Organisers Announce Bib, Cut-Off and Medal Policy Ahead of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

Organisers Announce Bib, Cut-Off and Medal Policy Ahead of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

By Niyi Busari 

With 17 days to race day, organisers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon 2026 have released the official race schedule alongside detailed cut-off and medal eligibility guidelines, providing clarity for the thousands of runners preparing for Africa’s biggest road race, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The announcement forms part of the final phase of preparations for the event and underscores the organisers’ commitment to transparency, fairness and adherence to international marathon standards.

According to the official schedule, the 42-kilometre marathon will commence at 6:30 a.m. and officially close at 12:00 p.m., giving participants a total race window of six hours. The 10-kilometre race will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will also close at 12:00 p.m.

Organisers explained that while all registered runners are permitted to compete at their own pace within the official race window, the stipulated cut-off time applies strictly to medal qualification and not to participation in the event.

In line with the marathon’s integrity policy, only runners who complete the full race on or before the official cut-off time will be awarded an Access Bank Lagos City Marathon finisher’s medal.

Runners who are picked up by the official sweeper bus will be deemed not to have completed the race. Their bib numbers will be marked and such marked bibs will not be eligible for medals. Organisers added that bibs will also be marked at the finish line after medal collection to ensure strict enforcement of the policy.

Any runner whose bib is marked will not receive a medal, while participants who cross the finish line after the official cut-off time will be issued a certificate of participation only.

Despite the firm guidelines, organisers stressed that the marathon remains a celebration of endurance and determination, acknowledging and applauding every runner who takes on the challenge, regardless of finishing time.