TANZANIA’S KILIMAJARO MARATHON UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN THE WORLD!! (TTB)

Marathon Attracts more than 3000 Runners from 25 Countries
Including Physically Challenged
The 2009 Kilimanjaro Marathon in Moshi, Tanzania on Sunday, March 1, was a dramatic and challenging race unlike any other in the world. Now in its seventh year, the Marathon is sponsored by the Tanzania Tourist Board, Standard Chartered Bank, Kilimanjaro Premium Lager and for the Fun Run, Vodacom. Other sponsors included Kilimanjaro Water, DT Dobie, Good Year, Tanga Cement, Keys Hotels, Wild Frontiers, New Africa Hotel, KK Security and Tanzanite One. The Marathon is the only IAAF and AIMS approved race in Tanzania. Runners ranged from serious contenders who train and compete year round to more casual athletes participating for the total uniqueness of the Marathon route and cheering crowds. Also included was a special course for physically challenged participants which produced some of the most dramatic and heartfelt moments in the race.
“The race was much more international and inclusive in every way this year,” commented John Addison of Wild Frontiers Ltd., the key driving force behind the unique marathon. “Clearly word is getting out in both the serious global running community and also in the circles of physically challenged athletes about what a spectacular marathon this is. We expect numbers to be up substantially next year in all categories, and from even more countries around the world. In fact, the only major change we will make next year will be a redesign of the course for the physically challenged. It will include runs of varying length next time. ”
Peter Mwenguo, Managing Director, Tanzania Tourist Board, congratulated both the event organizers and the participants on the great success of the 2009 Kilimanjaro Marathon and its contribution to helping put Tanzania on the global map of Sports Tourism. “The increasing popularity of this marathon is helping Tanzania raise its profile as a Sports Tourism destination, a rapidly growing market segment that brings people of all cultures together in a friendly atmosphere sharing that special comeraderie found in sports competitions.”
Under the backdrop of the fabled Kilimanjaro, Africa’s largest mountain and the world’s highest freestanding mountain, the Marathon is divided into a full race (42.2 km), a half race (21.1 km) and a fun run. In each category, the Marathon course begins at the sports stadium in the town of Moshi, winds into rural villages and farms, veers through uphill paths, plunges into a swatch of forest, and whirls through coffee and banana plantations. At every juncture, African music, meals and entertainment, (including tribal dancers), make the event a wholly unique experience. For the first time, the top three male and female Tanzanian winners in both the half and full marathons will be supported financially for one year after the Marathon, during which time they will be trained to meet international standards for future races within and outside of Tanzania. Current winning total prizes for men and women in the full marathon are $7, 434 (US$) and for men and women in the half marathon ($1,938 (US$).
Donations from sponsors and individuals are being directed to numerous schools and community projects in the town of Moshi. Donations will also be made to Tanzania Athletics for their annual projects in other sports. This year the emphasis will be on improvements to the maternity ward in Moshi’s town hospital, and expansion of space and new materials for the Kiboroloni Primary School, spearheaded by Wild Frontiers Ltd. and the Keys Hotel.