Iten-based distance runners are preparing for the 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon.
Mark Kibiwot leads a group of Iten-based runners chasing podium finishes, personal bests and management opportunities across Nairobi’s marathon, half marathon and 10km races.
Iten-based athletes are stepping up preparations for the 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, with experienced runners and debutants targeting podium finishes, faster times and opportunities to secure professional management.
The event has attracted 30,000 entries across its races. For athletes training in Iten, performances in recent local and regional competitions are helping shape their ambitions for Nairobi.
Previous winners from the training town offer further motivation. They include Bernard Chepkwony and Elias Kemboi, who won the men’s marathon in 2025 and 2022 respectively, alongside Gladys Chemutai and Sheila Chepkech, winners in 2024 and 2022.
Kibiwot targets podium finish
Mark Kibiwot is aiming for a time of two hours and 10 minutes after finishing third at the Kaptagat Marathon on July 11. He believes the demanding hills and altitude at Kaptagat provided useful preparation for Nairobi’s largely flat course.
Kibiwot said he was concentrating on speed and endurance in Iten, combining long runs averaging 30km a day with speed work. His main ambition is to reach the podium.
His first appearance at the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon came in 2011, when he entered the men’s 21km race. It was also his first road race, at a time when he had only recently started training, and he finished outside the prize positions.
He said the achievements of fellow Iten athletes who had won in Nairobi and improved their livelihoods continued to motivate him. He also described the competition as demanding a high standard of performance.
Enos Kipruto, meanwhile, is seeking a top-five finish in the 21km race after placing inside the top 30 in 2024. He said a persistent injury had affected that appearance, but he felt better prepared for the 2026 edition.
Kipruto has maintained daily long runs of between 28km and 30km, which he believes will help him improve his result.
Debutants seek faster times and career openings
Celestine Kemei heads into her Nairobi debut following a fourth-place finish at the Enugu City Marathon in Nigeria. She also finished seventh at the 2026 Mau Conservation Marathon in July.
Kemei is targeting a personal best and hopes a strong performance will help her attract management. She said she had wanted to enter the previous edition but could not afford registration and travel to Nairobi.
Now preparing for her first road race in the capital, Kemei believes she is in good shape and sees the event as a chance to demonstrate her potential to prospective managers.
Joan Korir has similar career ambitions as she prepares for the women’s 42km race. She is aiming for a top-20 finish in what will be her second marathon.
Korir has been preparing for Nairobi since January and plans to make it her final race of the year. Her build-up included the Kaptagat Marathon, and she hopes Nairobi’s less demanding course will allow her to run faster and catch the attention of a manager.
Speed work shapes 10km preparations
Brian Kipkosgei is focusing on the 10km event after competing at the Dodoma Marathon in Tanzania in July. He used that outing to assess his progress as he moved from track competition to road racing.
After returning from Dodoma, Kipkosgei and his coach reviewed his performance and worked on agility, negotiating bends and speed. He expects a highly competitive race in Nairobi, where maintaining a fast pace will be essential.
Iten-based coach Elkana Ruto said training programmes had been adjusted to reflect the Nairobi course and anticipated weather conditions. Beyond race positions, he said many athletes viewed the event as an important opportunity to display their ability and attract athletics management.
