The Uganda Marathon

Age is just a number! To date, our youngest participant was just 11 years old, while our eldest participants have been in their 70’s. Every single participant loves the experience and becomes part of the wonderful Uganda Marathon community.What’s Included In The Price?An Unforgettable Week Long Adventure In Uganda:

• Race entry to the 10k, half or full marathon race on Saturday 1st June 2019
• *Don’t fancy running but everything else sounds great…why not join us a spectator? Have the best week of your life and then help other people across the finish line by cheering them on or helping out
• Subsidises FIFTEEN Ugandan junior runners to participate in the Race who otherwise could not afford to
• Donation to fund KidsRunWild event
• Pre-departure support including the Runner Handbook and support with everything from visas and booking flights, to fundraising
• Advice from and group training runs with our registered running coach
• Airport transfers
• 7 nights accommodation at Masaka’s best hotel, or at the beautiful Athletes’ Village with sensational views across rural Uganda
• 3 meals per day

All Daily Activities Including:

• Language & cultural lessons from our local staff
• See Your Legacy Days x 2 – hands on with local projects you’ve supported – connect with the people whose lives are changing thanks to  you’re fundraising
• Lake Nabugabo trip for swimming, fish & chips Uganda style, sports and more
• Day at the MVRC (Masaka Vocational Rehabilitation Centre), learning about challenges and hope of local disabled community
• Campfire evenings with 150 new friends
• Nightly entertainment at the Athletes’ Village and hotel: breakdancing, music, traditional drumming & dance and an evening at the local arts centre, with insightful talks from former street children-turned artists
• The KidsRunWild children’s fun & sports day
• Pre-race chill out day, with a choice of various activities, such as wandering into town, extra Charity Project visits, relaxing by the pool, Ugandan cooking lessons or talks by the local people
• Pre-race pool party & hotel afternoon to relax and recharge before Race Day
• Pre-race pasta party to get your glycogen stores up to the max before Race Day
• Pre-race medical briefing
• 24/7 emergency medical support from a team of UK doctors
• All core water stations & medical support
• Race t-shirt
• Stunning handmade finisher’s medal
• Post Race celebrations at Liberation Square
• Awesome After Party at the Athletes’ Village

Stunning scenery all around as you tackle one of the 3 available distances. The second half of the half marathon joins up with the 10km route to all tackle The Beast together, runners taking on the full marathon are lucky enough to see it twice! The Beast is Masaka's infamous hill that rewards you with views out to Lake Victoria once you're on the top of pine ridge.

There will be plenty of cheering from the start line, as well as scattered through the course, and you may even be joined by local children. The course is mostly off-road and contains some ascents.

The 7 day and 7 night itinerary for 2019 is yet to be confirmed but we will be looking to keep a similar structure to last year, just bigger, better and more fun!

• Arrivals will be welcome in Masaka from Sunday 26th May
• Activities will start from 9am Monday 27th May
• Race Day will be on Saturday 1st June
• Departures will be on Sunday 2nd June

Warm weather running kit! Hydration packs are recommended.

Non-runners are also welcome! Take part in the volunteering at the beginning of the week then rent a bicycle to more easily support the runners from the sidelines.

Non-runners are also welcome! Take part in the volunteering at the beginning of the week and continue volunteering with the racing, there's plenty to help with during the run such as recording results, manning the water stations or helping out the medical teams.

Medical Conditions & Medication

We will have a team of UK ­trained medics and doctors on site, who are used to dealing with minor cuts and scrapes to preexisting medical conditions. If you are on any medication, please ensure you bring sufficient supplies of this with you to Uganda in case it is not easy to obtain replacements. If you have any allergies please inform us and bring any necessary medication.

Water Stations

We have plenty of water stations around the entire course. It may be a good idea to bring along a hydration pack (think Camelbak or similar, cheaper alternatives) to ensure you stay hydrated throughout. If you do, test it out before the day to make sure it’s comfortable and doesn’t bounce around or rub (imagine a chafing bag strap at mile 15!).

We strongly recommend bringing plenty of re-hydration salts with you to take the day before and the day of the race.

The 10k course has 2 water stations, the 21k has 5 and the 42k has 11. You can see the water stations clearly marked on the map at the bottom of our Race page. There is also a bottle for each runner at the finish line.

Water is provided in plastic bottles for easy drinking. The bottles will be collected during and after the race by Masaka Recycling Initiative, who work with the local community to recycle these.