Author: Bond

Due to unavoidable circumstances we have had to change this week’s run from Aberdares (which has been postponed) to Tigoni. Those who had paid for Aberdares will be refunded accordingly by the club treasurer.

Location:

This week will see the introduction of a new run to our weekly calendar. Starting the coming Thursday (23rd August) we’ll be having weekly track sessions, alternating between Jaffery Sports Club in Lavington (click here for map), and Parklands Sports Club, in Parklands (click here for map). The venues have been chosen for the quality of their tracks, and to give members who live on either side of the highway the opportunity to join with minimal travel.

The sessions will take place on Thursday evenings, from 2000 to 2100 (both venues have flood lighting), then there will be the option to go for a social drink together afterwards. Many of us enjoy the social side of the club as much as the runs themselves, so we hope this will add a new opportunity to get together as a club of friends. The suggested drinks venues are Kengele’s in Lavington, and K1 Klub House in Parklands.

There will be no fee to the club for joining the sessions, but the venues charge a parking or entry fee. They are as follows:

Jaffery Sports Club: parking charged at 50/- per car for up to two hours.

Parklands Sports Club: Entry charged at 150/- per person, including parking and use of changing rooms.

There will be no water or bananas provided, so please bring your own if needed.

For the first session we’ll have the world famous Coach Albert, marathon runner extraordinaire, on hand to provide running tips and general coaching, with the focus on improving speed and technique.

There is an information sheet with further details about the venues here.

Saturday’s run will take place at Oloolua Nature Trail and Enda Sportswear will be doing a product showcase (see details below).

Directions to start location:

Get onto Karen Road accessible from either Ngong Road, Karen Plains Road, Langata Road, Marula Lane, Mbagathi Ridge, or Bogani Road.

Drive on until the end of Karen Road, where you will find a gate with a sign on it saying Oloolua Nature Trail / Forest / Primate Research.

There are entry fees, being 300/- for Kenyans, 400/- for residents, and 600/- for non-residents, which will be collected at the gate, because of which you may experience delays getting in, so please factor that in.

Google map pin.

Distances:

10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45km.

Breakfast:

Breakfast will be served at an approximate cost of 300/- per person.

Timings:

The run starts at 0700.

Confirmation:

Confirmations are required by 1400 on Thursday 16th August by email to the coordinator.

A message from Enda Sportswear:

Enda is excited to kick-start a showcase of the Kenyan made running shoes during the upcoming run at Oloolua.

This is going to be an exciting chance to learn more about Enda, have a feel of the running shoes, try on a pair and get yourself these amazing lightweight trainers. Even more exciting, if you buy a pair at the Saturday Swaras run, you shall get a free personalised 1-hour coaching session with the seasoned marathon trainer (Coach Albert).

We at Enda are super pumped up to interact with you this Saturday.

This Saturday we run from the  Goshen Garden Restaurant in Kikuyu.

The distances this coming Saturday will be 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40km. Anyone who would want  to run a longer distance,  please let me know by tomorrow, to enable us scout the same.

Below are the directions;

If coming from Waiyaki Way take the left turn-off towards Kikuyu town, enter the town, go past the town and take a right turn at the Alliance School – Thogoto Hospital Junction. After having taken the right, take the immediate left which leads to a Hospital. Pass the hospital, follow signs of  Goshen Garden Restaurant on your right. The restaurant will be ahead on the dirt road to your left.

If coming from Dagoretti, drive up all the way until you get to Thogoto hospital junction on your left and follow directions as above.

Breakfast is priced at 400/-  and will  include tea or coffee, sausage, eggs, mandazi and sweet potatoes.

May we please  have your confirmations by latest Thursday please, for planning purposes.

The run starts at 7 a.m.

This Saturday’s run will be hosted by our very own, Diana Nduku one of the ardent runners and supporters of the club, at her farm.

Click here for the location on Google Maps.

Directions

On Mombasa Road, go past Mlolongo town, interchange of Namanga road, Devki Steel, Daystar University turn off, Small World Club, Simba cement factory, Lukenya hills and schools turn off and Maanzoni Hotel.

Then take the first tarmac road on the left, about 1km after Maanzoni.

It is called Mua Hills Road. Drive approximately 6km  and just before  Sonko’s home, turn right onto a murram road.  Continue on this road until you get to a T junction at Kivani Market.  Turn Left at the T Junction and drive up  and turn left 150 metres past the Church [St Michael’s Catholic Church]  on to a steep murram road to the Farm.

There will be white chalk marks from the main road leading to the farm.

Terrain

Picturesque hills and valleys and stunning views of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos town and the surroundings.

Distances

10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 & 40km

Route

Fairly tough, by Swara standards.

Recommendations

Hydrate beforehand, run easy and take the longer distances to enjoy the gruel.

Take (heavy) breakfast and carry a bottle of water or energy drink on the run.

Use this as part of the training for the 5th Annual Mount Kenya Ultra Marathon on 23rd September 2018.

Breakfast

Breakfast will be 400/- and will be collected by the Treasurer before the run.

Start time

0730 to allow for determined but late arrivals.

CONFIRMATIONS ARE REQUIRED by Thursday 2nd August @ 1400.