Author: Secretary

Dear Swaras,

It’s Kilimanjaro Marathon time! More than 100 Swaras, hundreds of Nairobi recreational runners, and thousands of runners from across the region will be descending on Moshi for this year’s marathon. It’s now or never. Registration is closed, training is (I hope) completed, and you have all the necessary paperwork ready. Bibs will be waiting for you at your Swara hotel (or at Lutheran Uhuru Hostels if you booked to stay elsewhere), and transport will be leaving Saturday 6am from Parkside Hotel Monrovia Street (be on time)! Be sure to enjoy the run, stay safe, and listen to your body! And of course, cheer on a fellow runner, we’re a community after all ?

Good luck to everyone running!

We had a great and BIG run from VMX Fitness with our friends of Runfit Club this weekend just gone, with some special surprise goodies and a treat of a run! See photo highlights in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/yviqQWeSvaABiL29?ref=Link

This week’s run: Karura Forest

If you are not heading to Moshi, we will have a Swara run at Karura Forest for you, just follow the signposted routes! Remember, there is a total ban on disposable plastics in the forest, so be sure to bring your reusable bottles. You can have breakfast at River Cafe or at Java just up the street at the petrol station. Find full info and link to register in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/yviqQWeSvaABiL29?ref=Link

Diani Run

Our next big out of town run to plan ahead for is Diani! Register here: https://forms.gle/Amxkto1ZZgQskpKa8

GoAndKiliIt!

This is BIG NEWS! This year, for the first time in recent history, the Urban Swaras Running Club is heading to the coast, for the Diani Run 2023!

You can already book your hotel, book the date, and book a date with your running shoes and swimming costumes because we are heading for a coastal run like you’ve never experienced.

The essentials:

Date – Saturday 8th April 2023 (trip 7th April-9th/10th April)

Transport – option of group SGR booking for 2,000ksh return, Friday-Sunday/Friday-Monday, with 500ksh shuttle transfer to hotel.

Accommodation – Kaskazi Beach Resort, 6,000ksh per person half-board single per night, or 5,600ksh per person half-board sharing per night.

Run – Saturday 6.15am, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40km! We will indeed feel the sand between our toes 😉

Register and get ahead of the Easter crowds using the form here: https://forms.gle/Amxkto1ZZgQskpKa8

SGR payment for group booking to be sent to the club by 12th March, and hotel bookings to be made directly with hotel by 12th March (Thoya: 0727037374, code ‘URBAN SWARAS’ for discounted rates for the weekend).

Let’s bring the Swaras to the Sea!

#SwarasAtSea

Dear Swaras,
We got all sorts of surprises this Saturday – new back routes in Matasia, an errant buffalo chased down by KFS, and new Swara jackets – what more could you want from a Saturday Swara run! See some photo highlights in the Starting Line, and if you want to get your hands on the new jackets, be sure to come to the next Saturday runs.
Find the updated new member information and sign up form here, for aspiring members to get started here: https://urbanswaras.co.ke/new-members/

Also, if you don’t yet follow us on Instagram, what are you waiting for?? We post all sorts of fun content, and run info is also posted every week. You can even tag us in your stories/posts and we might just reshare your content ?

This week’s run: Joint club run at VMX Fitness

This is our FINAL Saturday run before many of us go to Moshi for the Kilimanjaro Marathon, so let’s come together as recreational runners and have a joint run, with Runfit Running Club, and VMX Fitness, held at VMX in Village Market! Find full details in the Starting Line (https://sway.office.com/DgOeiABPEZ5yUOXQ?ref=Link), or register right away here: https://forms.gle/jepsQhWLhr7Lo1nB7

WhatsApp Image 2023-02-13 at 14.21.31.jpeg

Kilimanjaro Marathon 2023

If you have not yet booked your transport, please do so now so that you can fit in a Swara bus! See details below.

Transport by return shuttle with Impala Shuttle. Leaving Nairobi Saturday morning 6am from Parkside Hotel Monrovia Street. You will dropped at your hotel, if you are staying at a Swara Hotel. Return shuttle is 4,000ksh, or 2,000ksh one-way. Please make payment to Buy Goods Till Number 5360791 (Impala Shuttle) then call/text/Whatsapp +254 727 377 771 or +254 710 354 845 with your name, whether a single or return journey, indicating that you are with the Urban Swara Running Club, and desired dates of travel. Return travel options are Sunday afternoon (after the race) or Monday morning.
We will arrange for a grouped bib collection in Moshi, and will be ready for collection at the Lutheran Uhuru Hotel from Saturday (the day before the race) at the latest. You must provide your bib number by THIS FRIDAY 17th FEB, if you would like it collected with the Swara bibs, so please provide it as you complete the form here.

#RecreationalRunnersAndGymersUnite

Who said town runs are boring?! Not us! We took a fabulous spin around the city for this run, nipping in and out of main roads, finding nifty little short cuts (and long cuts) across familiar routes, and enjoying a quiet Saturday morning city under the sun. Not to mention the delicious breakfast at Cellar’s Grill! See the Starting Line for some photo highlights: https://sway.office.com/rOjnjcNrhPP4C0lD?ref=Link

Find the updated new member information and sign up form here, for aspiring members to get started here: https://urbanswaras.co.ke/new-members/

Also, if you don’t yet follow us on Instagram, what are you waiting for?? We post all sorts of fun content, and run info is also posted every week. You can even tag us in your stories/posts and we might just reshare your content 🙂

This week’s run: Matasia Loop, Ngong

We are running in Ngong this week, from the Ngong County Offices at the foot of the Ngong Hills, and we will be exporing Matasia and loop de looping around the area. Prepare for a majority trail, hot, and dusty run, that you won’t forget. See the Starting Line for full info and how to register: https://sway.office.com/rOjnjcNrhPP4C0lD?ref=Link

Kilimanjaro Marathon 2023

The Kili Marathon 2023 is taking place on Sunday 26th February. This is a HUGE deal for the Nairobi running community, and usually sees hundreds of Kenyan runners cross the border to run. Register right away here: https://www.kilimanjaromarathon.com/ (the 21 and 42km are now full).

We as Urban Swaras try to help give everyone the best experience by helping to arrange transport and accommodation. To this end we have arranged the following (read carefully, the questions you have are all answered below)!:

1. Transport by return shuttle with Impala Shuttle. Leaving Nairobi Saturday morning 6am from Parkside Hotel Monrovia Street. You will dropped at your hotel, if you are staying at a Swara Hotel. Return shuttle is 4,000ksh, or 2,000ksh one-way. Please make payment to Buy Goods Till Number 5360791 (Impala Shuttle) then call/text/Whatsapp +254 727 377 771 or +254 710 354 845 with your name, whether a single or return journey, indicating that you are with the Urban Swara Running Club, and desired dates of travel. Return travel options are Sunday afternoon (after the race) or Monday morning.
   
2. All Swara rooms are now booked, and we ask that those on the list sent last week pay right away to confirm their bookings. Payments must be made by Tuesday 7th February 12pm or they will be released to other runners. See below for payment information: We recommend using the m pesa app to pay, using M-Pesa Global, or dial *840# to opt in to M Pesa global without the app. LUTHERAN UHURU HOSTEL – M PESA GLOBAL Vodacom Send money: +255752347849 (Idda shirima).Single: 90,000 TSH Double/Twin: 130,000 TSH for the whole room. KILIMANJARO SAFARI LODGE – M PESA GLOBAL Vodacom send money: +255755 692905 (Aggrey Sawaya). Single: 60,000 TSH Triple: 95,000 TSH for the whole room. GOLDEN VIEW HOTEL: M PESA GLOBAL Vodacom Send money: +255759 878 065 (Hakili Simon Vigelo) Single: 100,000 TSH Twin/Double: 150,000 TSH for the whole room. PLEASE NOTE COSTS ARE PER NIGHT.
   
3. Bibs will be collected in Moshi, and will be ready for collection at the Lutheran Uhuru Hotel from Saturday (the day before the race) at the latest. You must provide your bib number in advance, so please provide it as you complete the form here.

#LoopTheLoop

It’s really not fair to anyone to create such jealousy, so for those of you who didn’t make it to The Forest last weekend for the Saturday Swara run, you can punish yourself by looking at the photos in the Starting Line, and listening to the stories of those who were there. That is enough to make sure you don’t miss it next time! But not to worry, there is a run EVERY Saturday, so you don’t have long to wait till the next one, and this time we’re running from Cellar’s Grill, on Ngong Road, the home of delicious smoked meats, good wine, and great Saturday town runs! See The Starting Line for more info: https://sway.office.com/kdzHKqMIKFP3uxBx?ref=Link

Find the updated new member information and sign up form here, for aspiring members to get started here: https://urbanswaras.co.ke/new-members/

Also, if you don’t yet follow us on Instagram, what are you waiting for?? We post all sorts of fun content, and run info is also posted every week. You can even tag us in your stories/posts and we might just reshare your content 🙂

This week’s run: Cellar’s Grill, Ngong Road

Kilimanjaro Marathon is less than a month away, so whereas The Forest was an opportunity to practice on some hills and some altitude, this Saturday we give you the opportunity to get some speed going, with a run from Cellar’s Grill, on Ngong Road (near Nairobi Hospital). Link to register: https://forms.gle/5kCPnXYhWBrchE996

Kilimanjaro Marathon 2023

The Kili Marathon 2023 is taking place on Sunday 26th February. This is a HUGE deal for the Nairobi running community, and usually sees hundreds of Kenyan runners cross the border to run. Register right away here: https://www.kilimanjaromarathon.com/ (registration closes in a month).

We as Urban Swaras try to help give everyone the best experience by helping to arrange transport and accommodation. To this end we have arranged the following (read carefully, the questions you have are all answered below)!:

1. Transport by return shuttle with Impala Shuttle. Leaving Nairobi Saturday morning 6am from Parkside Hotel Monrovia Street. You will dropped at your hotel, if you are staying at a Swara Hotel. Return shuttle is 4,000ksh, or 2,000ksh one-way. Please make payment to Buy Goods Till Number 5360791 (Impala Shuttle) then call/text/Whatsapp +254 727 377 771 or +254 710 354 845 with your name, whether a single or return journey, indicating that you are with the Urban Swara Running Club, and desired dates of travel. Return travel options are Sunday afternoon (after the race) or Monday morning.
2. All Swara rooms are now booked, and we ask that those on the list sent last week pay right away to confirm their bookings. See below for payment information: We recommend using the m pesa app to pay, using M-Pesa Global, or dial *840# to opt in to M Pesa global without the app. LUTHERAN UHURU HOSTEL – M PESA GLOBAL Vodacom Send money: +255752347849 (Idda shirima).Single: 90,000 TSH Double/Twin: 130,000 TSH for the whole room. KILIMANJARO SAFARI LODGE – M PESA GLOBAL Vodacom send money: +255755 692905 (Aggrey Sawaya). Single: 60,000 TSH Triple: 95,000 TSH for the whole room. GOLDEN VIEW HOTEL: M PESA GLOBAL Vodacom Send money: +255759 878 065 (Hakili Simon Vigelo) Single: 100,000 TSH Twin/Double: 150,000 TSH for the whole room. PLEASE NOTE COSTS ARE PER NIGHT.
3. Bibs will be collected for the club in Moshi, and will be ready for collection at the Lutheran Uhuru Hotel from Saturday (the day before the race) at the latest. You must provide your bib number in advance, so please provide it as you complete the form here.

Find all info in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/kdzHKqMIKFP3uxBx?ref=Link

I did warn you there would be hills and trails, and by golly we did not disappoint on Saturday! What I didn’t warn you about what how cheap and filling breakfast at The Shed would be 😉 I hope you all enjoyed this Saturday’s run, and lo and behold, next Saturday is going to be EVEN BETTER! A friendly reminder to please register in advance for runs, by Thursday 5pm. This saves time at the start of the run, and is also essential for planning the run logistics in advance. Thank you!

Find the updated new member information and sign up form here, for aspiring members to get started here: https://urbanswaras.co.ke/new-members/

This week’s run: The Forest, Kereita

We are going back to The Forest, for an exceptional trail run that I know MANY of you look forward to since we introduced it to the Swara calendar a couple of years ago. So take heed, this one will be hilly and traily, just how we like it, and you may be tempted to camp out here for the whole day as they have a lovely restaurant, a plethora of outdoor activities (ziplining, archery, bike riding, foot golf, etc.), and views for days! Distances on the day will be from 10km all the way up to 35km. See the Starting Line for full info, and to register. Please note we will have a slightly later start time of 7.30am, to allow everyone to travel from Nairobi. Pay attention to the directions below, as Google Maps will try and mislead you and you will end up in the middle of the Aberdares!

Scroll down the Starting Line for some other runs coming up in the next few weeks you might be interested in: https://sway.office.com/87bfL03mH4shXm7i?ref=Link

Swara Zoom Session! An Audience With…

This week we have a Swara Zoom session, consisting of An Audience With Dr Kiptolo Boit of Nextgen Fitness, on the theme ‘Runners- Fueling The Right Way For Optimal Performance’.

Wednesday January 25th, 2023, 7pm live on Zoom.

Link to join Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82065210923?pwd=TkozNXNkWC9JSEVvdHlmMVYzcHZoUT09

Meeting ID: 820 6521 0923

Passcode: 119596

Kilimanjaro Marathon 2023

Please fill in the form here to if you would like us to collect your bib for you. All rooms are now full, and anyone who was in the list sent last week, please make payment asap to secure the room.

Form to fill: https://forms.gle/ULzTXCYcHYvCNUJy7

#NotAForestButTheForest

I hope you all had a great running weekend. I know many of you were at the Saturday Swara Run from Valley Arcade, but wherever you were, I hope it was fantastic! See some photo highlights in this week’s Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/gFDCrfNZAbahWY3t?ref=Link

As it it is the beginning of the year, I want to take a quick moment to say WELCOME to all our new guests, and members, and also say a big ‘YOU CAN DO IT’ to the people setting running goals and intentions for the year. It’s a great time to set any sort of goal. Ideally make it a SMART goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound). A good example would be ‘run a half marathon by August 2023, in under 2 hours 15 mins, and work towards it by running at least twice a week, including the Swara weekly run at least twice a month!’ Let us know if/when you hit your goal so we can celebrate with you 🙂

Find the updated new member information and sign up form here, for aspiring members to get started here: https://urbanswaras.co.ke/new-members/

Also, if you don’t yet follow us on Instagram, what are you waiting for?? We post all sorts of fun content, and run info is also posted every week. You can even tag us in your stories/posts and we might just reshare your content 🙂

https://www.instagram.com/urbanswarasrunningclub/

This week’s run: The Shed Lounge, Mwimuto

Have you missed the trail? We have! With the holiday (aka ‘lazy’) season behind us, let’s get back to the hills, the trail, the true Swara adventure! We will be running from The Shed Lounge, Mwimuto, for a majority trail run. Distances go from 5km to 35km, so something for everyone! Beginners to ultra marathoners.

See full details and link to register in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/gFDCrfNZAbahWY3t?ref=Link

#NewYearNewGoals

What a way to kick off the year! We had a superb run in Karen, and we welcomed a LOT of new guests and members. Why don’t you all spread the word and try and get more people involved in running? Bring a friend, a colleague or a neighbour along for a run (just make sure they know what they’re letting themselves in for)! Just forward them the info below so they can join us one Saturday, or ask them if they want to join our mailing list. All are welcome to the Swaras! See photo highlights from the run in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/tYBVo6V3nKQwK9ni?ref=Link

Find the updated new member information and sign up form here, for aspiring members to get started here: https://urbanswaras.co.ke/new-members/

This week’s run: Valley Arcade, Kilimani

This Saturday, we’re running from Valley Arcade. This will be a majority town run, so speedsters, or people training for Kilimanjaro, it’s a great chance to get a long run in, with distances from 5km up to 30km.

See full details and link to register here: https://sway.office.com/tYBVo6V3nKQwK9ni?ref=Link

Kilimanjaro Marathon 2023

The Kili Marathon 2023 is taking place on Sunday 26th February. This is a HUGE deal for the Nairobi running community, and usually sees hundreds of Kenyan runners cross the border to run. Register right away here: https://www.kilimanjaromarathon.com/ (registration closes in a month).

We as Urban Swaras try to help give everyone the best experience by helping to arrange transport and accommodation. To this end we have arranged the following (read carefully, the questions you have are all answered below)!:

1. Transport by return shuttle with Impala Shuttle. Leaving Nairobi Saturday morning 6am from Parkside Hotel Monrovia Street. You will dropped at your hotel, if you are staying at a Swara Hotel. Return shuttle is 4,000ksh, or 2,000ksh one-way. Please make payment to Buy Goods Till Number 5360791 (Impala Shuttle) then call/text/Whatsapp +254 727 377 771 or +254 710 354 845 with your name, whether a single or return journey, indicating that you are with the Urban Swara Running Club, and desired dates of travel. Return travel options are Sunday afternoon (after the race) or Monday morning.
2. Accommodation at Lutheran. We have been welcomed at Lutheran Uhuru Hostel, walking distance to the marathon start line, for many years. They offer single rooms at TSH 90,000 (Approx KSH 4,700) or double/twin rooms at TSH 130,000 for two (approx KSH 6,880) including breakfast each day and dinner on the Saturday evening. The accommodation is simple and comfortable, and there is no noisy bar to prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep! We have 20 rooms, which can each accommodate one or two people. Rooms will be given to members as first priority, and we strongly encourage sharing, to cut costs and also maximise the number of people we can fit. If these rooms fill up we will seek an alternative.
3. Bibs will be collected in Moshi, and will be ready for collection at the Lutheran Uhuru Hotel from Saturday at the latest. You must provide your bib number in advance, so please provide it as you complete the form below.

Please fill in the form here to confirm your plans, and request your room (payment will be required once it is confirmed by return message to you, and only upon payment will it be booked). If you are looking for a roommate, please indicate so in the form. You will be contacted on the email address or Whatsapp you provide, to proceed to payment, so please keep an eye out in the coming days after you express interest)!

Form to fill as soon as possible (first come first served): https://forms.gle/ULzTXCYcHYvCNUJy7

If you are NOT a current member you will be put on the waiting list for accommodation.

#ValleysInTown

We had Swaras doing great things all over this weekend: we had Swaras attending the run in Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary, Swaras running loop de loop around a track setting some new records (well done Peter ‘Chicharrito’ on running 100 miles in 24 hours!!) and we had Swaras rubbing shoulders with the GOAT in Iten, amongst many other exploits happening concurrently! Find some photo highlights in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/SaAwNCbQ4mJHrZkT?ref=Link

Find the updated new member information and sign up form here, for aspiring members to sign up: https://urbanswaras.co.ke/new-members/

This week’s run: Arboretum

This Saturday, Christmas Eve, we’re running from Arboretum. We will have distances of 10, 15, 20, and 25km, mostly on tarmac. Come out for a last run with your Swara buddies before Christmas!

See full details and register in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/SaAwNCbQ4mJHrZkT?ref=Link

#ChristmasEveArboretum

Last Saturday (seems like so long ago, what with the long weekend) we were running in Kiambu, with the Ecogreen run. Well done to all who planted trees and helped to re-green our country! We also co-hosted a Jamhuri Day Run for Avani and Niraj. Thank you to all who supported them. If you would still like to support them financially in their pursuit of justice and rebuilding their family home, you may do so using the following dedicated Paybill line set up by a friend of Avani and Niraj: Paybill number 8051878, Account: your name. Find some photo highlights in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/colmOzlUXBL9gISw?ref=Link

Find the updated new member information and sign up form here, for aspiring members to sign up: https://urbanswaras.co.ke/new-members/

This week’s run: Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary

This Saturday 17th December we will be in Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary. If you’ve not yet discovered this sanctuary in the middle of the city, what are you waiting for?! There are marked trails all year round, but we will be adding extra Swara marks to ensure noone gets lost. There will be distances of 5, 10, 15, and 21km. Find full info and the link to sign up here: https://sway.office.com/colmOzlUXBL9gISw?ref=Link

#SanctuaryInTheCity