5th Annual Kenya’s Double Road Race 15K Set for September 20, 2025, at KATA Thika
The 5th Annual Kenya Double Road Race 15K will be held on September 20, 2025, at the Kenyan Athletics Training Academy (KATA) in Thika, Kenya. The event ins a two stage race. First is the 10k leg then a break, followed by a 5K leg. Legs are added together for scoring. A format designed to challenge runners of all levels. Do then double! The start, finish, and halftime break will be based near the KATA campus. The second leg starts one hour and 45 minutes after the start of the first leg.
Double Racing was created by Bob Anderson, founder of Runner’s World magazine, in 2010. From October 2010 to October 2012, seven small Double races were held in Mexico under the name Bob Anderson 15K Challenge. The format evolved, and in December 2012, the first official Double Road Race was held in Pleasanton, California, with nearly 1,400 participants. The signature race was the Double 15K — 10K followed by 5K, separated by a 1 hour and 45-minute recovery break known as the Restart.
“Double Racing is doable for runners at all levels,” says Bob Anderson. “It’s a new challenge for many, while others have done many already.”
Anderson staged two Double races in Kenya previously — in Thika (2014) and Nyahururu (2015) — both were Double 21Ks (10 miles + break + 5K). These visits inspired the creation of KATA Thika, which officially opened in September 2021, and hosted the first Double 15K in Africa on September 4, 2021. Donikal Komon won that race in 44:42 — the fastest ever run in Africa at that time.
In 2022, Joseph Njoroge shaved two seconds off that mark. But it was in 2024 when history was made.
A New World Record in 2024
At the 4th Annual KATA Double Road Race 15K held on September 14, 2024, Shadrack Kenduiywo, 24, smashed the world record by clocking 42:34, eclipsing the long-standing record of 43:11 held by Julius Koskei since 2015. Kenduiywo ran 28:33 for the 10K leg and 14:01 for the 5K.
“This was my first Double race, and I was happy. I knew the record was in sight,” he said. “During the break, I relaxed, drank water, ate fruit, and did a 20-minute warmup.”
Despite warm conditions (21°C), his performance was unstoppable. He led from the second kilometer, clocking 2:52, 2:50, 2:57… all the way to a 2:50 final kilometer. His 5K splits were 2:47, 2:48, 2:51, 2:47, and 2:44.
Kenduiywo’s personal bests at the time included:
• Half marathon: 61:24 (Padova, Italy)
• 25K: 1:15 (Berlin)
• 8K: 23:43
• 5K: 13:55 (Udeni)
He promises he’ll run even faster next time.
2024 Podium Highlights
Top Men
1. Shadrack Kenduiywo – 42:34 (28:33 + 14:01)
2. Martin Mumo – 43:18
3. Zachariah Kirika – 43:37
4. Collins Kiplagat – 44:39
5. John Njuguna – 45:11
Top Women
1. Alice Koigi – 49:30
2. Monica Wanjiku – 51:30
3. Susan Njuu – 53:07
Men Masters
1. Charles Ndirangu, 64 – 56:21
2. David Mwangi, 70 – 64:49
3. Joseph Kiraio, 72 – 73:40
Women Masters
1. Julia Njari, 47 – 60:43
2. Sheila Mbaku, 54 – 62:30
The event also included Bob Anderson’s Kids Mile (won by 12-year-old Benjamin Ndaro in 4:54), and a 5K youth race won by Denis Chege, 16, in 17:48.
With over 120 Double 15K races held globally and a new world record established at KATA Thika, the 5th edition promises to be the most exciting yet.
Join us September 20, 2025, in Thika, Kenya, and experience Double Racing at its best.
posted Saturday July 19th
by Boris Baron