in '08.
R. B. from New York, NY (11/23/2007) "A challenging race in a very exotic location" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Nairobi Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I enjoyed my marathon experience in Nairobi. The course was difficult at 7500 feet and the blistering sun made it extra tough. Even though I had a very bad race, I still enjoyed the course through the outskirts of Nairobi, the friendly Kenyans and racing in an event so much different from in the USA. The drawbacks were the delayed start, the fact that no full results are posted yet, and that only water was given out during the race. However, I'd do it again.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]



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A. L. from Nairobi, Kenya (11/19/2019) "Worst finish in 30 years of running" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Nairobi Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Kenya is the home of runners, not running. This course is badly administered and not in line with international standards. All of the races are concurrent (half/full/10km) and the course layout is poor and confusing. Unless you run under 2:50 the finish is absolute chaos. Finish at 3:30 and you will finish concurrently with the 10km walkers who are walking 5 people abreast and taking selfies under the finish banner. The finish chute also had an ice cream sales cart in the middle. If you run the finish, expect a collision. The finisher area is TERRIBLE. No water, no food and expect a 30min wait just to get in. Marathons in 25+ countries and this is probably the worst, just because how bad the finish is and how rude the other competitors are (mostly walkers). This race is for the 30 racers at the front and the thousands of walkers, not for general marathon runners. There are other races in Kenya like Lewa or Kakamega that are worth the journey and experience. This is a bad city marathon NOT worth the trip from abroad. If you happen to be in town and want to run, prepare to be frustrated and disappointed at the experience.
K. R. from Nairobi (10/30/2014) "Improve toilets for women!!!!!!!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 How do I check my personal time from the last Sunday run. Also you need make runners aware while running they spit without checking over their shoulder if it's clear. As they spit on you while passing by. That is really sick! Also we need cleaner toilets for women as you've had them in the past which I've used. I love running the standard chartered as it is well organized. Thanks to all the volunteers.
T. B. from Nairobi (11/7/2010) "The marathon could have been better" (about: 2010) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Nairobi Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I found the marathon well organized. However, a major problem concerns the water points: the distance between the 2nd and 3rd water point was really far, and as a result many were feeling sick by the 3rd point. The other negative point pertains to the route markings. I noticed many people cutting the route, especially in town near the rail station. So next time ensure that there is no way for people to do that. Overall, it was well organized, with porta-potties available throughout the course. Looking forward to next year's race.
C. O. from Nairobi (11/5/2009) "Great improvements this year." (about: 2009) 2 previous marathons \| 2 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Professionalizing the management of the event - for example, establishing a corporate autonomous entity to oversee the marathon - will take the event to a higher platform. I feel the event contributes immensely to health promotion among the participants, a goal that can be pursued further, in a bigger way. Rope in the ministry of public health, for example, and make the participation even bigger. Still, great improvements this year.
P. K. from Kenya - Nairobi (10/31/2009) "No medal for my efforts" (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 4-5 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I'd guess that 90% of the full marathon runners never did the second circuit; I was very disappointed. I did not even receive a medal. Can the full marathon be better organized?
J. K. from Nairobi, Kenya (10/29/2009) "Fun" (about: 2009) 3 previous marathons \| 2 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 The event started a bit late but kicked off well. This was my second participation after the 2007 edition. This year I only ran the 10K road race. In 2007 I did the 21K marathon. Then, the route was very different and had no loop. We ran via Waiyaki Way, and then through Lavington. This circuit was much better, as you don't get to see where you will go. Let the organizers do it that way next time.
Hellen Githungo from Nairobi (10/17/2008) "A great marathon with an even greater future!" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I have had the opportunity to participate in this marathon three times and only missed last year, even though I registered. In 2006, I had a wonderful road race where I did the 10K road race in 54 minutes... only to be awarded number 632. Then the ladies after me got lower numbers, even as low as 150!! I was sooo disappointed! Other than that, it's a great marathon. Please avoid such demoralizing mistakes.
Mark Hankins from Nairobi (9/17/2008) "Improving each year" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 It's great to see Kenya offering opportunities for developing local talent. The out-and-back course is not inspiring, but the organization of the race has gotten better each year.
j. s. from American in Japan (5/31/2008) "poor management" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 Nairobi Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I ran in 2007. The marathon started one hour later than the previous year; they started the half on the wrong course; and they ran out of water around mile 20. But I am going to give them another chance in '08.
R. B. from New York, NY (11/23/2007) "A challenging race in a very exotic location" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Nairobi Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I enjoyed my marathon experience in Nairobi. The course was difficult at 7500 feet and the blistering sun made it extra tough. Even though I had a very bad race, I still enjoyed the course through the outskirts of Nairobi, the friendly Kenyans and racing in an event so much different from in the USA. The drawbacks were the delayed start, the fact that no full results are posted yet, and that only water was given out during the race. However, I'd do it again.

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Marathon Details - Nairobi Marathon