Today is the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, the biggest running event in Africa. This year’s event has attracted athletes from across 12 countries and more than 30,000 registered participants, most of whom have spent the past few weeks and months training for the race, and for very good reason too.
Participants stand a chance of winning prize money from a pool of about $500,000, as well as two cars. The event comes in two variants, a 42km race and a shorter 10km race. There is a $50,000 grand prize attached to the former, while the male and female winners of the latter will each get a Kia Rio.
Outside of the monetary prizes, the race boast other benefits. Fitness buffs typically use such races as an opportunity to work on getting in shape. Many spend several months training their bodies because long-distance races require a considerable amount of effort and dedication to run in. And of course, there is the sheer satisfaction of completing the race itself, an achievement in its own right.
First started in 2016, this is the fifth edition of the Marathon to be held in Lagos. And with over 105,000 attendees, including runners and volunteers, it already promises to be the biggest one yet. The races attract attention from international runners, and last year’s race was in fact won by Sintayehu Legese (Men) and Dinke Mereset (Women) from Ethopia, and the current course records of 2:15:04 for men and 2:37:52 for women was set by Abraham Kiprotich (France) and Rodah Jepkorir (Kenya) respectively.
Are you going to be taking part in the Lagos City Marathon? Or would you be cheering from the sidelines? Let us know in the comments section below.
