Urban Swaras Running Club

Dear Swaras, 

Well done to all who ran this weekend, be it at Kahara (Swara run), Karura (Stan Chart warm-up run) or a little further afield at the Chicago Marathon! You all did yourselves proud and most of all enjoyed it, I hope! There is a lot to look forward to this month and next, so aside from this Saturday’s run from ACK St Paul’s in Kiambu, be sure to look at the gala info, and Stan Chart info below! All info as always in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/speGymGTeekNXDVV?ref=Link

This week’s run: ACK St Paul’s, Kiambu

This coming Saturday we are heading to Kiambu County, more specifically to ACK St Paul’s Church, Kiambu Town. This is such a beautiful area to run in, with gentle hills, cool breezes, and fantastic trails. Find full details of the run below, and register by Thursday! There will be distances from 10km to 35km, and it will be majority trail. Register in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/speGymGTeekNXDVV?ref=Link

Stan Chart 2022

Early bird registration for Stan Chart 2022 is only open until today, and then prices go up! Registration link exclusively for Swaras here (it will sign you up as part of the Urban Swaras team): https://secure.onreg.com/onreg2/front/step1.php?id=5683&agentonly=true&login=true&userid=103300&noback=true

If you would like to be run as part of a relay team (if 42km is a little ambitious for you, but 10.5km is doable), then reach out now to be a part of a Swara team! This is really the fun run option for Stan Chart 🙂

Inaugural Swara Gala – save the date!

For the first time, the Urban Swaras Running Club is inviting you to a Swara Gala! A sophisticated, celebratory, evening event, bringing together club members, other members of the Nairobi Recreational Running community, and some special guests for a dinner, dance, entertainment, and awards ceremony.

Tickets cost 3,500ksh, and cover all of the above. The event is open to all members of the recreational running community and their guests, and in fact we invite members of other running or sports clubs to join us in a special event of running solidarity and celebration, so please do invite your friends and loved ones. Mileage medals will be awarded for those who register early on the link below.

Please book your tickets using this link, pick your outfit, and practice your dance moves and award acceptance speech, the Gala is around the corner! Booking link: https://forms.gle/jcamFzMR2uCuCZKEA

Our wonderful and generous sponsors of the event include:

Zenith Steel

Going Outdoor/Salomon

Cellar’s Grill/Afrika Lodges

#KiambuTrails

It is our great honour, as the Official, CRE, and organising committee, to formally invite you to the first ever Swara Gala! 
This sophisticated and celebratory event will be held on Saturday 5th November from 6pm, at Emara Ole Sereni. The occasion will be marked with a three-course dinner, medals, dancing, special (very VERY special guests), awards, and making merry until late!

Tickets cost 3,500ksh, and cover all of the above. The event is open to all members of the recreational running community and their guests, and in fact we invite members of other running or sports clubs to join us in a special event of running solidarity and celebration, so please do invite your friends and loved ones. Mileage medals will be awarded for those who register early on the link below.
Please book your tickets using this link, pick your outfit, and practice your dance moves and award acceptance speech, the Gala is around the corner! Booking link: https://forms.gle/jcamFzMR2uCuCZKEA
#SwaraGala#NotJustARunner#GladRagsAndSoreLegs

Is it a coincidence that Nairobi and Naivasha both start with a ‘Nai’? So it’s logical that a few dozen runners would run from one to the other, right?! Well, that’s what happened this weekend, and a stellar crew of Swaras represented the club! Give it up for Jeniffer, Reuben, Chirie, Elvis, Isaac, Moses, Sam, Richard, Katherine, Shem, and Oricho, you all rocked that trail! Apparently we won some prizes, for most sober team, and for best team. I will let you decide which of those two statements is true 😉 In my eyes though, each of them is a winner! Give it up for team USRC! See some photo highlights here: https://sway.office.com/okUS1kJW0iUPNJ2e?ref=Link

Please collect your Duka La Swara goodies or Mount Kenya Ultra goodies at the next run, or arrange for a pick-up (contact Claire on Whatsapp +33615209676 or Safaricom +254792745372) to arrange. There are a number of items yet to be collected. There are a few Mt Keya Ultra t shirts in medium size remaining, if anyone would like one! The new club t shirts are also for sale, pick one up at the next run.

This week’s run: Kaguku Market, Murang’a.

Get your legs ready for one of the toughest Swara runs on the calendar! This run is scouted and marked by our Chairman, Ajaa Olubayi. You know what that means: scenery, hills, 100% trail, and fun on fun! Distances up to approximately 41km! Please note the slightly later start date of 8am, to allow travel time from Nairobi. Bring your trail shoes, caps, sun cream, and hydrate well! Full info and link to register here: https://sway.office.com/okUS1kJW0iUPNJ2e?ref=Link

Stan Chart 2022

Early bird registration is open for Stan Chart 2022! Registration link exclusively for Swaras here (it will sign you up as part of the Urban Swaras team): https://secure.onreg.com/onreg2/front/step1.php?id=5683&agentonly=true&login=true&userid=103300&noback=true

Inaugural Swara Gala – save the date!

For the first time, the Urban Swaras Running Club is inviting you to a Swara Gala! A sophisticated, celebratory, evening event, bringing together club members, other members of the Nairobi Recreational Running community, and some special guests. Keep an eye out for ticket sales, but for now, be sure to save the date, Saturday 5th November! If interested in sponsoring the event, as an individual or company, please reach out to the MC (clairesimonebaker@gmail.com). The planning committee is working overtime to put on a most spectacular event 🙂 Full info and registration coming to your inbox tomorrow.

#GalaReady

Dear Swaras,

Last Saturday we were hosted by the wonderful VMX Fitness in Village Market: we were joined by some of their members for our trail, that comprised some of the quiet roads of Runda, and some of the coffee plantations of Kiambu, for those on the longer distances! The lure of free breakfast brought a lot of Swaras out, and we are happy to announce, to those who missed the announcement in person, that VMX Fitness is offering all Swara members (with active membership) free access to their gym on the first and third Sundays of each month for a limited time (to be announced), so get down there next Sunday to make the most of it! Please ensure you leave your name at the reception, to be crosschecked with the active members list. If you are not an active member (fully paid up) you will be required to pay for your gym use. Find out more about VMX and their opening hours on their website: https://www.vmx-fitness.com/

Check out some awesome photo highlights in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/4vcxZeEIQbd8lDKG?ref=Link

Please collect your Duka La Swara goodies or Mount Kenya Ultra goodies at the next run, or arrange for a pick-up ASAP (contact Claire on Whatsapp +33615209676 or Safaricom +254792745372) to arrange. There are a number of items yet to be collected. There are a few extra Mt Keya Ultra t shirts in medium size remaining, if anyone would like one!

This week’s run: The Vineyard, Ridgeways

This week we are running from The Vineyard, Ridgeways. It is the week before Naivasha Relay, so work on your sprints! More on that just below, keep on reading. Links to register for all of these in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/4vcxZeEIQbd8lDKG?ref=Link

Naivasha Relay is around the corner – less than two weeks! Registration deadline tomorrow!!

Naivasha Relay registration is now open, so we are inviting all Swaras who want to be a part of one of the Swara teams for this event to register. 

To sign up to be in one of the Swara teams, fill in this form by Tuesday 20th September: https://forms.gle/StL724gSgNV98VNF6

Everything and more in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/4vcxZeEIQbd8lDKG?ref=Link

#ThroughTheVineyard

Dear Swaras, 

Mountain to Mountain truly was an epic, ultra, extraordinary, and breathtaking run! We had runners from across the region completing distances from 25km to 80km, and everything in between. For roughly 14 hours the roads and trails between Mount Kenya and the Aberdares were awash with laughing Swaras (and guests), and support vehicles chugging up and down the roads, doling out melons, chapati, sodas, and encouragement. We had so many personal distance records (people who ran their longest distance ever) and we had people who ran even after doing Comrades last week, and people sprinting downhill after already having run 50km, and people arriving in the area at midnight and starting an ultra at 4.30am…basically, we had everything, and I think I’m safe in saying everyone loved it (well, most of it 😉 )

See the amazing photo highlights here: https://sway.office.com/5DAZFSBkVMMDkCUW?ref=Link

If you would still like to order a Mount Kenya Ultra t shirt or medal, please contact me before 5pm Tuesday 13th (Whatsapp +33615209676 or email clairesimonebaker@gmail.com).

Find below some thank yous we shared on the Whatsapp group that also deserve to be shared here:

On behalf of the club’s CRE and officials I’d like to take a moment to congratulate all the many wonderful runners who enjoyed and punished themselves on this year’s Mt Kenya Ultra- Mountain to Mountain edition. The trails were alive with encouragement, laughs, personal achievement, and the runner’s high. 

Special thank you to:

Our Mt Kenya locals who hosted us for a sumptuous mbuzi dinner, muratina (never seen such a big jerrycan) and a welcoming after party- Wachira Nderitu, Sam Ndungu, Leo Kareko, Anthony, Kiai, James Ndiang’ui, Esther Ndungu, and friend of the club Sam Mwangi. 

The extraordinary coordination efforts of Wachira Nderitu and James Wahome for planning the route, the logistics and the accommodation.

Wanjohi, of the Mt Kenya Blazers, for attending with a marvellous group of Blazers.

Ajaa Olubayi, the club’s Chairman, who supported the runners throughout, and coordinated the support vehicles.

Timothy Guoko who came with us for the sole purpose of supporting runners and making sure we never went hungry or thirsty. 

Our beloved Trail Fox, Benja Chikani, who marked, supported, and photographed the living daylights out of us! 

Our treasurer Davis Munene, who even though he wasn’t there, paid all the bills promptly so that we didn’t get held for ransom

Everyone else who was involved in any way, we thank you!! If I’ve missed your name it please let me know! 

Feel free to thank these individuals in person, they truly deserve it. 

Happy recovery, everyone. 

This week’s run: hosted by VMX Fitness, Village Market

This week we are being hosted by the state-of-the-art, sprawling VMX Fitness, on the third floor of Village Market. They are generously hosting us for breakfast, which will be FREE for members. Guests will still be required to pay the 500ksh guest fees. We will be joined by members of VMX Fitness, and we will be offering distances from 5km to 25km. Full info and link to register in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/5DAZFSBkVMMDkCUW?ref=Link

Naivasha Relay is around the corner

And then don’t forget, the Nairobi-Naivasha Relay is on the weekend of the 1st October! More info on registering for a team to come later this week. Before then we will be taking orders for NEW SWARA T SHIRTS so keep an eye out for that they will get snapped up quicker than you can run a mountain to mountain ultra!

#VMX+Swaras

This week is the much-anticipated Mount Kenya Ultra! We always ask but really do mean it: please avoid single-use plastic where possible. We are drastically reducing our use of single-use plastics, and appreciate your cooperation in this. Please bring a refillable bottle or hydration pack if you require water on the trail.

Date: Saturday 10th September, staggered flagging off. 80km: 4am from Naro Moru Gate, 50km 7am from Golden Gates Hotel, and 25km 8am from close to Golden Gates Hotel (drop-off by the club). All runners should be finished by nightfall, for their safety.

Venue: Flagging off from Naro Moru Gate (80km) and Golden Gates hotel or environs for 25 and 50km. Afterparty at Wandare Gate and Golden Gates Hotel.

Directions: Mount Kenya Gate Park Hotel is situated close to the Mt Kenya Naro Moru gate. Follow the highway to Naro Moru town, then turn off to Naro Moru Gate. The Hotel is a few km before the gate, on the right.

Golden Gates Hotel is along the Nyeri-Nyahururu road, near Dedan Kimathi University. If following Thika Highway and then continuing straight towards Nyeri, take a sharp left at Kiganjo and follow the road until Golden Gate Hotel.

Distance: There will be marked routes of 25, 50, and 80km. Please choose your chosen distance when completing the form, as this will allow for the club to plan logistics.

Run type: The route will be a mix of trail and tarmac. There will be water and light snacks along the way, but we advise you to carry water in a bottle/hydration pack and any specific snacks you might require.

Google Maps link to the venue: Golden Gate Hotel:

Mount Kenya Gate Park Hotel: https://goo.gl/maps/1Kh8aLWKs1vBRdEd7

Registration: Please register using the link below as soon as possible. If you would like your t shirt or medal on Saturday and if you would like FREE dinner at the finish line you MUST register by Tuesday 6th September 5pm. Anyone who registers after that may not be catered for for dinner, and will get their medal/t shirt (if ordered) after the event: https://forms.gle/J2FypK2y1VyV616w5

Subs: Be sure to come with your M-Pesa topped up to make payment for your subs, as runs have resumed!

Guests: As always, guest fees of 500ksh apply. Please share the following link with anyone interested in joining the club for the first time: http://urbanswaras.co.ke/new-members/

If you haven’t heard how great this Saturday’s run was, then you must have been hiding under a rock – it was SPECTACULAR! But fear not, this coming week we have something even bigger and better, and there’s plenty to look forward to in the next couple of months! See a LOT of awesome photo highlights in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/OAe2WvtJ0uGBCZxr?ref=Link

This week’s run – Kaptagat Run – from the King’s Lair

The time is upon us! The brand new and exciting Kaptagat Run is happening this Saturday! This will be an unmissable trail run, with magnificent elevation and breathtaking green views, with an afterparty, a beautiful venue, and some extra special surprises (keywords are free mbuzi). Full info and register here: https://sway.office.com/OAe2WvtJ0uGBCZxr?ref=Link

Distances: 15, 30, 45, and 60km (please note the slighly later start time, of 7.30am). 

Accommodation: Accommodation has been secured at Kaptagat Farm Resort, with single rooms bed and breakfast at 2,500ksh per person, double rooms bed and breakfast at 4,500ksh, and cottages from 5,000ksh (twin) and 8,000ksh (4-person), and 6,000ksh (double). Please select your accommodation preference in the registration form below.

Transport: We encourage car pooling, and have included this option in the registration form. Please indicate if you would like to offer a lift, or get a lift, and we will share your telephone contact. There is also a shuttle option, with North Rift Shuttle. 1,200ksh one-way, 2,400ksh return.

Registration: You can already register here and we will be updating on registration list on a regular basis to allow for car pooling: https://forms.gle/VWtcgpa2YDSgs7Vx6

Full details are below, please be sure to read the information carefully 🙂

And then don’t forget the Mount Kenya Ultra is on the 10th September, and Naivasha Relay is on 1st October! 

All of this and more in the Starting Line as always: https://sway.office.com/OAe2WvtJ0uGBCZxr?ref=Link

#KingsLair

Dear Swaras,

Last week’s run was a GREAT run, winding through the quiet streets of Lavington, Kilimani and Kileleshwa, and was also a bittersweet farewell (or a see you later) to our Trail Queen, Loice Mbogo. She has served as an official of the club since 2019, and we can’t thank her enough for her service to the club and her friendship to many a Swara. We wish her luck as she pursued further studies in the United States! See some photo highlights of the run AND the cake here: https://sway.office.com/L6dz7hvfzq6q20Vq?ref=Link

This week’s run – Honeywell Resort, Lusigetti

This week we are heading back to the true trail, the rugged land we prosper on! We will be in Lusigetti, from Honeywell Resort. Distances will be up to 35km – as usual, please be aware that distances are approximate, and may sometimes vary slightly from the announced distances. Find full details in the Starting Line: https://sway.office.com/L6dz7hvfzq6q20Vq?ref=Link

Kaptagat Run – from the King’s Lair

The next run after this (Saturday 27th August), and the next out of town run, is in Kaptagat, otherwise known as the land that Kipchoge pounds on a daily basis. This will be an unmissable trail run, with magnificent elevation and breathtaking green views, with an afterparty, a beautiful venue, and some extra special surprises (keywords are mbuzi, and special guests).

Distances: 15, 30, 45, and 60km

Accommodation: Accommodation has been secured at Kaptagat Farm Resort, with single rooms bed and breakfast at 2,500ksh per person, double rooms bed and breakfast at 4,500ksh, and cottages from 5,000ksh (twin) and 8,000ksh (4-person), and 6,000ksh (double). Please select your accommodation preference in the registration form below.

Transport: We encourage car pooling, and have included this option in the registration form. Please indicate if you would like to offer a lift, or get a lift, and we will share your telephone contact.

Registration: You can already register here and we will be updating on registration list on a regular basis to allow for car pooling: https://forms.gle/zL4UuMvkLzyNT3ph6

And then don’t forget the Mount Kenya Ultra is on the 10th September!

#SoManyRunsSoLittleTime

As election campaigns wrapped up, Swaras were out spreading purely running-based manifestos in the shape of our Saturday run from Cafe Bistro, Madaraka! Thank you to all for helping to promote peace and unity in your own small ways, and I hope we all continue to do so. Luckily the campaign rallies did not interfere with our Saturday run, and vice versa, our run did not interfere with the democratic activities! We headed away from Nyayo Stadium, towards Nairobi West, South C, Ngong Road, and the Southern Bypass, and (mostly) kept our soles (and souls) clean with tarmac instead of trail! Thank you to our host, Abdi, a former Swara and life-long club supporter from afar! We also had Enda showcasing their Kenya-made running shoes – we hope to be seeing a lot more of them, so be sure to check them out! See the Starting Line with photo highlights here: https://sway.office.com/uZAJMsuaJdcza5uK?ref=Link

This week’s run – Ambo Gardens, Lavington

In a slight change to the preplanned calendar, we will be running from Ambo Gardens, Lavington, as we know many people will have been travelling this week for voting. See you all there, for distances up to 30km, mostly tarmac. Full details and registration link here: https://sway.office.com/uZAJMsuaJdcza5uK?ref=Link

Great Ethiopian Run

We have been offered an unbeatable Nairobi Recreational Runners’ package to attend the Great Ethiopian Run, so don’t miss out on that. Be sure to check it out (scroll down to the bottom of the Starting Line and reach out to the Secretary if interested in booking): https://sway.office.com/uZAJMsuaJdcza5uK?ref=Link

#AmboAmble