Manyara, Waithera eye good show at Stanchart Marathon

Chairman Local Organizing Committee Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon Peter Gitau with athletes at the 2nd warm-up race of the 20th edition of the Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon and the unveiling of the People With Disability training program held at the Parkland's Sports Club. Sept 2, 2023. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Dancun Manyara from Nyamira and Peninah Waithera from Nairobi are the winners of the second warm up race of the 20th edition of Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon.

Manyara, 29, breezed to the tape in 1:05:54 to lift the men's 21km race as Waithera clocked 1:20:21 to win the women's contest at Parklands Sports Club in Nairobi on Saturday.

The competition helped the duo to gauge their bodies ahead of the main marathon that will start at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi and will be run at the Southern bypass on October 29.

"I feel fit, my body and speed is okay," Manyara said after the Parkland's contest.

Manyara has been training at Ngong Hills in readiness for the main marathon.

"I have also been taking part in the monthly Parklands Sports Club road runs, held on the first week of the month, to gauge myself.

"Winning these races have instilled confidence in me, they have inspired me, I now believe that I can actually win the forthcoming marathon," Manyara said.

Even though he has taken part in 12 marathons locally and internationally, Manyara is yet to get any breakthrough in the endurance contest.

On the other hand, Waithera targets a sub 2:48:00 at the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon which she now believes is within her reach following her impressive performance in the warm up race at Parklands.

Winner of the 21KM Women race Peninah Waithera at the Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon and the unveiling of the PWD training program held at the Parkland's Sports Club. Sept 2, 2023. [Jonah Onyango, Standard

However, the former Uganda MTN Marathon champion said she has identified a few areas which she is going to amend in her training schedules which normally alternates between Karura Forest and Ngong Hills.

"I have been doing a lot of long runs but I feel speed is now necessary for me to have an effective finishing kick.

"I'm going to focus on speed and endurance in the remaining weeks before I head for the marathon," Waithera said.

Peter Gitau, the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon Local Organising Committee chairman said the warm up races were meant to bring inclusivity into the marathon.

At the same time, the race sponsors seized the opportunity to launch a high profile training program for People With Disability (PWD).

Standard Chartered Bank is supporting PWD activities in 2023 with Sh1.2 billion.

"The program will help us have the right technical support for the marathon," Gitau said.