Category: News

WHAT A RUN!! That was a spectacular running weekend in Kericho, the club’s first official Kericho Trail Run, and truly, the tea plantations of Kericho offered perfect running terrain, and spirits and running camaraderie were certainly free flowing. And the after party…well, you had to have been there (so I hear) 😉 Thank you especially to all the members who contributed to making this run a success, in particular Shem, Masika, Chebet, Chirie, and many others – we appreciate you! See photo highlights in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/xSENQuozQPpiLPxl?ref=Link

This Saturday we are heading to a new venue, in town, called Cellar’s Grill, for a run around the Ngong Road area. Please note, this is a change to the original calendar, the Chairman’s Run has been postponed to a later date, more info coming soon. See the Starting Line for full details and and to register. Oh, and breakfast is on the house, thanks to our Patron, James Wahome! Link to Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/xSENQuozQPpiLPxl?ref=Link 

#RunAndWine

We certainly weren’t left with any hunger after this weekend’s run from Hunger’s Nest – our craving for a brilliant trail and a hearty breakfast was satisfied all in one! Despite the rains we were able to remark in the morning and make sure we had a superb run. Check out some photo highlights in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/a6E3vfpTTpZqRVbq?ref=Link

This weekend is THE weekend! The Kericho Trail Run, a brand new run for all to salivate over, and it is open to EVERYONE! Now that Friday is a holiday and Monday is a holiday also, you can make a long weekend of it, or build in some additional stops on your roadtrip, but be sure to be in Kericho on Saturday for the run, whatever you do! Register right awayso that we as a committee can plan everything tip-top for you, from the markings, to the support, to the mbuzi (bbq) afterparty (you heard right)! Bring your swimming costumes, there is a pool 🙂 And bring your friends, it’s open to everyone! Full details in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/a6E3vfpTTpZqRVbq?ref=Link

For those wanting to take the Swara bus we require payment by Wednesday 27th April otherwise your space is not secured. Let’s go get our cup of tea!

Link to sign up directly here: https://forms.gle/7URajBDvQv42g7XVA

#YourRunningCupOfTea

Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? If there is, then this weekend was it! A trail through the Tigoni tea plantations, fundraising for Shoe4Africa children’s cancer charity, and celebrating Avani Patel’s (aka The General’s) 50th birthday with cake and festivities under the Tigoni sunshine. Phew! I hope you’ve all recovered…because there’s more to come! See the Starting Line for some photo highlights: https://sway.office.com/vFgkkbEJpzhni0Eo?ref=Link

This Saturday we will be running from a very special and very new venue. One of our own members, Duncan Mwololo, will be welcoming us to his home, in Mua Hilla, Machakos, for a trail run to beat all trail runs. See the Starting Line for full information, and of course you will want to register right away. Please note the run will start at 7.30am to allow everyone to travel from Nairobi and reach the run on time. Link to Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/vFgkkbEJpzhni0Eo?ref=Link

Then there’s still more to look forward to! This Wednesday we are bringing back our ‘Show & Tell’ / ‘An Audience With…’ Zoom sessions, and this Wednesday it will be with ‘An Audience With Dedan Miricho’, runner, running coach, and legend on the Nairobi recreational running scene. Look out for the link, coming tomorrow. Wednesday 7pm, live on Zoom, be there or be a running square!

If you’ve not done so yet, book out the weekend of the 30th April, because we have a fantastic new run (which has just been freshly scouted and boy oh boy are the CRE excited about it) in none other than Kericho! We will be sharing more info about accommodation and travel options soon.

#MuaHahaa

You could say we KEFRIlly really loved last weekend’s run 😉 Not only were there beautiful hills and a brilliant trail, but also cake to celebrate our dear Chairman’s birthday…and that, coincidentally, of his twin! Thank you to all who stayed to cut the cake and celebrate with them. And well done to all of you for braving what did not promise to be a perfect weather day. Check out some beautiful photo highlights (and see the cake you missed out on!) here: https://sway.office.com/pcdY1iKb1HyA2jCZ?ref=Link

This Saturday we have another fantastic trail run in store for you, and the celebrations continue! We are running from Thayu Farm Hotel in Tigoni, with distances up to 35km, and one of our veteran members (that does NOT mean old!) is celebrating her birthday by inviting all runners to pick up a medal for this run in exchange for a donation to Shoe4Africa Children’s Cancer Hospital. See full details in the Starting Line to register and, if you choose, get a medal and make a donation to celebrate Avani Patel’s birthday: https://sway.office.com/pcdY1iKb1HyA2jCZ?ref=Link

Direct link to register for the run here: https://forms.gle/wHJ2ujiREvpkXBWi8

#ThayuVeryMuch

We had a great run last weekend at Valley Arcade, with a super turnout, and thankfully the rains just missed us! Check out the photos in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/4zphu7H2wbLa8Fnv?ref=Link

Next week’s run

This coming Saturday we are celebrating the club’s Chairman’s Birthday! And in true Swara fashion, we will give you the option of running his age! So in addition to the usual 10-35km distance we shall have a special 55km distance! All this in the beautiful setting of KEFRI (Kenya Forestry Research Institute) in Muguga (near Kikuyu).

See the Starting Line for full details and to register: https://sway.office.com/4zphu7H2wbLa8Fnv?ref=Link

Club Calendar

If you haven’t yet ordered your brand new USRC wall calendar, do so now!

This brand new calendar goes for 500ksh, and you can pick up one, two, or as many as you like for yourself and your running buddies.

Payment to be made to the club m-pesa number: 0740 912 116 (Samuel Waweru) as you place your order below.

Select your shipping option – Delivery (at your cost) or Collection (Run beyond, Ngong Rd Physio, Decathlon, club run, etc).

To order, fill in this form: https://forms.gle/kbhu4YUMGEHrpwYr5

#55at55

A wonderful trail was enjoyed by all in Kikuyu this past weekend, thanks to everyone for bringing out their best running spirit. We also had the Red Bull Crew on site hyping us up for their big run next month – see the Starting Line for how to register for this, and also find some other exciting runs coming up in the next couple of months that you can already register for and start getting excited for! See the Starting Line here: https://sway.office.com/EcwhAEbGXV1E357I?ref=Link

If you ever have suggestions for new trails, venues, or routes, reach out to the Swara committee! You can email us on urbanswaras@outlook.com.

Next week’s run

Next Saturday, 19th March, we are having the much anticipated Run2Gether Training Camp run, in Longonot. Dennis Lopua, professional runner and Swara, trains here, and we try to run there once a year, and invite all Swaras and camp members for a slap-up breakfast! We also invite you all to bring slightly used but still wearable running gear (shoes, jackets, running clothes, etc.) for donation to runners with meagre means, or members of the community. There will be distances from 10 all the way up to 35km, and 110% of it will be trail, and a fair bit of it will be unflat (See how I’m trying to avoid the word hills…?) 😉 Get full details and register here: https://sway.office.com/EcwhAEbGXV1E357I?ref=Link

Club Calendar

If you haven’t yet ordered your brand new USRC wall calendar, do so now!

This brand new calendar goes for 500ksh, and you can pick up one, two, or as many as you like for yourself and your running buddies.

Payment to be made to the club m-pesa number: 0740 912 116 (Samuel Waweru) as you place your order below.

Select your shipping option – Delivery (at your cost) or Collection (Run beyond, Ngong Rd Physio, Decathlon, club run, etc).

To order, fill in this form: https://forms.gle/kbhu4YUMGEHrpwYr5

#Run2getherToRunFar

Dear Swaras,

Thanks to all who attended last Saturday’s run from a brand new Swara venue (The Spring Valley Roastery), and who graced the tarmac and trails of the Spring Valley area. We hope you all enjoyed it, and felt like your limbs got a good shake-out after your exertions in Moshi for the Kilimanjaro Marathon! A reminder that speed work is now paused, and will hopefully resume later in the year. It’s important to give your body a well-deserved break, don’t forget that! See the Starting Line for some photo highlights and upcoming runs: https://sway.office.com/Ab5pDhe3zHLdrYEz?ref=Link

If you ever have suggestions for new trails, venues, or routes, reach out to the Swara committee! You can email us on urbanswaras@outlook.com.

Next week’s run

Next Saturday, 12th March, we are running from Levilla Gardens, in Kikuyu, where there are guaranteed great trails so get excited and get registering! There will be distances from 10 all the way up to 35km. For full details and the link to register see here: https://sway.office.com/Ab5pDhe3zHLdrYEz?ref=Link

Club Calendar

If you haven’t yet ordered your brand new USRC wall calendar, do so now!

This brand new calendar goes for 500ksh, and you can pick up one, two, or as many as you like for yourself and your running buddies.

Payment to be made to the club m-pesa number: 0740 912 116 (Samuel Waweru) as you place your order below.

Select your shipping option – Delivery (at your cost) or Collection (Run beyond, Ngong Rd Physio, Decathlon, club run, etc).

To order, fill in this form: https://forms.gle/kbhu4YUMGEHrpwYr5

#RunRoundTheGardens

Dear Swaras,
How to sum up the weekend in just a few sentences?? Impossible!! The weekend we had all been waiting for for so long has now been and gone, but the sore legs, the memories, and the runner’s high will stay with us for a while yet. To those who took part in Kilimanjaro Marathon, we celebrate you all. A few special shout-outs to be made: our very own able Treasurer, Davis Munene, not only cycled to Moshi from Nairobi, but went on to get a phenomenal sub-3hour (2h50mins!!!) marathon time to boot! Annika Berlin scooped a number 4 place in the women’s race, with a staggering 3h14mins in the 42km race, and did herself and us all proud on the podium! Some of our Swara ladies (Nyaruai Muhoro, Eugenie Nouala, Avani Patel, Marylyne Chebet, Winfred Gichuru, and Ciru Hinga) summitted Mount Kilimanjaro the days before the marathon, flying the Swara flag high, and then some of them went on to run the various race distances. Similarly, Victor Kamau raced up Kilimanjaro in breathtaking speed over a single day, and then completed the marathon in a time that would make most people’s eyes water. There are MANY photo highlights to check out in the Starting Line:
https://sway.office.com/o1WHxClFrGTasnfg?ref=Link

These are just some of the highlights, as we had more than 100 runners in Moshi, and they ALL deserve a huge congratulations, you all did the club proud, and most importantly, yourselves! I also hear the afterparty was one to remember 😉 So please insert your name into the following sentence for a personal shout-out: ‘Dear Urban Swara member, (insert name here), you are a champion, a dedicated and valued recreational runner, and you should be extremely proud of what you have done, run, and shared!’

We also had some members at the Lucozade Forest Run and Cycle event, and Marieke Geurts came out with a podium finish in the half marathon category! Thanks to Lucozade for offering the free entries to the club. Last but not least, a number of Swaras were at the Mount Kenya Run, Meru, running their hearts out. See the photo highlights in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/o1WHxClFrGTasnfg?ref=Link

Next week’s run

Now we can look forward to our next club run in just 5 days, at The Spring Valley Roastery, in Spring Valley. This is a new venue for the club, and we’re very excited to be running from a venue that boasts such an excellent brand, and is fully in support of the club’s activities. The route will be mostly tarmac, with distances from 10km up to 25km, so whether you’re recovering from your exertions of this past weekend, or training for your next challenge, there’s something for everyone. Let’s all come together and share wild running stories from the past few weeks! There will be a small quantities of t shirts available for those still waiting to buy a club t-shirt.

Club Calendar

If you haven’t yet ordered your brand new USRC wall calendar, do so now!

This brand new calendar goes for 500ksh, and you can pick up one, two, or as many as you like for yourself and your running buddies. Payment to be made to the club m-pesa number: 0740 912 116 (Samuel Waweru) as you place your order below.
Select your shipping option – Delivery (at your cost) or Collection (Run beyond, Ngong Rd Physio, Decathlon, club run, etc).
To order, and get a sneak peek of the calendar, fill in this form: https://forms.gle/kbhu4YUMGEHrpwYr5

#OutForARoasting

Dear Swaras,

A shed is usually a small structure to store items away from the elements, in a field or garden. That doesn’t sound like something Swaras need, right?! But still, our run from The Shed in Mwimuto/Kitisuru was just what Swaras needed! With under a week now to go to until Kilimanjaro Marathon, all the training you could do has already been done, and whether you’re out to get a PB, or just out to have fun, the real countdown is finally on! We as a club wish you all the very best for your run, whatever your distance or your motivation. We encourage you to have fun, enjoy yourself, and encourage other runners, be they Swaras or any other runners, it goes a long way! See some photo highlights in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/iJc4byqCAYyGD1MF?ref=Link

KILIMANJARO MARATHON

BIBS

Those of you who shared your bib numbers, they will be waiting at your hotel reception if you are staying at Lutheran or Kilimanjaro Safaris Lodge. If you are staying anywhere else, you should collect them from Lutheran. If you did not give me your bib number personally or through the Google form which closed over a week ago, you will need to make arrangements to collect it yourself.

TRANSPORT

If travelling with the shuttles please ensure you are at Silver Springs hotel by 6.30am on Friday or Saturday (depending on the day you booked for) for a 7am departure. You will need to collect your paper tickets at the office there if you have not yet done so, so please ensure you are there before 7am. The buses will not be able to wait for latecomers. There is no parking on-site so please come by public means or get dropped off. Departure from Moshi on Sunday will be at 3pm, and on Monday morning at 6am from your hotel (if staying at Lutheran or Kilimanjaro Safaris). If staying anywhere please ensure you are at Lutheran or Kilimanjaro Safaris Lodge on time for the return bus.

RACE DAY

Each runner is responsible for getting themselves to the start line on time. So be sure to check the race details and have your race number on you and a good breakfast in you! The Swara hotels (Lutheran and Kiliamanjaro Safaris Lodge) will have breakfast ready early enough for your to take before your run.

HOTELS

Please pay for your accommodation directly to the hotel. Dinner will be available at Lutheran Hotel free of charge for those staying there. If you would like to take dinner at Lutheran, please contact me (the MC, Claire) to book, for an extra fee.

Any questions? Contact Claire, Whatsapp +33615209676, Safaricom +254702745372

NAIROBI RUN

If you are not attending Kilimanjaro Marathon, we invite you to run at Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary, following the marked routes (5, 10, 15, and 21km). Entry fee of 100-200ksh apply, payable by m-pesa. Please bring your own water in a reusable bottle or hydration pack.

Speed work!

The last speed work session before Kili is here! This week it will be on Wednesday not Thursday, from 5.30pm, at Impala Club, Ngong Road. You pay 100ksh entry fee directly to Impala Club (be sure to come with m pesa for this). Wear your Swara t shirt, and if you don’t have one, talk to Davis on the day!

New members

If ever anyone asks you ‘how do I become a member?’ then here is the newly refreshed link to send them where they can do everything to become a member right there and then and start running with us! https://urbanswaras.co.ke/new-members/

All of this and more can always be found in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/iJc4byqCAYyGD1MF?ref=Link

#MarathonReady