Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon, Gizah, Egypt. 13th December 2025.
We raced through history in the most spectacular setting imaginable. 🏃♀️ It was a unique experience we will never forget. The event was well organized and meant for everybody. The atmosphere was very festive with locals and international runners.
TLDR; “too long, didn’t read”
- I just want to run! Take me to RUN.
- I have 1 minute. Take me to USEFUL INFORMATION.
- Running is my excuse for travelling. Take me to TRIP.
- Running is my excuse for eating. Take me to CARBOLOADING.
- I want to know what to read in the plane. Take me to ONE BOOK.
Before travelling: My reasons to go!
I was absolutely buzzing to finally get to this start line! ✨ Why? Because this trip felt like a saga. It was definitely a case of “third time’s the charm.” 🤞
I had actually postponed this trip twice before! The first time was for boring personal reasons; work and stuff.
But the second time? The organizers changed the date at the last minute because of… Egyptian elections! 😱 Only in Egypt, right?
But I am stubborn, and I wasn’t going to let politics stop me from running in the desert! 💪
A Very Special VIP Guest 🌟👟
The best reason to go was our new team member. We were taking Roger’s cousin for her very first international race experience! 🎉 She is only 17, and we wanted to make sure she caught the travel-running bug early.
This is actually why you will see us running the 5K instead of the Half Marathon this time. We wanted to run together as a family squad! And, spoiler: she did incredibly well!
Sometimes, good company is way more important than the race itself (Plus, a shorter run means we get to the post-race food sooner! 😉).
The Hype and The History 🗣️📜
I admit, I was also suffering from FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). 😅 So many running friends had recommended this race to me. They swore it was “super well organized” and “very cool.” 🔥 When fellow runners tell you a race in the desert is smooth sailing, you have to go see it for yourself! 🏅
Finally, this was personal. ❤️
The Pyramids were actually our very first trip as a couple, way back in the year 2001!
I remember standing there, totally awestruck, promising myself we would return one day. It took us a while, but we made it! And honestly? The Great Pyramids are always a valid excuse to pack a suitcase! 🐫
The Final Countdown: 10 Days To Go! ⏳
A few days before, we received the official “10 Days to Go” email for the 7th edition of the Pyramids Half Marathon, and the excitement was real! 🤩 This wasn’t just a local run; it was going to be a massive party.
We willwould be joining 10,000 runners from 120 different countries at the start line! 🌍🏃♂️
Can you imagine the vibe? A literal United Nations of runners, all sweating together in front of the Sphinx!
They also sent the “Start List,” so we could check who you are running against. 👀 And, of course, I did a quick Ctrl + F to find my name (and make sure they spelled “The Running Ginger” correctly… just kidding, I used my real name! 😜).
Getting the Goods (Race Pack) 🎒
First mission: getting the bib! The Race Expo was at the Mall of Arabia. 📍 We needed to head to Gate 3 or Gate 19 on Thursday, Dec 11th (2pm-8pm) or Friday, Dec 12th (12pm-8pm).
The good news? Parking was free!Although, well, we didn’t have a car. So, the better news? If we got stuck in Cairo traffic (which is legendary 😅), a friend could pick up the pack for us as long as they had a copy of our ID and confirmation email.
Talk about a lifesaver! 🙌
How to Get There (Without Crying) 🚌
Parking at the Pyramids was limited, so unless you want to stress out before the gun goes off, the organization had a plan. 💡 They organized buses from 10 different pickup points across Cairo (like Downtown, New Cairo, and Zamalek).
The buses let super early at 6:00 AM sharp and returned at 12:00 PM. 🚌 It costed 200 EGP (Egyptian Pounds), which was a steal for peace of mind.
If you prefer a private ride, they partnered with London Cab. Or, you could just take an Uber to the specific drop off pin they shared.
Wait… Are We Running on Sand? 🐪
This was my biggest worry! Was I going to be trudging through deep sand for 5 kilometers? 😫 Thankfully, the email gave us a nerdy Detailed Surface Analysis, and it was actually good news! 🤓
It turned out most of the race was paved. We were not running in the desert. We were running on the Giza Plateau! 👍
For our 5K, it was 52% asphalt (2.63 km) and 47% interlock (paving stones). For the 21K runners, it was even better, with 76% asphalt. 🙌
And the actual Unpaved Desert section? It was less than 1% of the course (only about 130 meters for the 5K!). So, leave the trail shoes at home. Road shoes will do just fine!
We just needed to watch our step on the uneven bits and enjoy those epic views! 😍
🌍 The Trip 📷: What to see in Cairo
The biggest draw of this race is the location. You get to run right beside the Great Pyramids. 🏃♂️
It is a bucket-list experience for any serious runner. But it also lets you enjoy Cairo for a few days. It is one of the most amazing cities on Earth. 🌍
We visited Egypt many years ago. This time we focused mainly on Giza and its surroundings. We were pleasantly surprised once again. Egypt offers a unique mix of deep history and spectacular scenery. It also has a vibrant local life unlike anywhere else. ✨
We spent four very full days exploring the country. We managed to pack a lot into a short time.
Here is a list of what we visited. We hope it helps you plan your own trip. Turn your race into an unforgettable experience. 🐪
The Pyramids of Giza
These structures are the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. Standing at the base makes you feel incredibly small. 🤯 The sheer scale is hard to comprehend.
The Great Pyramid was built for Khufu thousands of years ago. It dominates the skyline from miles away. We walked around the complex to see the Sphinx guarding the plateau. The limestone blocks are massive and fit perfectly together. You can see the chisel marks from ancient workers. It is hard to imagine how they built this without modern tools.
🏗️ We actually went inside the Great Pyramid too. I highly recommend it! Unless you are claustrophobic, or size XXL, since it is incredibly narrow. You have to crouch through a long and steep tunnel. 🔦 The air feels ancient and heavy inside.
It leads to the King’s Chamber, which is empty. It felt hauntingly beautiful to be deep inside stone.
Saqqara Pyramid
We also took a driver to visit Saqqara. We wanted to see again, after 24 years, the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser. This is the oldest complete stone building complex known in history.
It looks like a giant staircase reaching up to the sky. ☀️
The entire necropolis area is absolutely huge. It is usually much less crowded than Giza.
You can clearly see how pyramid building evolved here. 🏛️ It feels much more peaceful and ancient in the desert silence. We loved the quiet atmosphere!
Ancient Memphis
Memphis was the ancient capital of Lower Egypt. It is now an interesting open-air museum. It holds many statues and ruins surrounded by trees.
The highlight is definitely the massive fallen statue of Ramesses II. 🗿 The colossus is incredibly detailed despite its significant age. You view it from a balcony above.
It allows you to appreciate the sheer size of it. It gives a glimpse into how grand the city once was. The artistry is truly impressive. 🎨
The Grand Egyptian Museum
This place had opened only a few weeks before our trip. It is a modern architectural masterpiece sitting near the pyramids. 💎
The building design itself is worth the visit alone!! The massive atrium features a huge statue of Ramses:
There are many statues of old Kings, like the famous Akhenaten who… well, looks a little bit like an alien…
As a pharaoh, Akhenaten is noted for abandoning traditional ancient Egyptian religion of polytheism and introducing Atenism, or worship centered around Aten:
But the star attraction is the complete collection of King Tutankhamun. 👑
Seeing his golden treasures all together is absolutely mind-blowing. There are thousands of intricate artifacts displayed perfectly. The museum tells the story of Egypt perfectly. It is a must-do for history lovers.
Tip: You have to queue to take a picture in front of Tutankhamon’s gold mask, but the queue was not too large and it is worth it! See for yourself:
Cairo
And, since we were in Cairo… we dove into the chaos of the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. It is a maze of spices, lanterns, and shouting vendors. The smells of incense and street food fill the air. 👃
The energy here is intense and completely captivating.
Also we went up to the historic Citadel of Saladin. The mosque of Muhammad Ali sits proudly on top. The interior of the mosque is stunningly 💡 decorated with lights:
Plus, the view over the entire city of Cairo is breathtaking. You can see all the way to the Pyramids on clear days.
Al Fayoum
We took a day trip out to the Al Fayoum oasis. 🚙 What a great idea!
It is a lush green area surrounded by harsh desert. The contrast in landscape is very striking. We saw refreshing waterfalls and beautiful lakes there.
The highlight was definitely Wadi Al-Hitan. This is known as the Valley of the Whales. 🐋
Whales. Yes. Seriously. In the desert!
You can see ancient whale fossils right in the sand. It shows this desert was once a vast ocean. Walking among skeletons in the desert was surreal.
🏃♀️ Race Expo 🏃♂️
The Race Expo took place at the massive Mall of Arabia. We took advantage of the late hours. We arrived at 7pm on Friday just before closing. 🕖
It was already dark outside but bright inside the mall. The volunteers were friendly and gave us our packs quickly. We were super excited to get our gear.
The bibs were robust and featured the cool wings of Horus. This Egyptian symbol represents divine protection. It looked very classy and unique. 🦅
The Puma race shirts were also high quality and comfortable.
I loved the pillars shaped like obelisks listing runner names! It was easy to find our names listed under the 5k distance. It was a really nice personalized touch.
Visiting the mall gave us a taste of local life on a Friday. 🛍️
🏃♀️ The Race 🏃♂️
The race was scheduled to start promptly at 8am. Important tip! Traffic in Cairo is legendary so you must plan ahead. 🚕
We arranged for our private guide to drop us off. He got us there at 7:15am to avoid stress.
The race happens inside the actual Pyramids compound.
Walking from the gate to the start line was spectacular. 🤩 Thousands of runners moved slowly together with the sun rising. The sun rays projected long shadows across the sand. Like we were blessed by God Amon-Ra himself!!!
The Pyramids stood in the background like an ancient movie scene. It really does not get better than that view.
We did our warm-up exercises right in front of the view of the Pyramids. Seriously, how cool was that for a pre-race routine?
In the compound there were stands with a speaker urging everyone to be ready. 📢 The atmosphere was festive with runners from everywhere. We entered the course based on our bracelet colors. We tried entering in the “gold” part as we got confused, since our bracelets were orange. It turned out that “Gold” was for… elites!!! 😂
The Course
There were so many excited runners at the start!
And the path was not too wide initially….
So it was too crowded for the first two kilometers. 🏃♂️ In some points we actually had to stop completely. Do not expect a personal best time here!
We chose the 5k race, as it was Emma’s first race. This distance keeps the Pyramids in direct sight almost the whole time 👀 We were happy with this choice!
Longer distances venture further out into the desert backdrop. You are always near history though. The course surface is paved roads and paths, with some bumps only, and not soft sand.
Logistics
It is mostly flat except for one section. ⛰️ You descend between kilometers two and three.
Then you must ascend back between three and four. It is very manageable for experienced runners.
The turns to distinguish between 5k and 10k runners are well marked, with volunteers making sure that you do not screw up. This was useful as we had been in other races where the directions are not so clearly marked. Kudos to the organisation.
Bottles of water were handed out at kilometer four. Also some bananas, which seemed to to very popular!
This station’s logistics is enough for such a short race distance. The weather in December was perfect at around 15 degrees. 🌡️ It was more than civilized for running in the desert.
And the early morning light, contrasted with the colours of the sand and the Pyramids, made it somehow magical.
The Finish
We picked up the pace massively in the last two kilometers. The crowd thinned out and we handle the hills well because of our training, so we enjoyed it
It was nice to be overtaking runners from all over the world, but mostly locals who at that point were walking and taking selfies with the views 😆
So we ended our run on a huge high!!
Crossing the finish line under five minutes per kilometer felt amazing. We were elated to finish in such a beautiful place. The Pyramids were always in the background. 📸
The medal was big and featured a beautiful eagle engraving and, obviously… the Pyramids. It was the same medal for all distances. Different ribbons distinguished the races. It is a great souvenir. 🏅
🍜 Carboloading 🍝: What to eat in Cairo if you are running the Pyramids Half Marathon!
This section is all about the serious business of eating. 😋 In Cairo, fueling up is not just nutrition; it is a cultural deep dive that will leave you happy and very, very full.
Before the Race: The Carb Coma 🍝
If you want to run strong, you must eat Koshary. This is the undisputed king of Egyptian street food and arguably the best invention since the Pyramids. 😍
It is a chaotic, beautiful mix of rice, macaroni, and lentils, all topped with a spicy tomato sauce and crispy fried onions. It is basically carbs on top of carbs, garnished with more carbs. 🔥 One bowl provides enough energy to run a half marathon, fight a crocodile, and haggle for souvenirs. Just don’t eat it 30 minutes before the start, or you will run like a brick! 🏃♀️
After the Race: The Protein Feast 🥩
Once you have crossed that finish line, your muscles will be screaming for recovery. Skip the sad protein shake and head straight for a Grill House. 🍖
Order a mixed plate of Kebab and Kofta. Kebab is juicy chunks of grilled meat, while Kofta is spiced ground meat rolled onto a skewer and grilled over charcoal until it tastes like heaven.
Serve it with tahini dip and fresh baladi bread, and you have the perfect recovery meal. It tastes like victory (and a lot of garlic) 🏆
Useful information
🏆 Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon, 10k and 5k.
🌐 Website: https://www.thetrifactory.com/MarakezPyramidsHalfMarathon2025
🗓️ December in Marakez, Cairo, Egypt.
👟 Urban: bring shoes for asphalt since it is not ran in the sand.
✅ The scenery is absolutely unbeatable for a run. Running with the Pyramids as your backdrop is magical. 🤩
✅ The festive atmosphere is contagious and energetic. You run alongside locals and people from all over the world. 🌍
⚠️ Warning: The start is very crowded on narrow paths. You will walk often so do not expect a fast time. ⏱️
Map
One book
I normally pick one, and my personal choice is the following one, because … well, I am a huge Agatha Christie fan 🕵️♀️📚
“Death on the Nile”, by Agatha Christie
I have read almost everything she has written, so I couldn’t possibly land in Cairo without re-reading her masterpiece, Death on the Nile.
Reading this book right before or during your trip changes the whole vibe of the experience. 🚢 Suddenly, you aren’t just a tourist or a runner; you are stepping into a world of 1930s glamour and danger. Every time you look at the river, you find yourself wondering which luxury boat holds a secret. It makes the history feel alive, mysterious, and incredibly stylish.
Plot Summary: The story follows the legendary detective Hercule Poirot, who is trying to enjoy a nice, quiet holiday in Egypt. 🕯️ He is not running a Half Marathon! But, naturally, his vacation is ruined when a wealthy, beautiful heiress named Linnet Ridgeway is found shot dead on their cruise steamer. 😱
The boat is full of people who hated her (awkward!), which means everyone is a suspect. 🧐 As the steamer travels down the Nile, passing the very temples you will visit, Poirot must unravel a web of jealousy and lies before the killer strikes again. It is the perfect suspense to keep you distracted from your pre-race nerves! 😰
Other great options!
Packing for the Pyramids Half Marathon wasn’t just about energy gels and sneakers. So I also made room for two other incredible books to fully set the mood. 🎒 Reading them right by the Giza Plateau made the ancient history feel alive. It was the perfect mental warm-up before hitting the sandy course.
First up was:
“The Murdered Pyramid”, by Christian Jacq
This thriller dives into a dark conspiracy during the glorious age of the pyramid builders. 🕵️♂️ It paints a vivid picture of the very ground I was about to run on. Imagining ancient crimes while gazing up at the Sphinx gave me absolute chills!
Then there is the absolute classic:
“The Egyptian” by Mika Waltari
It follows Sinuhe, a royal physician, through a wild life of exile and intrigue. 🌍 His journey reveals the daily life, smells, and sounds of ancient Egypt perfectly. It turns the dusty stones around you into a bustling, living civilization.
Running 21km is tough, but these stories gave me serious motivation. 🏃 They transformed the scenery from simple tourist spots into epic historical stages. You aren’t just running a race; you are running through thousands of years of history.
Trust me, these pages make the finish line feel even more legendary. 🏅
