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Cairo Running Groups Launch Weekly Sessions for 2026 Half Marathon Training
Weekly clubs and listed race entries give beginners clear entry points into the city's running scene.
How we reported this
The 13th edition of the Cairo Half Marathon starts at 6:00 AM on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Heliopolis-Merryland Park and draws thousands of participants.
Multiple half-marathon distances appear on the calendar through the rest of 2026, giving runners fixed targets to train toward. The dates sit several months apart, which lets beginners build distance gradually without rushing registration.
Weekly clubs provide the first step
Cairo Runners, the city’s earliest street-running group, runs a 5K Fun Run and the Bupa Breast Cancer Run on Friday, October 24, at District 5. The Croissant Run Club meets every Saturday at 8 AM at EDNC Sodic in New Cairo. These sessions operate on fixed schedules and routes, so new runners can show up, follow the group pace, and learn the roads without planning a route themselves.
The Saqqara Half Marathon returns on Friday, February 13, 2026, in Saqqara and adds a 21K option alongside 10K and 5K races. The TriFactory organizes the event and expanded the program to the longer distance for 2026. The Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon follows later on Saturday, December 12, 2026, in Cairo and offers the same three distances on road courses.
Entry details and preparation
Registration links appear on the event sites listed for each race. Runners can enter the shorter distances first, then move to the 21K events once comfortable with weekly mileage. The Croissant Run Club and Cairo Runners sessions serve as regular training partners in the months before each race date.
Participants need only standard running kit and water for the club runs. Race entries require the forms posted on the organizer pages at cairohalfmarathon.com, sportseventsegypt.com, and the Cairo Runners Instagram account. Checking those sites supplies the current entry windows and course maps.