MONROVIA – The Liberia Marathon has become more than a race. Organizers expect about 3,500 runners for the seventh edition on Sunday, November 15. Race Coordinator Daniel Dean ranks it second only to football in national significance. That growth now carries a civic cost. Roads will close from 5:30 a.m., and police and soldiers will enforce the restrictions. Runners must also navigate ongoing road construction sites. Organizers are asking motorists for patience and journalists for coverage. Yet they offer the media passes and T-shirts, but no transport. The event is being sold as a showcase of Liberian resilience and hospitality. Sunday’s success will depend on public cooperation as much as athletic endurance, as THE ANALYST reports.
The Liberia Marathon team has announced plans to host approximately 3,500 runners for the seventh edition of the annual sporting event, scheduled for Sunday, November 15, 2026, while cautioning motorists and the general public to expect temporary road closures and traffic delays along designated routes.
The announcement was made Thursday at the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Information in Monrovia, where Race Coordinator Daniel Dean and Media Coordinator Magdalene Saah appeared to provide updates on preparations, race schedules, security arrangements, and public participation ahead of the event.
Speaking at the briefing, Dean described the Liberia Marathon as an increasingly important fixture on the country’s sporting calendar, noting that it has grown into one of Liberia’s major sporting events, second only to football in terms of its national significance.
He said this year’s edition is expected to attract close to 3,500 participants competing in four race categories, including the full marathon, half marathon, wheelchair race, and VIP race.
Four Race Categories, Start Times
According to Dean, the full marathon, covering 26.2 miles, will begin at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex, with runners proceeding through designated routes before making their way through parts of Monrovia and surrounding communities.
He disclosed that the full marathon and half marathon will commence at approximately 6:00 a.m., with road closures expected to take effect from 5:30 a.m. to facilitate the safe movement of participants.
Dean further explained that the half marathon will also begin at 6:00 a.m., while the wheelchair race is expected to commence between 7:15 and 7:30 a.m. The VIP race, another feature of the event, is scheduled to begin at approximately 7:43 a.m.
Police, Army to Enforce Closures
With thousands of runners expected to participate, the race coordinator urged motorists, commercial drivers, and other road users to make necessary adjustments to their movements, particularly those traveling through the affected areas during the early morning hours. He said the Liberia National Police (LNP) will enforce the traffic restrictions, while the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) will also support security arrangements to ensure a peaceful and orderly event.
Dean added that the organizing team is working with the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) to coordinate activities around ongoing road construction sites and identify measures that will allow runners to move safely along the race routes. He emphasized that the road restrictions are necessary to protect participants and ensure the successful conduct of the marathon, while appealing for public understanding and cooperation throughout the exercise.
Media Urged to Cover Race
Meanwhile, Saah acknowledged the media’s continued support in promoting the Liberia Marathon, describing journalists and media institutions as important partners in publicizing the event and showcasing Liberia’s sporting potential. She encouraged journalists, photographers, videographers, broadcasters, and other media practitioners to cover Sunday’s activities, stressing that their participation would help highlight the spirit, energy, resilience, and hospitality of the Liberian people.
She disclosed that media personnel covering the event will be provided with official T-shirts and access passes to facilitate their participation. However, Saah clarified that the organizing team does not currently have transportation arrangements for journalists and media institutions, while appealing to media partners to support coverage of the event through their respective platforms.
The seventh edition of the Liberia Marathon is expected to bring together hundreds of local and international participants, further positioning the annual event as a platform for promoting sports, physical fitness, national unity, and Liberia’s image as a destination for sporting activities. The organizers are calling on the public to cooperate with traffic authorities and support the successful staging of Sunday’s marathon.