2023's Selous Marathon to fund tree planting in Morogoro

Environmental conservation has become one of the core issues that need to be addressed to battle climate change and global warming.

Marathon runners, therefore, may care more about the quality of the nature they train in, as the environmental quality can connect to health benefits.

By considering the aspect, the 2023 Selous Marathon season that has been scheduled to take place in Morogoro in August is set to witness participants planting about 250 fruit trees on the slopes of Uluguru mountains to conserve the environment.

About 3500 runners from all corners of Tanzania and outside the country are expected to participate in this year's Selous Marathon.

The showdown will feature a trail run, 21km event, 10km event, and 5km run/walk category.

According to the race's organizer, Emmanuel Marwa, all registration procedures are done digitally through either the race website www.selousmarathons.co.tz or by visiting their registration offices in Dar es Salaam and Morogoro for more registration details.

He stated: "Selous Marathon is organized by a seasoned team with hands-on experience in event organization in the field of sports, conservation, and tourism."

Marwa said: "This season once again we have set this marathon to take place in Morogoro town... the races will cover a trail run, 21 kilometers, 10 kilometers, and 5 kilometers run/walk."

He further elaborated that to make sure the tree planting is a success, the organizers will set aside five percent of the proceeds to support the green project of tree planting on the slopes of Uluguru mountains to educate Tanzanians about the importance of environmental conservation.

"We planned these races to take place in Morogoro, aiming to turn Morogoro into its natural green vegetation," Marwa disclosed.

Marwa noted that the registration will get underway in May and the marathon will take place on August 18 this year.

The official revealed an entry fee of 65,000/- has been set for each of the participants in the Trail run, whereas in the rest of the races, each of the runners will pay 35,000/-.

Selous Marathon is a prestigious town race open to a range of running enthusiasts from elite athletes to social runners.

It has been envisioned by the founder, Gofin Ventures, who firmly believe that running is a panacea for society.

The showdown is bringing together people from in and outside Tanzania with varieties of competence, origin, creed, and social strata into a common platform.

Ventures revealed he is driven by the core belief that 'the run is great leveler'.