NAIROBI, February 25 – First Lady Margaret Kenyatta took her training to the Safaricom Kasarani Stadium Thursday morning as she prepares for the Half Marathon scheduled for March 6 at Nyayo National Stadium.
Accompanied by members of her training team, the First Lady undertook a 6.5 km run as she aims to better her Personal Best of 3:24:55 she set last year.
Registration is ongoing as organisers target over 70,000 participants, more than double that turned up last year.
Besides the 21km which is the main race, the fourth edition incorporates the wheelchair category, 2km, 5km and 10 km races.
The First Lady said while her schedule has not allowed her to train as hard as in previous years, she confirmed her participation although did not specify the race she will be running.
She assured Kenyans that the Beyond Zero initiative will continue delivering many more mobile clinics to more deserving areas of Kenya even when all the 47 counties finally receive the facilities as planned.
“Many of the country’s pastoralist communities need additional mobile clinics besides those being distributed to the Counties. The ultimate goal for the Beyond Zero campaign is to put up a State-of-the Art hospital for women and children,” The First Lady stated.
Funds raised during the forthcoming First Lady’s Half Marathon are aimed at purchasing the remaining 11 mobile clinics and refurbish hospital wards across the country.
The Beyond Zero has so far distributed 36 fully kitted mobile clinics to an equal number of counties.
The winner of the 21 km race for both men and women will take home Sh750, 000 while runner-up walk away with Sh500, 000 as third-placed receives Sh250, 000.
Registration continues at various locations including all Nakumatt, Uchumi, and Tuskys Supermarkets and Nairobi Sports House at cost of KSh1,500 for individual participants.
Other registration platforms include the Beyond Zero App on Android phones and the www.beyondzero.or.ke