Foreign runners have started arriving in Moshi in northern Tanzania, where the 2006 Kilimanjaro international marathon race is slated for this Sunday, for acclimatization.

Some 3,000 runners, including 350 from foreign countries, are expected to participate in this year's marathon race that will be held at an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level near the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The foreign runners who have already registered in this year's race hail from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Germany, Kenya, the Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, the United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Some 300 foreign runners took part in last year's Kilimanjaro marathon race which Kenyan runners Tubei John Chirchir and Roberi Komen finished one-two in two hours 20 minutes 23 seconds and 2:20:48 respectively.

Source: Xinhua