Marathon calendar for 2018 - updated 10-Aug-2018

Marathon calendar for 2018

Run	Date	Details
1.Kilimanjaro marathon - Moshi, Tanzania	March 3 Saturday - (DONE)	42k, 21k, 10k This is a big one and I have been dreaming to participating someday.  Logistics aside, it looks like a good one and colleagues of mine who have participated confess as much.  Now in its 16th edition, this marathon has held steady over the years and I believe it is getting better with time.  I read that they have a limit of registrations to 500, 5250 and 5000 for the three run categories respectively.  The results are out and Kenya took all the top 10 places in men and women runs (42k and 21k), leaving only one no. 2 slot in the ladies’ race to the hosts.  However, East Africa is now one community and anyone in any member state is allowed to win. https://www.kilimanjaromarathon.com
2.First Lady’s Half Marathon - Nairobi (Nyayo stadium)	March (tentative 10th Saturday)- (CANCELLED)	21km, 10km, 5km This was an initiative of the Kenyan first lady to champion for medical facilities to assist women and children especially to support safe delivery.  The programme under the ‘Beyond Zero’ campaign that aimed at establishing a centre/clinic in each of the 47 counties in Kenya.  It was held for 4 years before the political storm of 2017 that affected many other marathons did not stare it either.  With heated political debates at the national arena, the organizers had no choice but to cancel the 4th edition 2017 event (which I had already registered for).  The 2018 event has not been mentioned, though it is usually held early March.  It is safe to assume it shall not be held this year either.  Could it be the end of this once great run?  The third major one in the city, after Nairobi International and Sotokoto?  The marathon event no longer features on the website, though it used to. https://www.beyondzero.or.ke/
3.Run for the bibleless - Nairobi (Uhuru Gardens)	March 10 Saturday - (DONE)	10km, 4km run/walk for charity This event celebrates its 11th anniversary this year, with 4km and 10km runs/walk in the card, to accommodate all who support the cause, from the very young to the elderly.  It is worthy of your support and participation.  Being non-competitive, it gives you time to run/walk in a relaxed environment, without the pressures that come with a competitive run https://btlkenya.org/index.php/rftb
4.Rift Valley marathon - Mosoriot (Eldoret)	March 17 Saturday - (DONE)	42k, 21k, 10k Mosoriot is located 30km from Eldoret and this marathon is another one held at the home of champions.  It was not well publicized, despite the main sponsor in 2018 being Kwese free sports, a leader in sports broadcasting in Kenya.  Being in the 6th edition, they can surely do better.  There is no follow-up information on whether it was held or not.  What we can see is a KShs.1.9M sponsorship cheque, and a photo op for the sponsors.  Their website is informative about accommodation option, which resolves one hinderance when planning for marathons out of your home town https://riftvalleymarathon.com/
5.Mater Heart Run – Nairobi (where it all began)	May 26th Saturday - (DONE)	10k walk/run for charity Usually held at Nyayo stadium but venue may change to Uhuru park due to ongoing renovations at the stadium.  The website does not give the count of the number of runs that the event has held since when.  However, from reading and interpretation, the Cardiac Programme at Mater started in 1995, with the run being the main fund raising event.  That would mean that this is the oldest run in Kenya now on its 24th edition in 2018. Now the run in held in 8 other towns on the same day (Mombasa, Machakos, Mumias, Kisumu, Nyeri, Meru, Nakuru and Eldoret) http://materheartrun.com/
6.Kericho international marathon - Kericho	May (tentative, 12th Saturday) - STATUS UNKNOWN	42k, 21k, 10k The marathon should be doing its 10th edition.  However, the only information available is from a 2014 article, "Following embarrassing confusion last year where some athletes covered 52km instead of the standard 42.195km, the organizers of the fifth Kericho Tea Board of Kenya International Marathon have been put on notice..." (*CapitalFM, 2014).  Their FB page was last updated in 2013 when they were advertising this May 4th run that resulted into that half-century milestone.  I am not sure if they even held the May 10th event in 2014 since there is so little information about this marathon, which is another one in the home of champions. https://www.facebook.com/events/372602532857770/ *CapitalFM (2014). "Kericho marathon put on notice". Retrieved 19-Mar-2018 from https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/sports/2014/04/04/kericho-marathon-put-on-notice/
7.Mt. Kilimanjaro marathon - Moshi, Tanzania	June 24 Sunday STATUS UNKNOWN	42k, 21k, 10k I wonder why two marathons should be held in the same town, with names that are almost similar.  I had to really search around to differentiate the Kilimanjaro marathon and the Kilimanjaro marathon Mt.  The marathon is a 4 loop event on a 10.5km course, starting at Moshi country club.  They state that they are doing this event for the 28th year - isn't that a record!  The details of route, accommodation etc. are a bit sketchy, but a 12-day package that includes the marathon and mountain climb costs $5,300 or one can forego the climb and pay $3,400. http://www.mtkilimanjaromarathon.com/
8.Lewa marathon - Lewa (Conservancy - closer to Isiolo than Nanyuki)	June 30 Saturday (DONE)	42k, 21k The 18th edition of the run features both the full- and half-marathon events.  This run observes strict registration deadlines and runner limits... and to prove the point, the have already closed registration for the full and half marathons for 2018!  They have a well laid out website that is fully informative.  For now, 'entry for the children's 5km race and spectators are still open' according to the site.  I like the '...and spectators' registration. https://www.safaricom.co.ke/safaricommarathon/
9.Sotokoto marathon – Nairobi (Uhuru Garden)	July (confirmed for 1st July, Sunday) *DONE: Changed to a shorter 10k and held at Muguga	21k, 10k, 5k This is one of those erratic runs in the city.  Their main challenge is lack of a solid sponsor.  They have relied on sponsorship from Japan but this seems not to have been guaranteed.  They have not been able to do the run annually, with last year being another skipped year though they it was held their 6th edition in 2016, which I attended.  Before then, their last run was in 2013.  With no website and a stale FB page, then there seems to be rough times ahead for this beautiful event  https://www.facebook.com/sotokotomarathon/ http://www.sotokotomarathon.co.ke/
10.Mwea classic marathon - Mwea (Mwea Seconday School)	July (tentative 21st Saturday) STATUS UNKNOWN	21k, 10k, 5k They are doing Mwea-9 this year.  That is quite encouraging, from humble beginnings to almost the 10th anniversary.  Keep going Mwea marathon.  I have heard of this marathon in the same period, hence their publicity is improving.  They could learn something from Ndakaini marathon if they want some competition from the veterans in the city, but maybe they want to keep the competition local? http://mweaclassicmarathon.co.ke/
11.Menengai Geothermal marathon - Nakuru	August (tentative 18th Saturday)	21k, 10k The last time I heard about this marathon was in 2014.  I doubt if there has been any other marathon since.  They do not have an online presence, apart from an FB page that was last updated in 2014, when they held their 3rd edition.  It seemingly has quite beautiful scenery and was one of the marathons on my wish list.  That wish may just remain that, a wish. https://www.facebook.com/menengai.marathon
12.Ndakaini marathon - Ndakaini, (Gatanga, 45km from Thika)	September (tentative 8th Saturday)	21k, 10k, 5k This has also been quite a consistent marathon and I can attest to its growth over time, in terms of organization, logistics and number of participants.  It started in 2004 and shall be on Ndakaini-15 this year, which is quite something.  The organizers recognized the importance of participants from the city since inception, and have been providing transport from and back to Nairobi for those who want to get to the venue.  This has helped a great deal.  It is traditionally held on the 2nd Saturday of September, apart from last year when it was moved to the last Saturday forcing me to miss out since I was free for the second but not last Saturday.  They should know that we also run on tight schedules and postponing is not a good option! http://uapndakaini.uap-group.com/
13.Kass marathon - Eldoret (Town centre)	September (tentative 18th Sunday)	42k, 21k, 10k This marathon was gaining reputation as the big thing in North rift and had consistently managed to hold the event with a 10th year anniversary in 2016... then they failed to hold the event last year.  We hope that their stoppage was temporary and that they shall be hosting us this November for yet another run with the champions.  I am keen to participate in this run this year.  They better not let me down http://www.kassmarathon.com/
14.Mombasa marathon - Mombasa	September (tentative 30th Sunday)	42k, 21k, 10k, 5k I cannot believe that this event celebrated its 34th edition in 2017! (though Wikipedia states that last year's was 33rd).  It would mean that it is twice older than Nairobi marathon, just when I thought Nairobi marathon was king of marathons!!  I can only imagine the 'heat' that this marathon faces!  Running at sea level in high humidity and high temperatures.  I want to pertain of this, though it shall compete with Ndakaini marathon which is on the same month - but two is better than 1.  Unfortunately, they do not have an online site that is upto date.  Their FB page was last updated Jan. 2016, seriously!) https://www.facebook.com/MombasaInternationMarathon/
15.Madoka  half marathon - Ngerenyi, Taita Taveta	October (tentative 27th Saturday)	21k, 10k, 8k, 6k, 4k, 2k The first worry would be how to get there.  It is not one of the most accessible places and hence you must plan your travel well and find your way to the venue at least a day before the run.  Then... just enjoy the beautiful mountain terrain of Taita taveta.  It seems hot, but there is only one way to find out.  It also boasts of having the largest number of run events on the cards.  The various events are meant to encourage participation by all age groups from the under 12s to senior citizens.  The inaugural run was held in 2005, hence this year's event should be the 14th edition, if they have been consistent, which I doubt.  This is another event to spoil you for choice in October.  For those who do not know, 'Ngerenyi' (location of the run) is associates with a famous musician who had sent her fiancée, Stella, to Japan for further education, only for him to be surprised on May 17 when she came back with another guy (and a baby just to make the story complete).  That is a fully loaded story for another day, and one that I want to get to the bottom of, once I get to Ngerenyi probably this year.  To get to Ngerenyi, find your way to Voi first, then Mwatate, then Wundanyi then look around.... http://madokamarathon.or.ke/
16.Nairobi International Marathon – Nairobi (Nyayo Stadium)	October 28 Sunday	42k, 21k, 10k, 5k This has been held the last Sunday in October since inception in 2003, apart from last year when it was postponed to the last Sunday in November due to the prolonged national elections.  This is the biggest run in Kenya at the moment.  It is also the only run that has been consistent in dishing out medals and finishers certificates ever since.  You cannot imagine missing out.  While my count convinces me that this would the 16th edition, the organizers claim it is the 15th.  That would mean that they either did not do a run in 2003 or there is one year when the run was not held in this period.  Calculate for yourself. http://www.nairobimarathon.com/
17.Kakamega Forest Ingo Marathon – Kakamega (Shinyalu/Mukumu)	November (tentative 25th Sunday)	42k, 21k, 10k This is the only marathon where start and finish points are miles apart.  That means that you need to carry your luggage if you intend to run, finish and leave).  The inaugural run was held in 2015 and I doubt if they held their 2017 event.  I hope that they shall be back this year.  And, ‘ingo’ means ‘home’.  Taking the opportunity to listen to Jacob Luseno, a famous crooner from Kakamega marvel at the wonders of ‘ingo’ urging all to ‘khutsi ingo’ (let us go to our rural areas)… and this time round, for this run. http://ingomarathon.or.ke/
18.Kisumu marathon - Kisumu city	December (tentative 16th Sunday)	42k, 21k, 10k The 11th edition was run last year. I wonder if they have been consistent in the period since this is an on/off marathon that I have heard in the past few years.  I wish that they can firm up its place as a permanent event in December.  The marathon has a unique place as the only one in December and the only one at a major lake side town.  It and Kakamega marathon are the only two in the whole western region.  It also is the only other 'hot' run, apart from Mombasa marathon.  It should do better in terms of online presence and publicity.  Let them do both and I shall be with them on 16th. *no website reference available

And... can you believe that Athletics Kenya, the custodian and our authoritative source of information on all athletics events has a 509-error on their website?  For the non-savvy, 509 internet access error is for 'site non-accessible since the site has reached the bandwidth limit' in layperson language, the site cannot transfer any more data until they either increase their limit or wait for the next period with new bandwidth allocation.  Surely!!  AK cannot afford data to give us, their follows, information!!

http://www.athleticskenya.or.ke/events-calendar/

(*shows 509 error, Accessed 19-Mar-2018)

The run menu is so elaborate that runners are spoilt for choice this time round.  Just pick any three, one for charity and another two competitive ones for the adrenaline and you are good in 2018.

Barack Wamkaya Wanjawa, Nairobi, Kenya, June 19, 2018

Rain against Runner 2 – The winner

Rain against Runner 2 – The winner

“Congruent,” I responded when asked by a fellow runner how the lunch hour was.

“Exactly like last time,” I elaborated, “I was rained on again.”

This conversation took place 1hr 11min after we had our initial chat with Karl.  At that time, just as we prepared to start the run, we had jokingly ‘revisited’ the now publicized rain-soaked run of Thursday, 14-days ago.

“Are you sure you shall not be rained on again today,” he had asked, as we geared up at the locker room, ready to take off.

“I am used to being rained on.”

My Wednesday run, two days ago, took an almost similar pattern to the infamous Thursday run.  I left the compound while it was bright and a bit shiny.  My pace was quite good and I was hoping to do some record breaking run, having been out of the road for the 14-days since that rain soaked run.

Little did I know that things would take a turn for the worst, same script as Thursday, just at the same place as Thursday.  The drizzle just started, just like that, as I hit the 2.5km mark at Ndumboini.  Then it started raining, from nowhere, and this time round it was not the 'drizzles and being followed from behind by the rain' – no!  This time it started raining and it continued raining, heavily, I must add.  I crossed the river while the visibility was getting low due to the rain.  The hill that follows the Ndumbo river is not interesting when the rain is doing a number on you!

The rain did not relent.  I crossed through the university farm land while it persisted.  I passed by a number of people, probably ten or so, sheltered under the trees along the footpath.  I kept going expecting to be hit by the hailstones next, since that is the region I was now heading for.

Alas!  The weather just changed and instead of a hailstorm, I was faced with reduced rains, then showers, then as I took the turn leaving the uni farmland, the rain just stopped completely at the point where I had taken shelter last time.  In fact that geographical section was dry with no signs of rain at all.

“Look,” severally, I saw passersby draw attention to me.

I was soaked and dripping wet.  My hair(less) was wet.  My shoes were bloody muddy.  They were wondering whether I had just come from a dip in some water pool on such a ‘dry’ day.

I survived the ‘humiliation’ of being ‘strange’ all the way to ‘tarmac’, where once again the weather changed.  It got cooler, and was drizzling by the time I had reached the river.  The uphill from river to Ndumbo was characterized by light showers.  By Ndumbo it was dry all the way back to my starting point.

If we needed a tie breaker, since the Thursday run, then this is it – I won but be the judge.

Three strong points for ‘rain’

1. It tricked me by concealing its intentions before I started the run

2. It hit me harder this time round

3. It made me quite a ‘sight’ being the only wet runner on a dry day when the weather changed

Three strong points for ‘runner’

1. I persisted through the run and did not stop to take shelter

2. The ‘hit’ zone was shorter

3. I did not let the change of weather distract me from my run plan

Barack Wamkaya Wanjawa, Nairobi Kenya, Mar. 16, 2018

Running without rules – this is what you get….

Running without rules – this is what you get….

Too late 

I saw the warning sign after I was through with the walk at the beach.  I had used the same public entrance route at Pirates.  If I had missed this signage on my way to the water mass, then many others were capable of missing it.  It was too late now.  I could only reflect.,,

It was a Monday.  A day when there should be nobody at the beach, right? Wrong!  The water front was as busy as ever.  I have been here before hence can confirm that this place is always full – no exception.  Now proven.

I was taking WWB Junior to appreciate the marvels of the water mass.  She who previously was reluctant to taking a surname.

“Wam-what?,” She has asked when I was about to register her for her eight grade exams.

“That is your surname,” I confirmed as I got busy filling in the KCPE information papers, in readiness for registration.

“You people could not get any palatable name in the whole wide world?,” she had expressed her chagrin.

She did not like that surname for long.  I even imagined that she would drop it at some point.  It was quite something when she cleared her secondary education and was still keeping the name.  I even observed various connotations of that name in her school books.  She finally adopted W-jnr.

She is the one who actually drew my attention to the rules as we left the ocean shores heading to the main Malindi road.

“Ilani – Onyo”, it started off, white letters on a red background, capital letters.  The rest of the writings were unnumbered…. but the footer indicated: National Police Service and County Government of Mombasa courtesy of Kenya Ports Authority

Rule 1 - that drink

Rule 1 on the sign (first unnumbered item on the listing): Unywaji wa vileo na utumiaji wa mihadarati hauruhusiwi (Taking of alcoholic drinks and hard drugs is not allowed)

How is this possible when I had just seen a couple partaking of assorted brown bottles, which they made no secret about?  Did I not even encounter one riffraff who left a trail of the characteristic bhang smell?  At the very public beach!

Rule 2 - don't swim 

Rule 2 on the sign (second unnumbered item on the listing): Kuogolea uchi na kutembea uchi ufuoni hairuhusiwi (Swimming nude or walking naked is not allowed)

Bollocks!  Lies!

I did count at least five gals who were technically naked, either swimming or walking.  I therefore discount both clauses of the rule.  One of the ‘naked’ girls had approached my pathway, making me momentarily embarrassed in the company of Jnr.  This naked girl had a small transparent wrap which did nothing to conceal her otherwise bare undersides.  Her front formation was well laid out with the hairs clearly visible.  Her chest area had something that looked like a strip of cloth, pretending to be a bra.  It was not, it was a strip.  Nothing was concealed.  She should have as well just loosed those two pieces and walked in her birthday suit.  Her colleague, who seemed still on training, had at least tried, by having some under garment which left so much uncovered nonetheless.  Did I imagine her having the bad behavior of trying to look my direction?  No she didn’t.  It was may imagination.

“Jameni, huyo hata anipe, siwezi,” someone commented.  The someone seem to be in the business of renting out floatation tubes, say it as it is, inflated tyre tubes.  

“Huyo lazima ana mdudu,” he added, to the benefit of the other four or five people gathered at the show, two of them were ladies and they had no kind words for Miss Naked either...

“Hao ni wachuuzi.  Mwanamke na heshima zake anaweza kuwa hivyo kweli?,” the spectator lady wondered.

I had the benefit of seeing, listening and witnessing to all this as the waves hit our feet and pushed us further ashore with every wave break.  After all, “macho hayana pazia” (same to masikio).

Rule 3 - clean 

Rule 3 on the sign (third unnumbered item on the listing): Uchafuzi wa mazingira ni hatia (Pollution is illegal)

“Hi ni kama kupigia mbuzi gita,” I told Jnr, as I reviewed this rule later on as we walked out of the beach.

My observation was different.  The shore was littered with plastic bottles, mostly.  Some polythene, some paper.  How did glass bottles get into the water?  I saw quite a number. 

As if rules 1 and 2 were not pollution enough!

We even saw a dead fish on the shore.  What could have killed it – anything, including a non-conducive environment that could have been a result of pollution.

Rule 4 - its time 

Rule 4 on the sign (fourth unnumbered item on the listing): Mda wa mwisho wa kukaa ndani ya maji ni saa kumi na mbili jioni (6pm) (6pm is the latest time that one can be in the water)

Finally, a rule that was enforced, but with some coercion.  At five-thirty we had heard a whistle.  It kept being blown, before we finally made out the figure of the man blowing off as he walked the beach.  With every whistle, he would gesture to the water in a manner of calling the swimmers towards the shore.

“Saa bado,” someone commented to his earshot.

“Twa anza mapema.  Ikifika siksi basi, watu wawe wametoka wote,” he announced, to the benefit of anyone who could hear.

He repeated his whistle blowing routine at 5.45pm, and then again at 5.55pm, when he persisted until all were ashamedly forced out of the water – by just the power of the whistle!

“Why do you think they force people out of the water, yet everybody is independent and on their own?” Wam Jnr asked.

“Well,” I started, “Rules are rules”

Zero kp/h 

The next day as we took the express from the coastal town back to the city as we had a reminiscence of the 2-day holiday.  The signage in the train that cycles every minute kept reminding us:

2018-03-06

Now: 16.23

Outside: 35^oC

Luggage must not be put in the gateway

Help us to keep the train litter free

Train speed is 0km/h

Train speed is 0km/h

Only the second two lines did change.  The last two lines were exactly that, throughout the 5hour ride.  That was the fastest zero km/h that I have ever travelled at.  When it was still working, on my way down coast, the train had severally hit 114km/h, though it tended to average 80km/h.  After 300 repeats of the same wordings over and over again, I was relieved to finally step out of the Madaraka express, which the ‘lazy’ call SGR.  How do you refer to a train a ‘railway’?  Isn’t the R in SGR actually the work ‘railway’?  Call the thing Madaraka express, the express, the train or the carriage, not SGR!!!

Old or Narrow 

While I had used a taxi from my residence to the in-the-middle-of-nowhere train station at Syokimau, I was delighted when we were shooed to the ‘old’, OK, ‘narrow gauge’ train that was waiting on an adjacent platform.

“Travel to City Centre at only 50 shillings,” the concierge had announced on megaphone.

Finally it shall happen.  I shall be able to ride the ‘old’, OK, ‘narrow gauge’ train to city centre.  The contrasting experience was something I was really looking forward to.  When I stepped into it, I noted that the train was changed since the last time I got into one, more than two decades ago.  Instead of the seats facing each other with an isle in the middle, the seats were now aligned along the sides of the coach, with the wide middle isle left for standing passengers.  We initially missed seats, but were encouraged to walk along within ten coaches to reach an empty coach where we sat.  For information, that ten coach walk is about 150m.  It was quite a walk.

We got into the ‘old’, OK, ‘narrow gauge’ train just after disembarking from the express.  Since the express ‘landed’, sorry, ‘railwayed’ at 8.15pm, our entry into the old train was from around 8.20pm.  By 9.10pm the express passengers were still streaming into the old train.  I have never seen a full train in my life.  Believe me when I say that it was full.  The rains did not make matters any better, since everyone thought it best to use this means to the city.

Then… then the unexpected happened, we just started seeing people disembarking… back to the rainy platform!

“Gari haiendi,” we heard the murmurs.

“This is just great!,” I finally had to say!

No refund 

The state corporation was willing to lose out on the 50 shillings times 1,000 passengers for whatever reason!!  They had the audacity, the impetus, the infantry, to ask us to disembark!!!  Isn’t government just great!  Who should help the ‘helpless’ in us when forced out into the cold with no explanation! (And no refund!  In fact a refund is necessary.  Didn’t I read somewhere in the terms of service of the express that the ticket price of 700 shillings includes a train ride from city centre and back back!?  I read that fine print somewhere)

To make matters worse, we were even ‘politely’ chased out of the terminus building and told that, “It is getting late, hence better for you people to go out there in the rain since that is where you can easily get vehicles”

The day could not get worse than it was right now.

The parking yard of the terminus was empty.  The public service vehicles must have given up when they saw no one coming their way when all of us were convinced to get the old train.  We were now facing a new crisis.  Everyone had to turn to taxi hailing services, and Uber was the worst hit.  Its server probably just crushed!

“Prices are now higher by upto 3 times due to demand,” my Uber app announced, and projected a cost of about 4,000/= to Uthiru, which normally should be 1,200 (or less).  On the morning of my travel on Sunday they had offered to ferry me to Syoks for 980/=.  Despite that, and just to ensure that the knife sank in further, they added, “There are currently no drivers available”

“This is just great!!,” I shouted to the phone screen.

Stuck 

A phone call to the employer contracted taxi firm was a bit positive.  The controller confirmed that for a fare of 2,800/= I shall be taxied to my destination, though he would call back in ten minutes and confirm when I could get the taxi.

“Where are you?” he had asked

“At Syokimau, SGR Train Terminus”

“That should be easy, since we usually have fleet at the airport,” he reaffirmed.

Ten minutes later, “We are now ready to pick you.  However, the only available cab is at Uthiru and that is what shall be coming your way.”

I need not tell you that I was quite mad.  It is good that I did not graduate to crazy since I was at this point in time capable of doing something crazy!  The rains made my situation worse.  It was now heading to ten.

That is when I remembered that I had another taxi hailing app – and the Taxify came to the rescue.  Thought the first two trials gave me a message almost as crafty as that of Uber – informing me that the prices were now about 1.5 times higher than normal and there were not vehicles available, a third attempt gave me a 10-minutes waiting time.  And as sure as the sun rises from the East, I was being called to go to the rainy parking lot to get the taxi.  The price of 970 shillings was normal, even lower than average.

On reflection, I have learnt that “rules are rules” but that is easier said.  Many circumstances shall arise that shall makes rules to be just that… rules… nothing else.  Instinct, situational awareness and the cellphone shall come in handy at such times.

Barack Wamkaya Wanjawa, Nairobi, Kenya, March 7, 2018