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Mbio za Lewa marathon

Mbio za nyika ya Lewa imetambulika kama mojawapo ya mbio yenye ugumu zaidi humu duniani. Ni mashindano ya kila ambayo hufanyika katika mbuga la Lewa ambalo liko kilomita mia mbili thelathini na tatu kutoka Nairobi na liko futi elfu moja mia tano juu ya usawa wa ufuo wa bahari. Mbuga la Lewa liko maili mia moja kutoka kwa ikweta pahali ambapo joto huenda likazidi digrii thelathini na saba kwa mwaka mzima. Joto jingi na usawa wa ufuo wa bahari huwatisha hata wale walio na uzoefu wa mbio hizi za masafa marefu. Mashindano huhisaniwa na Safaricom wakishirikiana na shirika la wanyamapori la Lewa kwa ajili ya kukusanya pesa ili kunufaisha vitongoji vilivyo karibu na mbuga hili na pia kuhifadhi wanyama wa pori. Mbio za nyika za Lewa ni vya kipekee kwa vile vinatendeka ndani ya mbuga hili ambapo mna wanyama pori kama vile; ndovu, simba,nyati na kifaru. Humu hamna kuta za kuwatenganisha wanyama pori na wanariadha hawa, hili ni jambo ambalo laweza kuleta utata katika hadhi ya usalama. Hata hivyo, maafisa wa usalama wakiwa pamoja na wanashirika wa wanyama pori, walio na ujuzi wa kutumia silaha, huhakikisha usalama kwa wakimbiaji kwa kulinda njia zinazotumiwa na wanariadha hawa. Tukio hili la kukata na shoka limeendelea kuwapa motisha wakimbiaji wa mbio za nyika na pia mashabiki. Wakimbiaji wanaojimudu kwa njia tofauti hujitokeza duniani kote kuanzia wanaotaka kujiburudisha, mashabiki hadi mabingwa kama Paul Tergat wa Kenya aliye shikilia rekodi ya dunia. Safari yote hua ni mzunguko wa kilomita ishirini na moja kwa barabara ya vumbi inayotumikiwa na magari ya kutalii katika mbuga hii. Mbio kamili ya nyika huwa ni mizunguko miwili na ule wa mzunguko mmoja ni nusu marathon. Mbio hizi huwa si za kulazimishwa. Kuna watu ambao wanaweza kukimbia mbio zote na wale wanaojimudu nusu marathon. Pia kuna mashabiki wanao washangilia wengine. Baada ya mashindano haya makubwa, maadhimisho ya kufuata mbio hufanyika ambapo wanariadha na mashabiki hujiandalia sherehe kwa mathumuni ya kujiburudisha.

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The Lewa Marathon is regarded as one of the toughest marathons in the world. It is an annual event held at Lewa Downs, which is about 233 kilometers from Nairobi and fifteen-hundred feet above sea level. It is located less than one hundred miles from the equator, and the temperatures can be as high as eighty-seven degrees all year round there. The equatorial sun and the elevation test even the most seasoned runners. The race is sponsored by Safaricom in conjunction with the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in order to raise funds for wildlife conservation and community development efforts. The Lewa Marathon is unique in that it takes place in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a game park that is home to a variety of African wildlife including elephants, lions, Cape buffalo, and rhinoceroses. There are no barriers to separate the runners from the wild animals, a situation that tends to present some unique security risks; however, experienced security patrols and armed rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Service ensure the runners' safety by guarding the course. The rugged, fun, and breathtaking event is an enticing race that has continually inspired long-distance runners and athletic fans. Runners of all abilities from around the world take part, ranging from fun runners, walkers, and amateurs to professional runners such as Paul Tergat, the Kenyan international champion and former world record holder. The course is a twenty-one kilometer loop run on the dirty roads that serve as trails for four-wheel drive safari vehicles traveling an undulating route thro [...]