Adventist Athletics Club to Host Inaugural AAC Run Your City 10KM Race in Maseru

The Adventist Athletics Club (AAC) is set to host its first AAC Run Your City 10KM race on September 13, bringing runners together for an event designed to promote healthy lifestyles and strengthen athletics in Lesotho. The inaugural race is expected to attract about 300 participants and will take runners through the streets of Maseru. The race will start and finish at Pioneer Mall, giving participants a central and accessible venue for the event. Organisers see the race as more than a single competition, with plans to establish it as the first event in an annual AAC race series. The long-term vision is to expand the initiative beyond Maseru and take similar races to other districts across Lesotho.

The planned 10KM race reflects AAC’s growing involvement in athletics and its broader commitment to fitness and healthy living. According to AAC Public Relations Officer Sam Ntene, the club was established in 2012 and has since expanded beyond its original base, developing activities in several countries in the region. AAC was launched in Lesotho in 2016 and has continued to increase its membership since then. The club now has more than 1,000 members across its wider network, demonstrating the scale of its development over the years. Its membership includes both elite athletes and ordinary runners who participate primarily for exercise, fitness and recreation.

Ntene said the club aims to ensure that its sporting activities reflect its values, with prayer forming an important part of its events. This approach allows AAC to combine athletics with its wider focus on healthy and balanced living. The club has also played a role in the development of Lesotho’s running culture by providing opportunities for people at different levels of ability to participate in the sport. According to Ntene, running has grown significantly in Lesotho, particularly in Maseru, where more people are taking up the sport for recreation and fitness. He added that some individuals who later established their own running clubs began their running journeys through AAC.

The growth of recreational running has created a stronger foundation for events such as the AAC Run Your City 10KM race. More people are now viewing running as an accessible form of physical activity that can be incorporated into their daily routines. Unlike some sports that require specialised facilities or expensive equipment, running can be started with relatively limited resources. Community races can also give recreational runners an opportunity to test themselves alongside experienced competitors in a structured environment. AAC hopes the September event will build on this growing interest and give participants a memorable racing experience.

AAC coach Tumelo Majorobela explained that the idea for the race emerged from discussions about how the club could expand its activities beyond regular training sessions. The club wanted to create an event that would bring runners together while also giving members and the wider public a clear fitness goal to work towards. After considering different options, organisers selected the 10KM distance because it can appeal to a broad range of participants. Experienced runners can use the race as a competitive test while newcomers can see it as an opportunity to complete their first serious road race. This balance is central to AAC’s intention to make the event accessible while still maintaining a strong athletics focus.

The choice of a 10KM distance also allows participants to prepare gradually and develop their fitness before race day. For experienced athletes, the event can provide an opportunity to assess speed, endurance and race strategy. For recreational runners, completing 10 kilometres can represent a significant personal achievement and provide motivation to maintain a regular training routine. Majorobela said the club’s wider objective is to encourage healthier lifestyles and use athletics as a practical tool for improving physical activity. He noted that regular exercise can contribute to better health and help reduce the burden associated with lifestyle-related diseases.

The health message behind the event is therefore expected to remain central to the AAC Run Your City initiative. Regular physical activity can support cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and general wellbeing when incorporated safely into a person’s routine. Running can also encourage people to spend less time inactive and create opportunities for social interaction through clubs and community events. AAC wants to use the popularity of running to encourage Basotho to make physical activity part of everyday life rather than viewing exercise only as preparation for competitions. The 10KM race provides a practical way of bringing that message to a wider audience.

The organisers also have ambitions that extend well beyond the inaugural Maseru event. Majorobela said AAC wants to take similar races to other parts of Lesotho as the initiative develops. The September race is intended to serve as the beginning of an AAC race series that could eventually become an annual feature on the athletics calendar. Expanding the series to other districts would give runners outside Maseru greater opportunities to participate in organised road races. It could also help strengthen local athletics communities by bringing clubs, athletes and supporters together in different parts of the country.

Registration for the race has also been extended, giving interested runners additional time to secure their places. The original registration deadline was brought forward but has now been extended to August 28. Participants can register and make payments through M-Pesa or EcoCash, providing accessible payment options for runners. With organisers targeting 300 participants, the extended registration period could help the event reach its participation goal. Those planning to take part will need to complete the registration process before the revised deadline.

Maseru District Secretary-General of Athletics Mosiuoa ‘Moso welcomed the initiative and praised AAC for working with other athletics clubs in the district. He said the club had demonstrated growth and good organisation while developing links with athletes and clubs outside Lesotho. Those connections indicate that AAC has developed beyond its original identity as a club based primarily in Maseru. ‘Moso also welcomed the planned 10KM race and said its success could create opportunities for similar events in other districts. Cooperation between athletics clubs can help strengthen competition and provide runners with more opportunities to participate throughout the year.

‘Moso also highlighted the importance of support from the business community in developing athletics in Lesotho. Sponsorship can provide funding for events, equipment, athlete development and other resources required to build a stronger sporting environment. Without adequate financial support, organisers can face challenges when trying to stage quality events and create sustainable opportunities for athletes. He also called for greater involvement of children in athletics, arguing that developing young athletes is essential to the future of the sport. Early exposure to running can help children develop fitness while creating a pathway for those who later want to compete at higher levels.

The involvement of young people could become an important part of the longer-term impact of the AAC race series. Community races can introduce children and families to athletics in an environment that encourages participation rather than focusing exclusively on elite performance. Young runners can also benefit from seeing experienced athletes compete and from becoming familiar with local clubs and training opportunities. Building these connections can help create a stronger pipeline of athletes for the future. For Lesotho, sustained investment in youth athletics could contribute to greater participation and stronger performances at national and international competitions.

The AAC Run Your City 10KM race is therefore being positioned as more than a single day of competition. The club sees the initiative as a platform for promoting fitness, developing runners, strengthening cooperation among athletics clubs and expanding the reach of the sport in Lesotho. Starting and finishing at Pioneer Mall will give the event a visible presence in Maseru while allowing runners to experience a route through the city’s streets. The organisers also hope that the event will create a positive experience for participants and encourage more people to become involved in running. The planned race series gives AAC an opportunity to turn the inaugural event into a lasting athletics initiative.

The September 13 race could mark an important step in the development of organised road running in Lesotho if the organisers achieve their participation and operational goals. A successful first event would give AAC a foundation from which to develop future races and explore opportunities in other districts. It could also strengthen partnerships between athletics clubs, businesses, athletes and community organisations. More importantly, the initiative places physical activity and healthy living at the centre of an event that is designed to welcome both experienced runners and newcomers. With the first AAC Run Your City 10KM race approaching, the club is hoping to establish an annual event that contributes to a stronger, healthier and more active athletics culture across Lesotho.