On September 28, about 1,000 runners will hit the streets of Accra for the second annual Accra International Marathon (AIM). The program, arranged by Fit4life in aid of the Longevity project, will attract both local and foreign athletes who will cover a distance of 26.2miles(42km), starting from the Ghanaman Centre, Prampram for the full marathon run, while the half-marathon walk starts near the Valco Roundabout, Tema. Both events will end at the La Pleasure Beach in Accra.
At its launch in Accra on Tuesday, the co-chair Board of Director of the Longevity Project, Dr. Esi Ansah revealed that the AIM has the potential to develop into a first-class beach-to-beach marathon that will attract both competitive and leisure athletes from around the world. She pointed out that AIM is one of the few marathon events listed on international marathon calendars and websites for all of Africa.
Registration for the event starts from September 6, at the following locations: Busy Internet, La Pleasure Beat, Azumah Nelson Complex (Kaneshie), the National Sports Council offices in all regions and the Project’s offices in Tudu, near Coral Paints. According to the organizers, the early registration fee of GH¢10 for individuals have been extended for the duration of the mass registration and interested persons can pick up registration forms and free training schedules from their nearest NSC offices, Keep Fit Clubs or contact 021-660-488, 027-122-1320 or 020-842-0677.
The Executive Director of the Longevity Project and the Editor-in-Chief of the Africa Alive Magazine, Anna Bannerman-Richter, noted that her outfit seeks among other things to encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyles by eating nutritious food and exercising regularly. A marathoner herself, she pointed out that the dream could be achieved if they receive corporate support from corporate bodies in their quest to raise future Olympians. Prices at stake are GH ¢700, GH ¢500 and GH ¢300 for the first to third positions for both the male and female categories.
