Marathon 2012 - It rained, but we managed
The weather
What would you make of a marathon date with the following ingredients: whole night rains the night prior, heavy rain while I left the house few minutes before six to catch a matatu to town, and a power failure lasting the whole night!
That is how the Sunday of October 28, 2012 started – the tenth edition of the annual Nairobi International marathon, as sponsored by Standard Chartered bank.
I was tempted to get back to bed when the alarm went off at five-thirty. The pounding rain could be heard outside the house. The darkness created by the power failure was thick. The morning was still! It took will power to take some breakfast and head to the highway, amidst the rains that kept pouring on me. I got into the matatu soaked wet.
Closed
By the time I alighted at University way, thirty minutes past six, the weather had really improved. The morning rains had ended nor was the morning cold. The tarmac roads had puddles of water, collected at sections, even as I made my way from the Uni, on Uhuru highway, towards the stadium. This stretch of the road was already closed – and the only way to get to the stadium was by walking. On a normal day, one would take a matatu from Haile Sellasie Avenue to the Nyayo Stadium stage – this was not a normal day – it was an international marathon day.
I joined a group of runners, evident from their snow white Tshirts, labeled ‘Run for a Reason’ on the back. The front was mostly covered by the runner number affixed on the chest area. It took me fifteen minutes to get to the gathering outside the Nyayo stadium. The runners for the 42km event were already charged. The jostling started, even as I joined them. I knew that my run was still over 30-minutes away, but the excitement on the marathon was getting the better of me.
Start
Somehow, the 42km full marathon managed to start at exactly 7.00am. I saw ‘somehow’ due to the sheer man ‘power’ that the G4S security personnel were forced to put in place to keep the charging crowd contained just behind the starting line.
Off they went, and on we started our movement towards the starting lineup, thirty more minutes prior to the start. The security personnel had a worse time than before. The previous crowd, now pounding 42 clicks, was officially recorded as 778 runners. The weather was superb. I expected a record to be broken on this day. No sun, no rain, no cold. I even thought of switching to the 42k. Nonetheless, I had to refocus on my run.
Record
I was not sure whether I could break my last record on this favourable weather. I had not practiced much. Last year, with running number 3899, I managed a time of 1.32.37. Would I beat this? I joined the half marathon crowd. This particular 21k gathering was over five thousand. The balance thirteen thousand participated in the ten or five kilometer events (or did not participate at all).
An helicopter hovered overhead. The runners responded by waving at it, even as it came to a standstill mid-air, just about 100m over our heads. Its rotors starting to deafen but it left soon after. It made several rounds at the stadium, and later patrolled the Uhuru Highway—Mombasa road stretch. Was it security or paparazzi? There was no time to ponder since momentarily at seven-thirty, our race started. Sprinting off the front, the elite runners left the rest of us almost immediately. I started the race slowly. The weather was cool but not cold. There was no sunshine anywhere. There was no rain.
Water
We had the first water point at Uhuru park, as we made our way back to Uhuru Highway upto University Way junction and started back towards the stadium, through diversions at Kenyatta avenue and Haile Sellasie. I expected to see the 10km marker back at the stadium, though I did not see anything when I crossed through the double timing chip readers. The timing chip was located on the reverse side of the runner number. I heard two beeps as I passed by, assuring that runner no. 2757 had been recorded as a part participant. I knew there were another two such systems on the route.
I was still looking out for the 10km marker when the 42km front runners overtook me on Mombasa road, just before I did the turn back. I saw a time of 1.27.14 on their lead car. Earlier on, the 21km front runners had been seen on the other side of the road, at a time check of 0.52.13, as shown on their lead car. By turn back, there was no distance marker. If anything, the second set of the timing system awaited my approach.
Finish
When you make a final turn back, you know that you shall soon be at the finish line. I know that it takes about 6km from the turn to the stadium – that is a run of about 25minutes. With good weather, I just made my way through the now thinned group of runners towards the stadium.
Finally, I saw the 20km marker, just as I made a left turn on Langata road that would turn right some 400m ahead and back to the stadium. The city clock at the Uhuru highway-Langata road junction read 8.57am. I was not going to get a time of less than 1.30, though I would now try for something lower than 1.35.
I made the final approach to the stadium and then stumbled just at the main entrance to the stadium compound. The stumble injured my right big toe, and for a moment I almost dropped out due to the sharp pain that hit my tired body. It was willpower and the encouragement by spectators and fellow athletes that pushed me to the stadium entrance for the 300m run around the stadium to the finish line.
Pain
The pain on my toe was so much, that I forgot to stop my timer, and went straight to the side of the track to remove my right shoe and examine the toe. It was sore and hot. It was swollen and the nail looked almost dislodged. I carried the right shoe on my hand even as I exited the stadium. That is when I remembered to stop the timer, which now read 1.36.41. I expect to have a final time of one minute less than the timer reading. With a limp, I reflected on the 21km course and what it had to offer...
Water was availed at two stations in city centre… and nothing else until deep in Mombasa road. This made the ‘unwatered’ section quite a torture. Lack of distance markers has become an annual disease that may not have a cure. I suggest we just learn to live with it. Talking about living with situations, last year’s online certificates did not bear any names. They read, ‘This is to certify that ?Number #3899 finished the 21km half marathon with an official time of 01:32:37’. I would advise that they go back to the printed paper certificates if they cannot manage an online system.
The good – energy drinks offered at some sections of Mombasa road on the way back – and at the finish line too. This was a first one. I hope they make this the standard. The weather was quite favourable, while security was so present that we all felt safe. A record number of 19,000 participants from 70 different nationalities was also a milestone.
Winner
My hurting toe forced me to leave the stadium almost immediately after my run. I briefly met my three team members who finished their run soon thereafter. The announcement that the 42km winner, Wesley Kibet, was being handed his 1.5M after conquering in 2.10.40 found me on my way out. The paid did not ease when it was announced that he had been awarded a topup of 250k for breaking the current course record of 2.10.54 set last year.
The womens run was won by Salome Biwott in 2.26.41, taking home another 1.5meter. Our 21km event was won by Mathew Kiprotich in 1.02.19 and Pascalia Chepkorir in 1.08.12. However, my toe was hurting so much I do not even remember hearing the details of the other top three.
Scrapping
The toe hurt further when there were rumours that next year’s event shall consist of only one run, being 42km run, since the 21k, 10k and 5k shall be scrapped. Should this happen, that would be the end of the Nairobi International marathon as we know it. But did I say ‘rumour’?
WWB, Nairobi, October 29, 2012
The weather
What would you make of a marathon date with the following ingredients: whole night rains the night prior, heavy rain while I left the house few minutes before six to catch a matatu to town, and a power failure lasting the whole night!
That is how the Sunday of October 28, 2012 started – the tenth edition of the annual Nairobi International marathon, as sponsored by Standard Chartered bank.
I was tempted to get back to bed when the alarm went off at five-thirty. The pounding rain could be heard outside the house. The darkness created by the power failure was thick. The morning was still! It took will power to take some breakfast and head to the highway, amidst the rains that kept pouring on me. I got into the matatu soaked wet.
Closed
By the time I alighted at University way, thirty minutes past six, the weather had really improved. The morning rains had ended nor was the morning cold. The tarmac roads had puddles of water, collected at sections, even as I made my way from the Uni, on Uhuru highway, towards the stadium. This stretch of the road was already closed – and the only way to get to the stadium was by walking. On a normal day, one would take a matatu from Haile Sellasie Avenue to the Nyayo Stadium stage – this was not a normal day – it was an international marathon day.
I joined a group of runners, evident from their snow white Tshirts, labeled ‘Run for a Reason’ on the back. The front was mostly covered by the runner number affixed on the chest area. It took me fifteen minutes to get to the gathering outside the Nyayo stadium. The runners for the 42km event were already charged. The jostling started, even as I joined them. I knew that my run was still over 30-minutes away, but the excitement on the marathon was getting the better of me.
Start
Somehow, the 42km full marathon managed to start at exactly 7.00am. I saw ‘somehow’ due to the sheer man ‘power’ that the G4S security personnel were forced to put in place to keep the charging crowd contained just behind the starting line.
Off they went, and on we started our movement towards the starting lineup, thirty more minutes prior to the start. The security personnel had a worse time than before. The previous crowd, now pounding 42 clicks, was officially recorded as 778 runners. The weather was superb. I expected a record to be broken on this day. No sun, no rain, no cold. I even thought of switching to the 42k. Nonetheless, I had to refocus on my run.
Record
I was not sure whether I could break my last record on this favourable weather. I had not practiced much. Last year, with running number 3899, I managed a time of 1.32.37. Would I beat this? I joined the half marathon crowd. This particular 21k gathering was over five thousand. The balance thirteen thousand participated in the ten or five kilometer events (or did not participate at all).
An helicopter hovered overhead. The runners responded by waving at it, even as it came to a standstill mid-air, just about 100m over our heads. Its rotors starting to deafen but it left soon after. It made several rounds at the stadium, and later patrolled the Uhuru Highway—Mombasa road stretch. Was it security or paparazzi? There was no time to ponder since momentarily at seven-thirty, our race started. Sprinting off the front, the elite runners left the rest of us almost immediately. I started the race slowly. The weather was cool but not cold. There was no sunshine anywhere. There was no rain.
Water
We had the first water point at Uhuru park, as we made our way back to Uhuru Highway upto University Way junction and started back towards the stadium, through diversions at Kenyatta avenue and Haile Sellasie. I expected to see the 10km marker back at the stadium, though I did not see anything when I crossed through the double timing chip readers. The timing chip was located on the reverse side of the runner number. I heard two beeps as I passed by, assuring that runner no. 2757 had been recorded as a part participant. I knew there were another two such systems on the route.
I was still looking out for the 10km marker when the 42km front runners overtook me on Mombasa road, just before I did the turn back. I saw a time of 1.27.14 on their lead car. Earlier on, the 21km front runners had been seen on the other side of the road, at a time check of 0.52.13, as shown on their lead car. By turn back, there was no distance marker. If anything, the second set of the timing system awaited my approach.
Finish
When you make a final turn back, you know that you shall soon be at the finish line. I know that it takes about 6km from the turn to the stadium – that is a run of about 25minutes. With good weather, I just made my way through the now thinned group of runners towards the stadium.
Finally, I saw the 20km marker, just as I made a left turn on Langata road that would turn right some 400m ahead and back to the stadium. The city clock at the Uhuru highway-Langata road junction read 8.57am. I was not going to get a time of less than 1.30, though I would now try for something lower than 1.35.
I made the final approach to the stadium and then stumbled just at the main entrance to the stadium compound. The stumble injured my right big toe, and for a moment I almost dropped out due to the sharp pain that hit my tired body. It was willpower and the encouragement by spectators and fellow athletes that pushed me to the stadium entrance for the 300m run around the stadium to the finish line.
Pain
The pain on my toe was so much, that I forgot to stop my timer, and went straight to the side of the track to remove my right shoe and examine the toe. It was sore and hot. It was swollen and the nail looked almost dislodged. I carried the right shoe on my hand even as I exited the stadium. That is when I remembered to stop the timer, which now read 1.36.41. I expect to have a final time of one minute less than the timer reading. With a limp, I reflected on the 21km course and what it had to offer...
Water was availed at two stations in city centre… and nothing else until deep in Mombasa road. This made the ‘unwatered’ section quite a torture. Lack of distance markers has become an annual disease that may not have a cure. I suggest we just learn to live with it. Talking about living with situations, last year’s online certificates did not bear any names. They read, ‘This is to certify that ?Number #3899 finished the 21km half marathon with an official time of 01:32:37’. I would advise that they go back to the printed paper certificates if they cannot manage an online system.
The good – energy drinks offered at some sections of Mombasa road on the way back – and at the finish line too. This was a first one. I hope they make this the standard. The weather was quite favourable, while security was so present that we all felt safe. A record number of 19,000 participants from 70 different nationalities was also a milestone.
Winner
My hurting toe forced me to leave the stadium almost immediately after my run. I briefly met my three team members who finished their run soon thereafter. The announcement that the 42km winner, Wesley Kibet, was being handed his 1.5M after conquering in 2.10.40 found me on my way out. The paid did not ease when it was announced that he had been awarded a topup of 250k for breaking the current course record of 2.10.54 set last year.
The womens run was won by Salome Biwott in 2.26.41, taking home another 1.5meter. Our 21km event was won by Mathew Kiprotich in 1.02.19 and Pascalia Chepkorir in 1.08.12. However, my toe was hurting so much I do not even remember hearing the details of the other top three.
Scrapping
The toe hurt further when there were rumours that next year’s event shall consist of only one run, being 42km run, since the 21k, 10k and 5k shall be scrapped. Should this happen, that would be the end of the Nairobi International marathon as we know it. But did I say ‘rumour’?
WWB, Nairobi, October 29, 2012
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