Join us for the adventure of a lifetime! In October 2018, we're taking a team of 60 runners out to Kericho, a tea growing region situated in the west of Kenya. Whether you're a casual jogger, an aspiring marathon participant, or a seasoned runner looking for a challenge, we've got a distance that will suit you.

But what makes this race different to most? Because you'll be raising money for the very communities through which you'll be running. You'll have the opportunity to meet some of the entrepreneurs that Five Talents works with, and to see exactly how your race will have an impact.

Want to hear about last years race? Click below to visit our blog and read all about it or listen to our friends at Marathon Talk to hear what they thought of the experience!

a new challenge

Join us in October 2018 for a race of a life time: challenge yourself and have a long-term positive impact on the communities you run through. Take part in a timed 26.2 mile route off the tourist track through stunning scenery, gentle hills, and the villages where Five Talents UK works. If you're bored of the average city marathon, this is the race for you.

If a full marathon isn't your style, we also offer half marathon and 10 kilometre options. Whichever option you choose, whether you run or walk, you'll be part of a diverse group of people from the UK, Kenya, and the rest of the world. 
 

A race like no other

During your week in Kenya you will have an opportunity to visit two of our microfinance programmes and see for yourself how it changes lives. Witness exactly where your fundraising is having an impact.

You'll have time to eat, dance and enjoy life Kenyan style, sharing stories and making connections with a great group of people. It's a genuinely unique experience organised by a professional team from Impact Marathon Series, a logistics company with a strong track record of organising races like this. Check out our FAQs for other details.

Martin Yelling: As the host of the renowned Marathon Talk podcast, writer, coach, and event organiser, Martin understands running. He'll be helping our runners get ready throughout 2018 and feel confident and prepared for a fantastic experience. He will also be joining our runners in Kenya in October. 

Liz Yelling: We are extraordinarily excited to have Double Olympian and Commonwealth marathon medalist Liz Yelling on our 2018 ambassador team! 

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT YOUR RACE

Visit the Five Talents financial inclusion programme in Kenya and see for yourself how it changes lives - meeting some of the 14,500 beneficiaries who access our savings, loans and business skills training every day.

View the video below to find out about Five Talents UK's work in East Africa and how it impacts the communities you'll be running through. You can also read more about our model, impact, and clients on our main site.

Fundraising

We ask that each runner raises a suggested minimum of £1000, every pound of which will support our programmes, impacting the lives of communities like the ones you'll be visiting on your trip with us.

Over the course of the year we will provide our runners with fundraising tips and share stories from last year's marathon to inspire you in your fundraising. For runners who opt for shorter distances, we are happy to relax our suggested fundraising total a little, though every little helps!

For more details, visit our FAQs or feel free to contact us.

Meet a client: ESTHER NYAMBURA MWANGI

Esther used to grow 27 bags of maize per acre but now, because of drought, she says she’ll be lucky to get ten - the maize has grown only to half of its usual size.  At the moment, this is the story across much of Kenya. Successive rains have failed. Our local teams tell us that many of the communities they work with are surviving on just one meal a day. Others are reliant on aid from the government.

This was how Esther coped during times like this. But now, through her Five Talents savings and loan group she’s been able to invest in other businesses and when her crop fails, she has somewhere to turn. Esther can now grow her savings and invest in her future.

“After joining my group, I took a loan to buy a water tank which helps me a lot during the dry season. I'm hoping to borrow another loan soon, then I'll be able to grow my businesses even further.” - Esther from Nakuru

Itinerary

SUNDAY: Arrival in Nairobi where you will stay overnight and get to know your fellow runners. 
MONDAY: In the morning there will be an optional trip to a project in a slum area of Nairobi or you'll have some R&R time before travelling to Nakuru in the afternoon.
TUESDAY: An inspiring day to visit one of Five Talents' programmes or a full day safari trip in Lake Nakuru National Park  (this will cost approx. £60 extra!)
WEDNESDAY: Join (or just watch!) elite Kenyan runners and coaches at a track session, and soak up the atmosphere wandering home through the market.
THURSDAY: Spend the morning visiting another Five Talents' programme. In the afternoon, there will be a Q&A session with local Kenyan runners so that you can find out everything you've always wanted to know about running as an elite. 
FRIDAY: Race day! 
SATURDAY: Departure day back to Nairobi or why not extend your trip of a lifetime and make the most of East Africa's beauty - see the Big Five in the Masai Mara, climb Mount Kilimanjaro, train with the pros in Iten or relax on the beach in Zanzibar.

If you are interested in add ons email info@impactmarathonseries.com for more information.

We've got lots of answers on our FAQs but if you can't find what you're looking for, please do contact us.

ACCOMMODATION

You'll be in shared accommodation in two person rooms (single supplement will be available at an extra cost - email info@impactmarathonseries.com for more information on this!), en-suite rooms with WiFi, a friendly communal cafe area, and plenty of space within the grounds. You get a lot of bang for your buck and enough Kenyan quirkiness to keep you entertained!

PRICE

The price of this trip is £895.

Our travel package includes accommodation, most of your meals and all transport in-country including airport transfers to/from Nairobi and to project visit sites. An initial deposit of £195 is required on registration.

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