Additional event notes
Nairobi Marathon 2026: the short answer
Registration is open for the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon on Sunday, October 25, 2026. The official runner guide lists an entry fee of KES 2,500 for local and international participants. The full marathon starts at 6:00 a.m. on the Southern Bypass.
Use the official registration page to enter. The organizer warns that it may close entries early when a category fills; we did not find a fixed public closing date in the current official guide. Do not book or pay through an unofficial directory.
Race-day schedule
The organizer's current schedule lists the following arrival, assembly, and start times. Recheck the official race website before race week because operational details can change.
| Category | Arrive | Assemble | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 km wheelchair | 5:00 a.m. | 5:44 a.m. | 5:45 a.m. |
| 42 km marathon | 5:00 a.m. | 5:59 a.m. | 6:00 a.m. |
| 21 km half marathon | 6:00 a.m. | 7:14 a.m. | 7:20 a.m. |
| 10 km | 8:00 a.m. | 8:44 a.m. | 8:45 a.m. |
| 5 km family fun run | 9:00 a.m. | 9:40 a.m. | 10:00 a.m. |
The event homepage says all categories assemble outside Carnivore on Southern Bypass Road. It lists Uhuru Gardens as the finish for the 10 km, 21 km, 42 km, and wheelchair races. One introductory passage in the official PDF describes Uhuru Gardens as both the start and finish venue, while the detailed schedule says the start point is the Southern Bypass. Follow the detailed schedule, but confirm the final participant instructions before traveling.
Registration and kit collection checklist
- Select your category on the official registration page.
- Confirm the KES 2,500 fee and any optional donation before payment.
- Save the confirmation and the current runner guide.
- Collect your kit at Uhuru Gardens from October 21 to October 24.
- If a representative collects for you, follow the authorization and entry-document instructions in the official guide.
- Recheck the start location, road closures, and arrival time during race week.
The guide says the Southern Bypass road closure begins at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24. The event also lists parking and left luggage at Carnivore Grounds. Treat those as current organizer instructions, not permanent guarantees.
Can you still train for October 25?
On July 14, race day is just under 15 weeks away. A 14-week plan starts July 19; a 12-week plan starts August 2. Those are calendar anchors, not proof that either plan is safe for every runner.
- Choose 14 weeks only if you already run consistently and can begin without a sudden mileage jump.
- Use 12 weeks only with a stable base and recent long-run continuity.
- If you are returning from illness, injury, or a long break, do not compress missed base work into a shorter plan. Consider a later race or a finish-focused goal.
- Pain that changes your gait, chest pain, fainting, or symptoms that concern you need qualified medical care, not a tougher training week.
Use the training start-date calculator to compare dates, then open the 14-week marathon plan or 12-week marathon plan only if the prerequisites match your current base.
What the official sources confirm—and what they do not
Confirmed on July 14, 2026:
- race date: October 25, 2026;
- registration status: open;
- published fee: KES 2,500 for local and international participants;
- marathon start: 6:00 a.m.;
- route: Southern Bypass;
- kit collection: October 21–24 at Uhuru Gardens;
- organizer-listed support: hydration, nutrition, electrolytes, misting stations, mobile medical units, and pacing teams.
Not confirmed here:
- a fixed registration-closing date;
- a verified overall marathon cutoff;
- final race-week weather;
- an official elevation total.
Those unknowns belong on your final-week checklist. This page will not substitute a directory estimate for an organizer fact.
Your next decision
If you are entering, use the official registration page. If you are already registered, calculate your realistic start date now and choose the longest plan your current base can support without catch-up training.