Stanchart 2022 - The only marathon that did not get me

Stanchart 2022 - The only marathon that did not get me

The Stanchart Nairobi International marathon held on Sunday, October 30, 2022 was probably the first marathon over the distance that I have managed to do and recover so fast that I was back on my feet hardly one hour after the run.  I would normally be knocked out of my feet literally for at least 24-hours.  I would also not sleep in comfort due to the aches on the legs.  This time it was different….

I was doing the first marathon in Kenya since 2018.  I was in the diaspora when the 2019 run was held, while the COVID19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 Stanchart marathon.  The 2021 event was held fully virtual, apart from the few invited elite runners who were allowed to the run venue.  I had participated in the virtual 21 least year, but it did not have the usually anticipated euphoria of the crowds.

Four vaccinations later and I was one of the about five hundred runners who assembled at the starting line of the 42k run on the Southern by-pass road, just besides Carnivore restaurant next to Uhuru gardens.  I had woken up at five, taken two slices of bread and a lukewarm cup of black coffee before walking the one kilometre to the main gate of the compound where I was to pick the minibus to town.

We were less than eight in the bus as it left for the drive to Uhuru gardens at 0550hrs.  The road was fairly deserted on this Sunday morning as we drove on Naivasha road to Ngong road, then to Mbagathi way.  However, the jam started just as we joined Langata road from Mbagathi way.  It was just about 0620hrs.

The bus moved on at snail pace as we joined the queue of vehicles that were definitely going to the venue of the marathon some one kilometre away.  I could see the runners already walking or jogging along the road towards the direction of Wilson airport, then eventually to Uhuru gardens.  These walkers and runners overtook us as we struggled with the jam.

We finally managed to get to the Uhuru gardens designated parking yard.  It was getting full.  The runners were however already at beehive activity.  It was now just about 6.35am.  I had about 10-minutes to make it to the starting line past the Carnivore restaurant.

I started jogging towards the direction of the road, where I could hear the loudspeakers beckoning the runners.  They announced that the run would be starting in five minutes.  I was still struggling with figuring out a route that would get me out of the Carnivore grounds onto the Southern bypass.  I managed to find a gate that would exit the grounds and onto the road.

It was just three minutes before the run when I joined the crowd of about five hundred.  The weather was cool at this early morning.  It was almost chilly, but it was not.  And as per the tradition of the run, it did not wait for anyone since at exactly 6.45am the 42km marathon started by a simple pop of something.  I am not sure whether it was a balloon that popped or something else.  The group left and we started running towards Mombasa road on the Southern bypass.  The Nairobi National Park was fenced off to our right on the other side of the dual carriage.

My left foot was a bit painful.  I hoped that the pain would subside since I did not know how I would survive a four-hour run with a painful leg.  It could have been due to lack of warmup or something, since the pain subsided after about five minutes of run as I pounded the tarmac that had been completely blocked of any other traffic, apart from runners.

The first water point appeared besides the road, hardly ten minutes after the start of run.  I ignored it.  I kept running.  The crowd was sparse.  I overtook a few runners as we kept going.  We made a first U-turn somewhere near the internal container deport (ICD) nearly eight kilometres since the start of run.  I had studied the route map and I knew that we had another ten or so kilometres of run to get back to Uhuru gardens on Langata road.  The return run was uneventful before the 21km front runners appeared and stole the show.  This 21k run category had started at seven.  They sprinted past, the timing vehicle just ahead of the pack of ten or so, bicycles and motorbikes on tow.

I got to Langata road and passed underneath.  By then I had encountered water stations at least every four kilometres.  I hoped that the waters would remain abundant for the rest of the journey.  I could not survive a 42 without water.  Finally, I saw the 20km mark.  I now knew that the real run shall start in the next one kilometer as I repeat a distance akin the long run already done.

I also noted that since crossing under the Langata road the run had looked and felt hilly, and it was.  I had not planned for a hilly run, but there it was.  The water points remained available every 15 or so minutes.  The runners on the 42 were now few and far between.  I could hardly see more than a runner or two in front.
“Banana?  You need any?,” I thought that I heard.
I was completely immersed in absentmindedness that I did not even recognize a biker riding along.  He was the person asking, stretching out a hand that had a collection of ripe banana pieces.

I increased pace slightly to catch up as he handed me a piece, two pieces.  I bit a small piece and kept going.  I kept biting along over the distance.  I would encounter another banana point at a water station just as we neared the 30k turning point.  By this time the sun was blazing hot, though it was hardly nine.

That turning point was the best relief ever!  I now knew that I just had to survive the 12k journey back to the finish line at Uhuru gardens.  My body was still in good form.  I kept picking the water bottles from the water points whenever I got to them.  At about the34km mark I got to a fruit point and stopped.  I picked a banana and a melon.  I also got a water bottle.  That thirty-second rest was deliberate.  Those fruits were deliberate.  That water was deliberate too.  I was strategizing for facing ‘the wall’ – the point in time on the 42km where many runners collapse and pass out if they are not well seasoned runners.  I have almost passed out myself, so I know and recognize this point.

I infused some glucose that I had in my pocket into the 300ml water in the bottle and took a sip.  I then resumed my run, and it was now all run towards the wall, which came and passed without much notice.  I was now on the downhill and I was completely fine.  I was offered a choice of Coke or Fanta at some point on the run.  I took the small tumbler, with hardly 100ml of Coke, gulped it all down in a go, threw the plastic tumbler away, and resumed my run.

This run was now in the bag.  Nothing, repeat, nothing, was now standing on my way.  I was not aiming to break any records.  I just wanted to run for the first time on this new route and survive it.

Did I say nothing would stop me now?  I was wrong!

I got to the 40k mark, just before Langata road, where the 10k and 21k runner were also now making their turnback to Uhuru gardens, and the muscle pull on the right thigh hit me.  It was such a sudden and painful hit and I had to limp to a stop just at the water point.  I saw one of the officials and stopped at her standing position as she was directing the routes for the 10/21 versus 42 at this meeting point.
“Is there a first aid station?,” I asked.
She was taken aback as if she did not expect this question.  I could see her searching herself. She eventually responded, “Hapo mbele”

Fortunately, the short stop had given me a short relief.  Of course, there was nothing ‘hapo mbele’.  I just kept going at a reduced speed as the muscle pain reduced but did not subside altogether.  By this time the road was now full of the 10k and 21k runners who had all joined in as they headed to the finish.  They were mostly walking.  It was difficult for those still running like me to find their way through this packed mass.  I still managed to weave through and kept running.  The finish line was now just a kilometre away.  I could hear the loudspeakers at the finish.

I left the Southern bypass and started to make my way to the Uhuru gardens using the back road.  The road remained full of runners.  I kept going.  The end was near.  I reached the enclosure that was to mark the finish line with all manner of crowds already full at all the available spaces.  I guessed where the finish line should be due to lack of clear marking or visibility.  And I guessed right by turning left.  I was soon crossing the finishing line with its timing chip mats on the track.  I momentarily got a runners medal.

But while the run was good, the stop confirmed that my body was overstressed!  I was tired and could hardly make any steady steps.  I thought of collapsing into a rest but a heard the B-and-B team member, Beryl, who had been waiting come to the rescue.
“Congrats!  There is no stopping.  Keep walking”
I obeyed and kept walking.  My legs were paining!  That muscle pull was still lingering in the back of the right leg and was not going away.  I could hardly fold the right leg on the knee.

Between picking free tree seedlings availed to all runners to pick and take home to plant, and taking some photos and water, I still recognized that my right tight was out of action.  It was painful.
“Someone give me an extinguisher for my leg,” I lamented as I walked along, “My leg is on fire!,” I cried out loud!
“We can seek a medical,” Beryl suggested.
I am not sure whether I agreed or not, but I kept walking as we headed to an ambulance branded ‘Nairobi Metropolitan Services’.

“What is the issue?”
“My leg is painful!  I can hardly fold my knee.”
“Sorry, but we have run out of supplies, but you can wait”
Wait?  When my leg is hardly functional!

We waited, before I was finally called back to the next similar ambulance.  The attendant applied some cream on the thigh, then massaged the area with ‘Deep heat’ before applying a bandage dressing.  That application burnt like hell!  But it was short lived, since I was soon walking about normally as if nothing had happened to that leg.

My day was normal from that point on.  I even managed to attend a full afternoon meeting when back to Uthiru, albeit virtually, and walk another 3k home in the evening.

While previously I would be bedridden immediately after the run, and would toss and turn the whole night after such an event, this time round it was different.  I became normal immediately after the run and did not have those aftereffects of the marathon.  Maybe it is the monthly international marathons that have reconditioned my body to take the event much better than before?  Or maybe it was the route?  

Or was it just my good day?  The good day that Runkeeper recorded as 42.27km in 3.29.09 at 4.57 average, while the official record recorded the run as 3.28.39 at position 240 out of the 538 in the men’s event and 296 overall.  The winner in the men’s managed the course in 2.10.22, while the ladies champ took the crown in 2.27.04 in a field of 154 ladies.  The total number of posted results were 692, both physical and virtual.

The confusion at the finish line was a subject of discussion and appeals, after some leading runners in the 21k were directed to the wrong finish point only to be forced to turn back.  One national newspaper even described it as ‘chaotic’.  So, while Stanchart got it right in areas such as adequacy of water supplies and even some fruits and drinks on the 42, plus those free seedlings at the finish line, they could have done better in crowd management and a well-organized finish line.  But this was my retirement run from the 42, so, I may not get to know if my suggestions are taken on board over the distance next time.

WWB, the Coach, Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 1, 2022

Nairobi Sotokoto Marathon II comes with new surprises

Nairobi Sotokoto Marathon II comes with new surprises
May 23, 2010
Nairobi, Kenya


Finishing the second edition of Sotokoto marathon on a new route, with two circuits, in 1.38.50, was a pointer to something wrong with the route or the distance. The last such event on the previous route was conquered in 1.32.55. I noticed the discrepancy when I finished the first circuit in 0.50, instead of 0.45 or thereabout. And as is turning to be a tradition, there was nothing to show for it – no medal, no participation certificate and no official time! We were basically on our own!

When I retired home to rest, I had resolved to give this event no accolades and was ready to have it skip the blog. I was in fact mood-less, having walked from Uhuru Gardens to town after public service vehicles (matatus) doubled fares claiming the roads were closed, yet at this time of the day at 12.30pm, the roads were already open to traffic that was flowing as usual. This added another 8km on my bill. I was not yet over the doubling of fares in the morning as I was heading to Uhuru Gardens. I paid this first fare, grudgingly and with lots of protest. Though I was forced to do this due to my hurry to reach the starting point before time – this being just less than an hour away. My Sotokoto II experience was therefore not worth a big shout.

Missed calls
The phone must have been ringing for ages when I woke up at about 7.00pm. I found about ten missed calls from a familiar number. To settle with the caller, I decided to find out what could the matter be.
“Dad, I have been calling you! I wanted to know your marathon experience!”
“Can someone just sleep in peace!,” is what my mind said, though I answered, “Am tired and asleep, get me tomorrow.” I told the ten year old girl.
“Without your experience am not going to school tomorrow!”
“What?”
“Yes, we have to narrate our dad's day out and if I do not have a story then am not going to school”
Talk about blackmail, on phone!

Glass of water
I was still drowsy but managed to take a glassful of water. (I make it a habit to have water at hand after such runs. The current 3l bottle was about three-quarter downed since I arrived home from the marathon at 2.00pm.)
“Okay, pull the map of Nairobi from your Geography book and I shall narrate as you appreciate the type of run that we had.”
I had some clatter on the other side of the line, then, “I have it”
I asked that the phone be put on speaker for ease of following up the map while listening.

The route
I had informed the princess to put marker points at Uhuru Gardens, Mbagathi roundabout and Nyayo stadium. I explained that the route was generally from Uhuru Gardens through Langata road to Mbagathi roundabout. From there we had about 500m run on Mbagathi road, then back to the roundabout and proceeded towards Nyayo stadium, which we circled using Aerodromes road, Mombasa road and back to Langata road. This route took us back to Uhuru Gardens – our starting point.
As I took a sip of water, I heard the other end of the phone claim that, “That was not so bad – seems straight and not very far.”
“Not so fast,” I cautioned her. “What I forgot to mention was that this route was to be repeated!”

The two circuit route confused both pros and armatures - with the winner confessing that when they faced the second circuit, some members of the leading pack seem to have been in surprise, having expected to be on their way to the finish line. In fact, the website of a popular media house (and the only one) covering the event went ahead and published this... “The 2010 Sotokoto Safari Marathon was a full 42km event after organizers and Athletics Kenya (AK) upgraded it from the 21km distance covered in its inaugural edition last year.” I told you the two circuits had more than met the legs!

Cheating
The run started at exactly 9.00am. I met the leading pack of runners as I did the first circuit just at the Madaraka flyover. I was heading to the stadium while they were on Langata road heading back to the Uhuru Gardens starting point. I was trailing them on the second circuit, where I met them at the Mbagathi roundabout as they headed to the finish line while I still had the Nyayo stadium stretch to do before heading for Uhuru Gardens to finish the run.

One shortcoming that I noted was the lack of confirmation that all runners were doing the two circuits. Unfortunately, most runners who finished the first circuit in over 1.20 just headed for the finish line without attempting the second circuit. (and were ranked as having posted such god times). I had reservations about this two-circuit thing (without timing chips) from the word go – and now I was being proved right. But it seemed that the organizers were only interested in the top 10. These are the ones whom they timed, whom they rewarded and whom they made mention of.

The good and the bad
“So what were the major milestones this year, compared to last?”
I explained that the route was completely closed to traffic during the three hour of closure as promised. This assured safety of the runners. Water was also supplied in plenty during the two circuits on the route and at the finish line, where each finisher was being given three water bottles and subsequent doses of three, if needed. Finishing at the Uhuru Gardens also sounded 'safer' than the finish point inside the national park last time. The running pack also included a cap (for the first time), while the quality of their T-shirts has always been good.

Parading a solar car and using it throughout the route (to prove that it worked) was quite a techonological showcase that rhymed well with the conservation theme.

“... and the bad!”
“Hey you are finishing my airtime!”
“Just in summary”
“There was no giant timer for the leading pack – this was a major omission! Especially being an international event.”
I further narrated the disadvantages of two circuit runs when there is lack of enforcement. Other issues that need improvement:
- there were no distance markers on the route
- the need to provide the finishers with some form of certificates
- the need to come up with some method of timing (the timing chip idea can work)
- better methods of registration (most registration centres were not working or claimed to lack registration materials)
- lack of running kits at all registration centres! These kits were availed on the last day at the KWS headquarters secretariat offices. You can imagine the inconvenience that was caused. It took me about six failed trips to Uhuru Gardens, AK offices, Nyayo stadium offices and KWS headquarters to get the kit. In fact I managed to get the kit less than 24-hours before the run!

The results
“I saw you on TV. You were having a blue short and white T-shirt. Your number was six-something”
“Oh! You did! I was actually on that attire. My race number was 626, though my finishing position of 351. Last time I finished 333, but I know the new route has issues that Google Earth shall sort out tomorrow”
“Google what?”
“Sorry, I shall be confirming the route distance using my internet map. I tend to think that it was longer than 21km. My step counter indicated the distance as 22.31km.”

I was tempted to inform her further that last year's winner clocked 1.02 on the previous route while the current champion (Geoffrey Kiprono Kimutai) did 1.07.55 followed by last years winner (David Tarus) with 1.08.21. This should be proof that this route was about 6-minutes longer (even for the champ). The ladies winner was Hellen Jelagat with 1.17.52, coincidentally followed by last years winner (Irene Jerotich) with 1.19.22, who conquered last year's course in 1.11. The top three winners took home US$15,000, US$7,500 and US$5,000 respectively. The price money however rolled down the top ten with 3k, 1.5k, 1k, 500, 250, 150 and 100 bucks being handed over to the rest of the team.

I however left out these details as they would just confuse her class during her narration next day.

I heard beeps on the line as it went dead. I thought that calling at 3/= a minute was cheap, but after 20minutes, cheap is expensive.


WWB, Nairobi, May 23, 2010