My first marathon experience was in 2013 at the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon. I love reliving the moment.
Just before the marathon
At 7 am, with 10 minutes to go, the 42km wheelchair race began, while we (the 42km runners) were asked to approach the start line slowly. The event was being aired live in a number of TV stations and knowing that it was close to the start of the 42km event, some journalists in a helicopter seeking to take an aerial view of the start of the race hovered so close overhead and we could hardly hear the announcer counting down the remaining seconds. With a white scarf, some officials tried to wave to the pilot to move away, but to no avail.
I saw the starter aim his gun upwards…almost towards the helicopter! I knew the time had come. I wanted to make sure my watch would start well, so I started it some seconds before the gun went off. The gun went off, and we dashed forward to avoid a stampede.
The rubber meets the road for the first time!
For the first two kilometres, as usual, the pace was very high as athletes struggled to take vantage positions in the leading pack. The pace then slowed a bit as we approached 5km, but because the lead group was too large and inconvenient to be in while tackling corners and picking up water at the aid stations, I felt comfortable running a few meters behind them. I found two other friends from Eldoret who liked my pace, and we decided to do it together, crossing the 10km mark in 31:50. If only we could maintain, ours was the best pace to take the marathon. Unfortunately, we lost each other at 20km.
The 11th edition of the Stanchart Nairobo Marathon in 2013 started outside the Nyayo Stadium with the first half of the race covering much of the city streets while the remaining half took us (the athletes) past the stadium to run two loops on the Mombasa highway before returning into the stadium to cross the finish line on the 400m track. Being the biggest marathon event in Kenya, everything came to a standstill for a few hours of the morning in the city as over 21,000 participants, comprising of men, women and children from all walks of life took to the streets to support the ‘seeing is believing’ initiative that works to eradicate avoidable blindness in children under the age of 15 years.
What I have come to like about the Nairobi marathon, after participating in it since 2007, is the measures they take to ensure your bags are safe as you go out to run. Even if you left your phone on and came back to find seven missed calls like I did this weekend, no one would pick it from your bag. It is always routine for every athlete to change, leave his bag, find the bathrooms, and do a little warm-up near the start line.
My first marathon happened a month after a terrorist attack at the Westgate Shopping Mall in the city
As expected after a recent terror attack at a mall in the city, the security at the venue was tight. My case would be even better than that of other participants because the only item in my bag was a 25ml tube of Vaseline. Some athletes who had sports drinks were asked to drink them and then throw the cans before passing through security. I thought the screening was over after the initial checkpoint, only to be asked to enter another queue after taking a few steps forward.
I was searched again by security personnel from one firm, then immediately by another one again from a different firm, even after observing me being searched by the first one!
Well, you can now choose a word to use for yourself regarding that kind of security. It may have been a bit irritating if one was a little late, but it was reassuring to know that more than enough measures had been taken to ensure our safety. There were so many security officials everywhere to an extent that I can’t say for sure who was in greater number between them and the marathon participants!
Tough course, and no electrolytes
Unlike in the previous years, the new course had hilly sections that took a toll on many athletes. And to make matters worse, no isotonic drinks were served. It was pure water all the way to 42km. Many athletes gave up after about 30km, losing hope of completing another 10km loop before returning to the stadium.
One lady who took a wrong turn on the Mombasa Road caused some confusion when she crossed the finish line ahead of the real winner, but all was settled when the other women finished the race and gave their version of the story.
After 30km, there was no more pack in the lead as each athlete seemed to be running his own race from that point. Kenneth Mungara won the race in 2:11.40 followed by Hosea Korir in 2:12.05 and Barnabas Kipyego in 2:14.07. The women’s race was won by Winfred Kwamboka, with Florence Chepsoi and Agnes Cheserek finishing second and third.
I learnt to respect the marathon
For me, the last twelve kilometres of the race were seemingly endless, as my ambition to run a good time suddenly turned into a struggle to reach the finish line alive.
There are things that a person can only learn through experience. One of them is the marathon event. I’ll always respect the distance and give it the preparation it deserves before entering the next one; the same advice I offer in my online coaching programs.
While I am always grateful to all the sponsors and volunteers who make these races successful for athletes, I was particularly touched by the volunteer work of the massage department at the Machakos Technical Institute for the Blind. Only five visually impaired SHIATSU therapists were able to relieve many athletes who needed to relax their muscles after the race. I remember hardly being able to move my legs after the race, but feeling so relieved after their therapy that I even felt ready to do another marathon the following day.