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Nairobi — the running capital of the world, in its own race. Kenya doesn't just produce marathon champions. It is marathon running. Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour barrier in Vienna wearing Kenyan colours. Wilson Kipsang, Geoffrey Mutai, Dennis Kimetto — the fastest marathons in history were run by athletes from Kenya's Rift Valley. And in Nairobi, at 1,795 metres above sea level, the country hosts its own city marathon: one of Africa's largest road races, drawing runners from 15,000+ participants across 70+ nations. This is the home course of the world's best distance runners. And on June 7, 2026, they run alongside you.
🏙️ Uhuru Park · Nairobi Expressway · CBD · Kenyatta International Convention Centre · Green City under the Sun · Safari Capital of the World · Nairobi · Kenya · East Africa · 1,795m altitude
Nairobi, Kenya — Africa's premier road race, fifth year running
On Sunday June 7, 2026, the 5th edition of the Nairobi City Marathon brings together over 15,000 runners from more than 70 nations at Uhuru Park, in the heart of the Kenyan capital. Four distances are on offer: the Full Marathon (42.195 km), the Half Marathon (21.1 km), the 10km Expressway Run and the 5km Fun Run. All events start and finish at Uhuru Park. The course's defining feature is a stretch along the Nairobi Expressway — a modern elevated highway that opened in 2022 and now forms the backbone of one of Africa's most distinctive race courses. At 1,795 metres (5,889 ft) above sea level, the altitude makes every kilometre a genuine physical challenge — regardless of how fast you plan to run. The event features a high prize purse for elite competitors, experienced Kenyan pacers, 8 water stations and a finisher medal for every completer of the marathon, half marathon and 10km.
5thEdition — Nairobi City Marathon
15,000+Runners from 70+ nations
1,795mAltitude — 5,889 feet above sea level
KenyanElite field · High prize purse
The four races
Sunday June 7, 2026 · Uhuru Park · Start & Finish
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Full Marathon
42.195 km
Uhuru Park → Nairobi Expressway → Uhuru Park
The full 26.2 miles at 1,795m altitude on the streets of Nairobi. Elite prize money. 9 pacer groups (2:59–5:00). 8 water stations every 5km. Finisher medal. Kenyan pacers with coloured flags in the start zone. Snack and water station at the finish line.
Elite prize money
1,795m altitude
Kenyan pacemakers
Sunday June 7, 2026 · Uhuru Park
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Half Marathon
21.1 km
Nairobi Expressway · Finisher medal
Half the distance, all the altitude. The half marathon shares the course and the atmosphere with the full marathon — including the Nairobi Expressway stretch, the Kenyan crowd and the high-altitude challenge. Finisher medal for all completers.
Finisher medal
Expressway course
Sunday June 7, 2026 · Nairobi Expressway
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10km Expressway Run
10 km
On the Nairobi Expressway · Finisher medal
The 10km Expressway Run takes place on the Nairobi Expressway — one of Kenya's most modern pieces of infrastructure, opened in 2022. Running on an expressway at 1,795m altitude with Nairobi's skyline framing the route is an experience unique to this race. Finisher medal.
Nairobi Expressway
Finisher medal
Sunday June 7, 2026 · Uhuru Park
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5km Fun Run
5 km
Friends · Family · Colleagues · All welcome
The Fun Run opens the Nairobi City Marathon to everyone — runners, walkers, families and first-timers. Bring friends, family and colleagues. No pressure, all atmosphere. The starting environment of Uhuru Park and the Nairobi energy make even 5km feel like a landmark experience.
All welcome · Fun atmosphere
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The Nairobi Expressway — running on Kenya's most modern road. Opened in May 2022, the Nairobi Expressway is a 27.1 km toll expressway that cuts through the heart of Nairobi, connecting the city centre with Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. It's an elevated urban highway built on concrete pillars above the existing Mombasa Road — a modern, smooth, wide surface with Nairobi's skyline on both sides. The Nairobi City Marathon incorporated the Expressway as its defining course feature almost immediately after it opened. Running on a motorway that is normally closed to foot traffic, at altitude, in the company of 15,000 runners from around the world, with the cheering crowds below — there is genuinely no other race experience quite like it anywhere in Africa.
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1,795 metres — the altitude factor you cannot ignore. Nairobi sits at 1,795m / 5,889ft above sea level — significantly higher than Denver (1,609m), the highest major US city. At that altitude, the air contains roughly 20% less oxygen than at sea level. Your heart rate runs higher at a given pace, breathing is harder, and expected finishing times are typically 3–5% slower than at sea level equivalents. For international runners visiting Nairobi, arriving 48–72 hours early for acclimatisation is strongly recommended. For the Kenyan elite, this is their training environment: they run at altitude every day. That is part of why Kenya dominates world distance running.
Pacemakers — 9 groups, 2 Kenyan pacers each
2:592 pacers
3:152 pacers
3:302 pacers
3:452 pacers
3:592 pacers
4:152 pacers
4:302 pacers
4:452 pacers
5:002 pacers
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Bib pick-up: Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), June 4–7, 2026. The KICC on Harambee Avenue in central Nairobi serves as the collection point for all participant packages. Thursday June 4: 12:00 noon – 5:00 PM. Friday June 5: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Saturday June 6: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM. Sunday June 7: 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM. Bring your e-ticket (shared ~1 week before the event). Local/EAC participants experiencing card payment issues can pay via M-Pesa or Airtel Money by restarting the registration process.
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Nairobi — where you can go on safari after the race. Nairobi is the only capital city in the world with a national park on its outskirts. Nairobi National Park is 7km from the CBD, where lions, leopards, rhinos and giraffes roam against the backdrop of the city skyline. After finishing the Nairobi City Marathon, you can visit the Nairobi National Museum, enjoy East African cuisine, or book a bush safari to the Maasai Mara. Nairobi is also known as the "Green City under the Sun" — Kenya's equatorial capital where the weather is reliably mild, green and dry in June (average 21°C).
« Run alongside everyday heroes and elite athletes alike, and discover the spirit of the 'Green City under the Sun' as you stride across the breathtaking Nairobi Expressway. Whether it's your first step or your thousandth, this journey is yours. The Nairobi City Marathon has quickly become a showcase of endurance on the global calendar — with its blend of urban energy and altitude challenge. » — nairobicitymarathon.com / Official race website
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Start & Finish: Uhuru Park, Nairobi, Kenya. Distances: Marathon 42.195km · Half Marathon 21.1km · 10km Expressway Run · 5km Fun Run. Timing: Chronorace · prod.chronorace.be. Bib pick-up: Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Harambee Ave, Nairobi · June 4 (noon–5pm) · June 5 (10am–6pm) · June 6 (7:30am–7pm) · June 7 (6am–10am). Water stations: 8 stations, every 5km, plus finish line station. Finisher medal: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km. Pacers: 2:59, 3:15, 3:30, 3:45, 3:59, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45, 5:00 — 2 Kenyan pacers per group, identifiable by coloured flag. Payment (local/EAC): M-Pesa or Airtel Money. Altitude: ~1,795m / 5,889ft. Climate June: Average 21°C, dry, clear — ideal running conditions. Nairobi National Park: 7km from CBD (lions, rhinos, giraffes, city skyline). Access: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) — 18km from Uhuru Park via Expressway. Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, KLM, British Airways from major hubs.
Running shoes & gear — i-Run
Running shoes for the Nairobi City Marathon — road course on the Nairobi Expressway at 1,795m altitude in Kenya, from the 5km Fun Run to the 42km full marathon. i-Run, running specialist. Worldwide shipping.
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