The 2026 Races will be at 4:00 AM. These start times maximize the time you have to complete the race

We think so! Our staff will be out there to support, but it depends on you.

Things that will help you: If you are a good endurance athlete, a strong and/or experienced runner, avid marathoner, someone with good trail running knowledge, experience running ultras, other long course (ie Iron distance tri) background, a strong mountain hiking background. Having some of these traits will be helpful. In addition- If you train hard, safe and smart for this event, considering some of our training suggestions, then we feel you will accomplish this feat! The willingness to try it is the first step to the finish.

We want everyone to get to the summit, so we do not have a cutoff time for this event. Our staff will help you get up to the summit and the only thing stopping you is your desire to get to the top, and although a very low chance for February- Any weather issues forcing the summit to close.

Past runners who have not reached the summit have turned around on their own will not because of a cutoff.

A total of at least 3-4 aid stations will be available for the race. Purified water, and some snack foods such as dried fruit, mixed nuts, pretzels, small sandwiches, cookies, chocolates, etc will be provided at these checkpoints.

The basecamp aid station at 4695 meters before the summit portion is where we will have hot food (ie soup), a changing tent, and where you can access a drop bag pre packed by you before the race and available for your use (ie warm summit gear etc) during the race.

*Please note: Due to the distance (in some cases a couple of hours depending on your pace) between aid stations, you will be required to carry your own fluids and nutrition, and some emergency gear (i.e. in a day-pack) for your personal safety. You will have the opportunity to refill water/fluids at aid stations as needed.

*Aid station locations can be moved at the race director's discretion depending on race/trail conditions.

English speaking staff will be available with long range radio communication and satellite phones for emergencies.

Upon arrival at the aid stations, your bib number and in some cases your arrival/departure time will be recorded. We will provide you race splits from key points on the course.

Start line: Participants will all start together.
- Official times will be recorded to gun time (no chip timing).
- Packet pickup/goodie bag and a mandatory pre-race meeting will take place two days before the race
- We will make every effort to take some race photos of you at various points along the course and at the finish. Any photos we do get will be available to all at no charge.
- We will attempt to provide you split times from various points on the course
- You will be assigned a race number for the event
- It is not permitted to litter along the Trail. Please keep the trail clean and throw garbage away at aid stations

Required Race Gear:
-Passport for entry into the national park
-Headlamp or flashlight
-Personal Hydration system
-Poncho or rain gear and cold weather gear
-Personal first-aid kit
-Money


Recommended Race Gear:

(The following are only suggestions; this list is not all-inclusive)
*Due to the varied elevations and VERY large degree of temperature changes you will experience, we suggest planning your running wardrobe accordingly.
-Daypack with hydration bladder of 70-100 ounces.
-Hat/Gloves
-Long sleeve/Windbreaker, Rain poncho/Change of shirt/extra socks (clothing for a variety of conditions and something dry to change into, stay warm with in the event of emergency)
-Sunglasses/Sun-block
-First Aid supplies for minor medical situations (i.e. blisters, cuts, scrapes, nausea, headaches, etc)
-Prescriptions if you take them
-Plenty of personal Energy foods/fluids/electrolytes/salt tabs/etc

Drop bag for base camp aid station to be used during race.
This bag will be taken ahead and left at the base camp aid station for your out and back portion of the races to the summit. It is in here you will put the needed gear for the summit portion of the race (ie warm clothing for summit, etc).

*We will cover this in more detail during the race the meeting.

There will be a maximum weight for these bags of 15 lbs when it is packed with your things, we will weight them. Our porters carry this to the aid station before the race.

RENTAL GEAR:

If you do not want to bring a sleeping bag, THEN these can be rented for $60 per bag on site the day of the race meeting. They are Mont Bell -25C high quality sleeping bags.

Other gear you can rent:

Duffel bags (waterproof) are $6 per bag.

NOTE: I usually rent 1 of these and use one for the drop bag at the summit a You can bring your own bags or rent. Its up to you.

A variety of warm gear (ie parkas, rain gear, pants, gaitors, etc, etc) can be rented as well- prices range from $5-$20. Hiking poles are $12 to rent.

***If you have any questions about what can be rented, pls ask before the trip starts

Your well being and safety is the most important thing to us. The course will be marked and supported by course marshals and guides. Staff will have radios for communications and emergencies.

**For the summit portion, we will have guides on the mnt for your safety and to help keep motivating you to get to the top. Our staff is professionally trained to look for signs of issues like altitude sickness and will have first aid. Our goal is for everyone to summit Kilimanjaro and finish their race in safe manner.

February is one of the dry seasons and thus there is a high likelihood of dry and sunny conditions for the race.

Like most mountain climates, the weather can change suddenly, and you must be prepared for a variety of weather including rain, cold, fog, snow, wind, etc.

Due to the wide range of elevations in the race there is wide range of temperatures

Normal conditions on the summit during the day can be pleasant and around 40 F or 4C.
At night though it quickly goes well below freezing.

This is why you have a drop bag for the summit part with warm items in case you will be on the summit during non daylight hours.

Generally the trail is well defined and in excellent shape not being very technical.

The summit portion to the crate rim is the steepest part and hardest part of the whole race.

The downhill portions are generally pretty runnable.

All in all trail conditions are normally good, but you can encounter rocks, steep grades, dust, scree, mud (in the rainforest portion).

All participants receive a custom tech Kilimanjaro Trail Marathon race shirt , other Kilimanjaro race logo items, and summit certificate.

The last night of the trip we will have an awards ceremony when we are back in Moshi.

All results and race splits will be published online on at least 2 results websites (ie Active.com) and also sent out to each participant.