Since 2016, Seven-Up Bottling Company’s Aquafina Premium drinking water, has shown up at the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon every single year. As the partnership enters its 11th edition, athletes, organisers, and fitness advocates reflect on what a decade of sustained support really means.
At 6:30 am on February 14, elite athletes, thousands of runners, including first-timers, formed thick streams at the starting line of the 11th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. They could be seen adjusting race bibs, stretching calves and taking photographs. Friends who had trained together for months since the announcement of the race was made were ready to run.
Interspersed among the title sponsor’s branding were the unmistakable blue and white colours of Aquafina. The brand was everywhere: at the start and finish lines, at hydration points every 2.5 kilometres, on volunteer vests, and in the hands of race marshals pressing chilled bottles into the palms of passing runners.
When the marathon first launched in 2016, organising a full 42-kilometre international race in Lagos was a major undertaking. As participation grew, including runners from across Africa, the need for reliable hydration planning became even more important. Aquafina’s continued involvement has aligned with that growth, helping organisers maintain a consistent hydration structure as the event expanded.
For the 2026 edition, Aquafina built its engagement around the 10KM race with the theme “Run am with your Padi,” a Nigerian Pidgin phrase that speaks to companionship. The message reflected how many participants approach the 10-kilometre category, running with friends, training partners, or social groups rather than competing professionally. The campaign appeared across outdoor and digital channels, reinforcing the social side of the race.
From a runner’s perspective, hydration was where Aquafina’s dominance on the course was most obvious. Harriet Wonder, a participant in the 2026 marathon, described her experience simply: “There was more than enough water and drink for everyone. At intervals, there was always water, like if you wanted to drink 100 bottles of water, you’ll get it. Hydration was not a problem.” Her comment captures how Aquafina’s strong presence at the event translated into a race experience where runners rarely had to think about water availability.
Aquafina’s 2026 activation also introduced one of the event’s biggest talking points, a N1million reward for the first 10 padi groups to cross the finish line in the 10-kilometre fun run. Rather than focusing only on elite competitors, the incentive placed attention on everyday runners, who make up the largest share of participants.
That decision also added excitement to the community category. For many runners, the fun run is about personal fitness goals or showing up with friends. Adding a significant reward recognised their contribution to the marathon’s energy and scale.
More than just a prize, the move reflected Aquafina’s awareness of the growing fitness culture around the event. It placed value on grassroots participation, the runners who return each year and help shape the marathon atmosphere.
In sports sponsorship, longevity builds familiarity. After eleven consecutive years, Aquafina’s presence has become an expected part of the marathon experience for returning runners. Hydration stations are not just branded touchpoints; they are functional stops runners plan around as they move through the course.
Nigeria’s recreational running culture has expanded steadily since the marathon began, with more clubs and informal groups encouraging participation. Large events like the marathon reflect that growth, and consistent corporate support helps sustain the infrastructure required to host thousands of runners.
More than a decade into the partnership, Aquafina’s role is defined by consistency. By providing reliable hydration year after year, the brand has entrenched itself as the ‘Padi of Life’, becoming race day essential for runners navigating one of Lagos’ largest sporting event.
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