Sande Bashaija reports Finally it's D-day as the MTN Marathon takes center stage this morning starting at the Kololo Airstrip. After two months of high-altitude residential training in Bukwo, Joseph Nsubuga should have few or no excuses going into today's race.
The UPDF officer, winner of the 2004 inaugural marathon, skipped the 2005 and 2006 editions but was beaten to silver by Kenyan Tuwei Kiprop in 2007. There is a substantial Kenyan legion in the 42.195km race today and Nsubuga is keen to get his revenge over the neighbours and take home the Shs5m winner's cash prize.
"When you have trained enough, marathon running is fun. I will come into the race to have fun and possibly win the money," Nsubuga told Sunday Monitor. The 2005, 2006 and 2007 editions were dominated by Kenyans but Francis Musani, another UPDF officer, broke their stranglehold last year and will combine with Nsubuga to give the Kenyans, Tazanians and Rwandans a tough time.
Jane Suuto is vying for her third title in the women's race after victories in 2006 and last year but won't go into today's race as favourite considering her injury troubles. Over 19,000 entries have been received for the marathon and its subsidiary races (10km open, 12km and 10km corporate challenge) set to start and end at Kololo Airstrip.
The 10km open races for both men and women have attracted star runners like Moses Kipsiro and Dorcus Inzikuru but focus will surely be on the grueling full marathon. The 42.195km distance is not only horrendous for many a runner but the fact that there are foreign competitors gives it more colour. The 10km races are reserved for Ugandans only.
The half marathon (21km) will feature some foreigners but Isaac Kiprop looks certain to keep home the gold and Shs3m cash prize, which eluded him last year. Adero Nyakisi is the favourite in the women's 21km as long as she makes an appearance today.
Monitor Publications Limited (MPL) is among the 200 teams fighting for the Shs1.5m corporate challenge cash prize. Winners will have to donate the prize to charity.
ShareThis