Why run on New Year Day?
I really do not have an answer as to why anyone should do anything, leave alone do a run, on the New Year Day. I kept asking myself that question today, especially after the second out of a five-circuit run at the home of champions, that is Eldoret town. I was on the same circuit that lies on one side of Sosiani river. It is generally hilly, and I was facing yet another hilly section when this question came to mind.
It was morning. I had started the run at eight. There was hardly anyone on the road. Even the motorbike people who are usually at the road junctions in groups of at least three or four were missing. I was on the same route where I had had a fall just four days ago. My knees were still aching. In fact this was a deliberate run to confirm that my knees were still working well. I have major runs this year, starting with the Kilimanjaro marathon in TZ scheduled for February 26. I have to be ready for these.
My knees were not yet fully healed. The wounds were still visible. But that was not the test that I was doing today. The test was on whether they were folding well and could withstand the pressure from the run over the varied terrain, some of it stony. The pressure of the run was a bit too much as I could really feel that something was wrong on the knee, especially the right one. I found myself relying on keeping my weight on the left leg, keeping my right leg in contact with the ground for the shortest of time. Anyway, at least I was able to run. I was afraid that I could not even run at all.
I was however just too careful with the run to enjoy it. I was focused on where I was stepping. I could not afford another tumble and fall. I wanted to heal and be ready for the many runs in the year. The test was therefore necessary, carefully done, and it went well. The roads were deserted. Even the church services at the three or so churches that I run past on my route did not start on time. I could hear the loud church activities by eight-thirty when I did the Christmas run last Sunday. I could hardly hear any church by nine-thirty on this day, when I was two more circuits from my finish.
Eight hours early was midnight that ushered in the New Year. It was the usual dark night with the sky being lit by the fireworks when the clock struck midnight. The noises were however not as intense as they were last year. Even the drunkards den just downstairs was unusually quiet on this night. It would usually be noisy and evidently drunkard laden. By now, the partakers of the traditional brew, cham or chang’aa, would have been unruly, noisy and occasionally fighting about over some nonsensical things like someone did not greet someone. This time was different. The den was already closed by ten. Was the economy that bad, that even cheap drinks were now not affordable?
So the night had generally been quiet. The morning was equally quiet. Was this the end of New Year as we know it? Could it be the deaths in sports, religion and media in the last three days that had caused all this? The legendary footballer, Pele from Brazil, had just died, followed closely by the former Pope Benedict at the Vatican. Then the darling of the first major TV channel in Kenya (KTN), Catherine, has also passed on just a day to New Year. Were these the causes of the major dampening of the New Year mood? Of course, the first time that I heard that Edson Arantes do Nascimento had died it did not click, until they confirmed that it was the person that I have only known as Pele. So what a way of ending the year, and starting another?
Then come Sunday morning and it was New Year 2023 day 1. I found myself on the run route, deserted I may add, and finished the 25.7k run after some 2:14:18 run time. I did not see any much difference between this New Year and any other run. I did not seem to get the big deal about the New Year. Maybe I am just being old fashioned?
For those who have a special something for New Year, go for it. Celebrate it, enjoy it, shout over it, make it count. For those who need to make some declarations on this day, so that that resolution becomes true, please do that. It may work. It should make you feel good. As for me, I know the better. There is nothing special on January 1. It could even be fifteen of April on this day that we believe is January 1, who knows. This January 1 thing is just in the mind. What happens to those who did not make their resolutions today? Does it mean that they are stuck with nothingness until next year?
This is from me to you on this New Year Day – do what you want on a day that you want to do it. If you make a resolution today, then that is good. If you decide to make it tomorrow, that is equally OK. Make your decisions in life when you want… not only on New Year Day. That way you have 365 days to live and do what you want… without having to wait for one year to do anything.
Happy New Year 2023!
WWB, the Coach, Eldoret, Kenya, January 1, 2023
