THE once popular Mount Meru International Marathon (MMIM), which took a 12 year-hiatus, will resume next month but organisers have reduced the distance from the official 42.2 kilometres to 21km.
Mount Meru International Marathon, which during its heyday used to attract thousands of participants from across the globe, was last held in 2002. The Arusha Athletic Association (ARAA) recently decided to revive the race, albeit on a smaller scale.
The event will return on October 4, but whether it will retain its 'international' status, or will run annually again remains to be seen. ARAA secretary Alfredo Shahanga said the revived MMIM will attract a number of sportsmen and women, mostly from within Tanzania, but expressed hope that more athletes from other countries will also take part.
"The Mount Meru Marathon was forced into a break for almost one and a half decade because previous organisers reached a point where it was no longer possible to stage the international event due to lack of funds," he explained.
Former Fahari Bottlers of Njiro in Arusha, a company which used to produce beverage drinks under the Pepsi- Cola brand, maintained sole and main sponsorship of the race in the past.
However, Fahari later sold its business to SBC Tanzania Limited which, in addition to inheriting the bottling plant at Themi Hills, continued to produce Pepsi and related beverage brands, but it is not yet known if it will continue to support the marathon.
This year, the Mambo Jambo Digital Centre seems to be at the helm of the new Mount Meru Marathon whose route starts at the Clock Tower roundabout and heads to Sokoine (Uhuru) Street, Dodoma Road and as far as Arusha Airport at Kisongo before making a Uturn along the same route to the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium finishing point.
Winners of the 21m race for both men and women will each pocket 200,000/- cash prize. Meanwhile, organisers of the Safari Marathon are mum about this year's edition. Ujumbe Inc, who have been organising the race since 2011, caused inconvenience to patrons when they skipped last year's version.
Source: Tanzania Daily News
