The last run with my father

The last run with my father

The phone call
I had somehow known that one of these phone calls that I really dread would finally just bear bad news.  To preserve my eight hours of sleep, I have always made it a tradition not to touch the phone from ten in the night, until seven the next day.  Everybody close to me knows this.  My reasoning is that I need my undisturbed sleep, usually.  Occasionally, when I spend those late nights in a party, I still need the late night to enjoy, not to answer phone calls.

The phone vibrated at about four-thirty in the morning.  This particular one disturbed my sleep and I awakened.  By the time I got to the phone on the bedside table, it was already off.  The caller ID confirmed that it was my elder brother.  He knows that I do not receive late night calls – he had never called me this early ever.  My mind was already in a spin.  I kind of knew what awaited me when the day breaks.

I thought of calling back, but coincidentally did not have credit.  I therefore decided to wait until six, when I would get out of the house and visit the early-riser shopkeepers to buy airtime.  I could not sleep though, so I switched on the telly and watched the early morning news on CNN then flipped to AlJazeera on another channel.  Another flip landed me on BBC world.  None of our local stations was back.  They were still on break during which they feed into these international channels.

I dragged myself out of the house a few minutes to six and made my way to the shops, just across the main street.  It takes about a minute from my house to the shops, since I see the main street while seated on my verandah.  The morning was still cold and a bit dark.  However, the matatus on the road were already making their characteristic loud beeps and deafening music.  The touts were already shouting each other down, beckoning passengers to their vehicles.

Back to the house, just before I could load the airtime, the phone rang once more, messing up my progression of keying in the 14-digit recharge PIN.
“Yes,” I started
“Barack, is that Barack?  Is that you my brother, this is Pauline,” the caller was low and a bit breathless.
“Yes, it’s me”
“Dad is gone.  I said Dad is gone”

I just sat there, not sure whether I even disconnected the phone or she did.  I just sat by the reading table, the recharge scratch card on my left, the phone on the right…. and did nothing.  I do not know what went through my mind.  Come to think of it, I probably blacked out.  I came back to reality at about 6.30am, when the news sank in and I walked to the bathroom sink to wash my face.


Find it out
There is no proper signage at Kakamega’s PGH, though they are trying to do a facelift.  Together with three siblings, we were at the hospital to clear medical bills and finalize preparations for the send-off.  From the main hospital, we were directed to go ‘down there, after the gate’.

We kept going, managed to get through the hospital’s back gate and were then faced with two compounds - one whose gate was closed, the other whose gate was partially open.  There was no sign of life on either.  With one of my bros having been left behind at the main hospital, instinct directed the three of us to turn left into the compound with the partially open gate, just across a dilapidated once-tarmac road.

We walked into the compound not knowing what to expect.  There was an L-shaped block, with the open room on our left empty, some five meters away, while the nearer block had its windows facing us.  While wondering where to go next, or even where we were, we heard some sound like the movement of wheels on the ground coming from our backs.  This was coming from the direction of the gate that we came in through.  We all looked back, almost in rhythm, only to see two people pushing a trolley towards the compound.  Without a doubt, there was a still body on the trolley, partly covered, with the head part partially visible, being wheeled towards the empty room to our left.  The two did not seem to notice us, since they just passed by us continuing their small talk.
“This is it!,” we said almost in unison.

We proceeded to the block on our right and went through a door, to face a long empty corridor with doors on both sides.  There was no one, no sound nor any signs on the doors.  From afar, we could make out the voices of the two gents and their trolley on the left of our earshot.
“Now, where do we go?,” asked Pam
“Kwani hi hosi ya gava haina watu?,” retorted my bro.
“Let us find out,” I said.


The search
And therefore, methodically, we started trying out doors on either side of the corridor, one at a time, each of us targeting a separate door.  We would knock, try the handle and then try to open.  The first four doors on our entrance side were all locked.  The fifth one gave way, beckoning us to all convene at the particular door.  However, there was nobody in the room, though it was evidently an office, with two chairs and an old worn out table.  On the table was a black book, which was evidently old and in need of replacement.  We stood partly in the room, partly out, for about five minutes, but no one came by.  The place remained quiet, almost eerie.

We all matched out and decided to wait for someone to come over.  However, my sis’s patience ran out soon after, as she disappeared hardly two minutes later, back to the block to look for someone - anyone.
“Wemukuja, twende,” she summoned us five minutes later.

We went to the office we had already identified, to find a guy in white overall, a cap and gloved hands.  He extended his hand in our direction, in a manner of greeting.
“Jambo,” we answered from afar, ignoring his outstretched hand.
“Mwatakaje?”
“Tumekuja kuona Mzee”
“Anaitwaje?”
“David... David Wanjawa”

He fingered the wornout book, “Alikuja lini?”
“Eh, ilikuwa, eh….,” we started almost in unison, as we searched out mental diaries…
“Ilikuwa Thursday morning, tarehe tano.  Julai tarehe tano”

He continued using his right finger as a guide as he did the permutation of date and name, until finally, “Oh, ndio huyu,” he pointed at some hand written entry.
“Ndio huyo,” we responded, in confirmation, after gazing through the entry.
He then picked a small piece of paper, out of the many such sized papers that had previously been some pre-printed stationery, now cut into small pieces, with only one side usable.  He scribbled some things, did some loud arithmetic, then pointed the paper in our direction, “Pay this bill, then come back.”

This directive forced us back to the main hospital.  After paying the bill, getting some paperwork and a notification certificate, we went back to the morgue with the receipts, only for the attendant to say that, “there is no viewing on Thursdays”.  As we retreated in anger, he added, “and better be here tomorrow in good time, since we also close early, by two”


Fight it out
Even good plans can go bad, and that is how our perfectly planned Friday started out.  We travelled to KK early, in my brothers salon car, reaching there by nine – favoured mainly by the weather which enabled us make the 60km journey in just under an hour.  Had it rained, we would not have left our home before mid-day, so there is no need to even try talking about a ‘what if’, as far as the rains are concerned.  In fact, we wasted a lot of driving time on the Sabatia-Butere stretch of the earth road, which is still under construction - and the rains had pounded this part the previous night.
“Yani hi barabara itajengwa miaka ngapi?  This is the third year and it is still being dug out!”
It is on this stretch that we also met with the hired matatu, that was to have left home with us, one hour prior.  The timing of the day was starting out on the wrong timing.

At KK, we went straight to the place where we had hired the hearse, only to be told that ‘it is not available until later’.  How can a ten o’clock appointment be ‘later’?  We tried the contact number provided by the person who had taken the 8k deposit the previous day, but he was unreachable.  With tempers almost flaring, we were provided with the number of the manager to the company, who promised to come to KK in person and sort the mess.  During the phone conversation, he had said that he was even unaware that we had hired one of his vehicles, nor paid a deposit.  When he finally arrived, one hour later, the manager, with lots of apology, informed us that the ‘young man’ had booked the vehicle to two parties on the same day, hoping for double profit - some for his own keeping.  He concluded by promising us another hearse at two o’clock.

We just hanged around the vicinity of the depressing morgue, watching one sad party after another come in vehicles, mourn briefly, then depart with caskets.  In the midst of the depression, my attention was drawn to some commotion at the morgue gate, “Huwesi chukua mtoto wangu.  Si ulimufukusa?  Si muliachana miaka saba imepita?  Huwesi kabisa.”

A story was developing, where two different parties came to claim the body of a deceased woman.  The mother of the deceased and the children of the deceased on one side and the estranged husband, whom they had separated, on the other side.

In my depression I forgot to notice the hearse with the husband's party speed off, with the mother of the deceased and her lot in hot pursuit – but you cannot chase after a running vehicle on bare foot, can you?  Before our very eyes we witnessed a body being stolen – but what to do!


A Dream
My dad was interred on Sunday, July 15, 2012 in a ceremony attended by a huge multitude - one that I had never ever seen in such an event.  I however remained in a state of denial, since I was unable to come to terms with the going ons.  It was like a dream…..

I sat with the elders on Tuesday, and they told me what to write.  They made sure that I wrote what they had said, as affirmed by my reading back to them what I had written:

“Life history,” I started, as the elders and my brothers sat listening attentively,

“Kuzaliwa:
Mzee David Wanjawa Wamkaya alizaliwa mwaka wa 1926.  Babake alikuwa marehemu Wamkaya Nyajeri na mamake aliitwa Shisia Wamkaya.  Shisia aliaga dunia pindi Mzee Wanjawa alipozaliwa.  Alilelewa na mama mwenza.  Ndugu zake wengine, watoto wa Wamkaya ni marehemu Daniel Otiende, Abucheri, marehemu Achayo, Pitalis Nyajeri, Amos Nyajeri, Jekonia Amkaya, Martin Okoth na Gershom Dianga.  

Masomo:
Alisomea shule ya msingi ya Luanda Primary School kuanzia mwaka wa 1936.  Baadaye akaenda Magadi kwa mda mfupi, kisha akarudi shule ya Maliera Primary School kufanya mtihani wa Intermediate.

Kazi:
Baada ya shule, alienda Nairobi kutafuta kazi.    mwaka wa 1945 january, alianza kazi katika shirika la Reli.  Aliacha kazi hiyo ya Reli na kupata kazi nyingine kwenye kiwanda cha Magadi Soda kwanzia mwaka wa 1948 hadi 1949 Desemba.

Alirudi Nairobi mwaka wa 1950 na kujiunga na Shirika la Reli kwa mda mfupi kisha akajiunga na kikosi cha Kenya Prisons kama askari huko Industrial Area.  Alifanya kazi katika kikosi cha Kenya Prisons katika miji tofauti kama vile Nairobi, Manyani, Kajiado, Kodiaga, Kibos, Kiambu, Langata, Kamiti, Naivasha na Kapsabet.  Alistaafu kutoka Kenya Prisons mwaka wa 1983 na kurudi nyumbani kwake Kisa.  Alipostaafu, alikuwa mkulima hodari ambaye alitambuliwa katika taarafa kwa uhodari wake.  Alihusika na miradi mbali mbali ya wizara ya kilimo kama vile ufuguji wa samaki katika vikundi vya humu mashinani.

Baada ya kustaafu, Mzee Wanjawa alishiriki kwenye siasa za mashinani kama mwakilishi wa vyama mbalimbali kama vile KANU, NARC, LDP na mwishowe ODM katika tarafa ya Khwisero

Familia:
Mzee Wanjawa alikuwa na wake watatu.  Alimwoa Dorca Olwal Wanjawa mwaka wa 1948.  Walibarikiwa na watoto saba – Pauline, marehemu Christopher, marehemu Ruth, Sylvia, Caleb, Pamela na Lucy.  Mke wake wa pili ni Teresa aliyeolewa mwaka wa 1961.  Walipata watoto watano, nao ni Moses, Dauglas, Daniel, Peris na Damaris.  Mke wake wa tatu ni marehemu Leocadia Atieno, aliyemwoa mwaka wa 1965.  Alipata watoto wawili, wakiwa ni William na Barack
Mzee Wanjawa amewaacha watoto kumi na wawili (12) – wasichana sita and wavulana sita.  Pia alikuwa na wajukuu 54 and vitukuu 30.

Ugonjwa:
Mzee alianza kulalamikia maumivu and kufura kwa miguu na kuanza kupata matibabu.  Baadaye, akalalamikia maumivu ya kifua na tumbo.  Alipelekwa hospitali tofauti, ikiwemo St. Marys Mumias, New Nyanza PGH (Russia), Aga Khan Kisumu, Yala Hospital na Kakamega PGH.  Alitibiwa na kupata madawa aliyokuwa akitumia kwa muda.  Ugonjwa ulimzidi mwezi wa sita mwaka huu wa 2012, ambapo alilalamikia maumivu ya mwili.  Alipojaribu kula alikuwa akitapika.  Hali hii iliifanya familia kumpeleka Kakamega PGH tarehe 27-Juni-2012 ambapo aliaga dunia Ijumaa tarehe 6-Julai-2012.”

“That is it.  That is the end,” I reported.

“Can you re-read paragraph 1, there is something wrong with that paragraph,” one of my father’s brothers retorted.
So I read it, “Mzee was born in 1926,” I started.
“Stop right there,” he responded, “That is what I wanted to get right.  According to me, my brother was born in 1924”
“No, my brother,” another interrupted, “I have known it to be 1926 and I stand corrected”
“Am older than you, so how can you be sure of the year?  I tell you, it is 1924”
“I shall not be part of the proceedings, if the date is not 1926,” another stated
“But how do you people even know which year it was?  Did you even have calendars those day,” my elder brother asked the five elders.
They looked at each other and…

Sunshine in the Rain
The grandchildren of Mzee David did not want to hear anything on the age debate, they went ahead and printed black T-shirts that read, “Wanjawa 88”

One day after the burial, amidst heavy rains and, coincidentally, bright sunshine, my Mzee confirmed to us that he was surely gone – leaving us with tears that flow like the rain but a bright future like the shinning sun.

The beach run - part 1

The beach run - part 1

Aeroadplane
“This is like an aeroplane,” commented the lady sitting next to me. This was about five minutes after takeoff.

Early in the evening, I had left my workplace and got a taxi to town. The taxi ride was the employer’s way of getting me home after working me past work hours. How my ‘home’ turned out to be town on this particular Thursday, was just pure calculations on my part. My usual residence is a stone throw away from the workplace. But this is a story for next time.
At the bus station, various buses parked, filled-up and left, while we awaited our ten o’clock boarding time.

“Wanaosafiri Mombasa kwa Modern Coast, basi aina ya Oxygen, tafadhali nendeni kwenye basi KBD…,” the announcer started, and searched her words for the reminder of the registration plate.

Our team of eight had managed to get fairly scattered seats. I had managed a number 11. I remember calling the booking office six hours earlier, to reconfirm that this number was an aisle side seat, which they did. I do not fancy the window side during a night travel due to the cold.
There was no security check even as we boarded. All just filed in without any hassle. The only requirement was that each had to display their tickets for confirmation by the attendant standing outside the bus door. I was just about to ask the lady apparently sitting on no. 11 to move to the window side, when I noted that number 11 was actually a window side seat, about four rows behind the driver.

“What was the use of that confirmatory phone call? Cheating Kenyans!,” that is what my mind said. My mouth however said, “Excuse me, please let me through to my number eleven seat.” I settled on my seat, adjusted the headrest by lowering it backwards, then fastened the seat belt.

Videography
Before our departure, a video cameraman had gotten into the bus and without warning or notice, went ahead and took video coverage of the whole bus. As he moved around, he momentarily focused the lens on each passenger. Occasionally, he asked particular passengers to remove their specs and head gear and look straight up. This was quite strange. However, since no one seemed to worry or question the going ons, I followed suit.

At exactly 10.30pm, the hydraulic doors closed and the bus left the station. I hardly noticed this departure until the ‘aeroplane’ comment was made.

“I did not even notice that we are in motion,” I responded, by way of introduction to the person I was sitting next to. I was still bitter in the mouth due to my sitting position, but nothing beats a good conversation.
“What takes you down coast?,” I found myself asking, for no good reason, just to get acquainted.
“I live there. I was in this forsaken city for a graduation ceremony”
“You do not like the city much, do you?, ” I wondered aloud.
“With traffic jams that are a national disaster! Spare me!!”
So we kept the chit chat, even as the air-, sorry bus-hostess served bottled water, packets of juice and some nuts.
“Next they shall be offering 3D goggles for the movie,” I quipped to my partner. This got her off guard, forcing her to laugh this off, loudly, for a moment. My colleagues, sitting on the opposite aisle glanced at our direction with some envy and moved their gaze straight on after a moment.
“I have to be on duty early morning. I therefore have to obey the sleep that is catching up with me. The graduation ceremony took a toll on me.”

Comfort
When we hit Mombasa road, the coach settled onto a comfortable but relatively slow pace. There was hardly any discernible motion. It was as if we were at a standstill but the movement was real. This was super comfortable. The lights has been switched off, but the movie show must have been cancelled! Large red LCD display just above the driver position, visible to all, indicated, “Date: 7-28” then “Time: 10.50” and then “Temp/Humid 25 C, 65%”. The display alternated every fifteen or so seconds. The air-conditioner was real. At some point I actually directed a jet of cold air onto myself from an overhead knob. But eventually I settled onto the trip and started enjoying the ride. I started planning for my inaugural run at the coast – a beach run competition by the team of ten. Something like a relay between the dudes and the dudettes. How to position runners at the relay points still needed a calculation. Nonetheless, this scheme would only work if we were capable of making some time, especially in the morning or late evening. However, there is no harm in planning – the worst that can happen can be a cancellation.

“Lord have mercy!”
“Shindwe!!”
“Oh my God!”
“Reswa!”
I heard all such shouts almost simultaneously. This was hardly thirty minutes into the journey. As I was digesting the situation, I remembered the sound of a loud burst, followed by wobbling motion of the bus as it moved left and right for a moment. One minute later, the bus was at a standstill on the opposite side of the road, just at the edge of the road shoulder.
“That was a tyre burst,” someone said, even as passengers craned their necks to glimpse the windshield or impossibly look through the dark painted windows.

The lights were turned on and the driver stepped out. Our hostess disembarked and folded her seat to give passage to travelers who were now disembarking in total confusion, and some in panic.

When it sank in, we realized that we had had a front tyre burst on the driver’s side. But because misfortunes must always come about in good measure, it was not a coincidence that we did not have a functional spare tyre nor the tools to change the tyre. I also disembarked, finally, and passed by the red LCD that now displayed 11.00. I noticed that we were not far from the city. In fact, the lights on the horizon dotted the outline of Nairobi. The billowing smoke in the nearby industrial establishments signaled that we were actually at Athi River. The night was chilly and hence I got back to the bus after my short stint on the dark road that was seeing vehicles, especially buses, zooming through at lightning speeds.

Silence
There was no official word from anybody on our mishap nor the course of action. Everything happening was an interpretation of what ‘some passenger heard from the driver’. At some point, we heard that the bus was completely incapacitated and that there was no chance of the journey continuing. Some passenger came back to the bus, picked his bags and said that those who needed to travel to the coast urgently were supposed to board any other bus of the same brand heading to the coast. With fear of the unknown, I was one of the people who found themselves in a non-comparable bus, looking for any available seat. My colleague, who was ahead, had already managed a seat. I tried the empty seat immediately behind, but was told that it was broken, unless I was willing to travel ‘with a straight back’ to the coast. I had to disembark and wait for our unknown eventuality.

Later on, a mechanic came from Nairobi and changed the tyre. The replacement was not any good and could not sustain a long journey. We were informed of the big issue, that there was a mechanical fault that was causing the tyre to be eaten into by a metallic part of the wheel compartment. With this fault, any tyre changed would eventually wear out and burst, when the tube surface is eaten into. For our own safety, the bus was driven slowly to the nearby Athi River Police road block. We now had only about half the passengers, after the others got into other Mombasa-bound buses. Even at the road block, more passengers decided to jump bus and got going.

“We are staying here till morning, since there are only two buses of this kind,” one passenger volunteered loudly, in the midst of the chit chat in the bus. There was laughter, anger, disgust and some few 'Shindwe's in reaction to the statement. The number of buses was a sure statistic, but the waiting period was based on lack of information from anybody. We were just there – in the cold bus, with the AC now turned off, in the dark… and in a restless panic. The time was now 12 midnight. I just sat there. Resigning to fate I closed my eyes even as I said, “Good morning my team! It is a new day. Let me catch some sleep.”

Water bottle
Something hit me and I stirred.
“Sorry, it was not meant for you!,” I heard from deep sleep. I struggled with wakefulness to notice a half empty bottle of water lying next to my seat. That is what had hit me, that was the subject of the apology. I noticed that the lights in the bus had been turned on, but turned down.
“Wewe sleepyhead. Bure kabisa! Hebu amka! We are about to start our journey,” the same lady who had dropped the water bottle told her girl-friend. Their seat was just a row behind, on the opposite side. I had to rub my eyes off sleep, since I momentarily saw her plant a kiss on ‘sleepy’s lips and tell her, “Sweety, kaa vizuri. Our trip to the coast is back on track.”

I become more sober when they clasped each other in an embrace that I would interpret as romantic and soothed each other to sleep. To keep me guessing, they covered themselves with a sheet and made sure that there was good exposure around sleepy’s dropping trousers. As the bus turned back to face the direction of Mombasa, the lights were finally turned off and we started our journey to the coast. The time was 2.30am.

When we broke a record of arriving at Mombasa at 10.30am, four hours later, I got to understand what happened at the Athi River Police road block. The narration occurred as we got into our chartered van heading to our hotel rooms. We heard that a mechanic came from Nairobi and fixed the problem and realigning the front wheels. The adjustment removed the metallic protrusion that was eating onto the front right tyre. The problem of the tyre had been with the bus since its trip from Mombasa to Nairobi before our boarding. The very wise mechanic back at Nairobi had given the bus a clean bill, stating that the problem was ‘not too serious’ and could be resolved at Mombasa after this particular journey. One of the phone calls that the hostess made early in the morning was a status report to ‘someone’ on the other end of the line. “You mean atapoteza kazi?,” was one of her statements over the phone.

With four lost hours, my planned beach run was not having good prospects on a now tighter programme.

On part 2 of the story, to be published next, we find out how my run at the coast went.

WWB, Nairobi, August 10, 2011

Western Kenya run, ignore rumours about the Muliro gardens

Western Kenya run, ignore rumours about the Muliro gardens
Nairobi, Kenya, March 20, 2011


We run – in every town
The 2011 run season started nine weeks ago. When I started the countdown with my running team on January 17, I did not know that time will run so fast, and that by the time am updating the blog some events would have shaped the course of our calendar in the year.

I just received invitation to participate, with my team, in the inaugural Kakamega Marathon 2011. This run was bound to happen sooner than later. This is because the trend in Kenya over the last three years has been to hold specific town runs to commemorate a particular aspect of the town, mostly conservational related issues. In this light, we have had the Nyeri marathon to conserve Mt. Kenya, the Nyahururu marathon to conserve the rivers that serve the central highlands, Eldoret marathon to celebrate our great rift valley and conserve it and the Nakuru and Naivasha marathons to conserve these lakes. We have even had the Mombasa marathon sensitizing residents of the need for a cleaner ocean and beachfront. The Kisumu City marathon educates participants on importance of conserving the Lake Victoria and encourages East African cooperation since the water mass connects the three countries. The Nairobi marathon remains the unique one – this one is for conservation of the eye sight!

Photos
I champion the interest of those interested in armature running. I would therefore encourage participation in any runs within and outside our country. It is this quest that has made me consider this forthcoming event. The Kakamega marathon happens this year in June. The initiative is spearheaded by Masinde Muliro University. The combination of the town and the institution has not resonated well in the past three weeks. This is after some x-rated photos made their way onto the net, purported to have been taken at Kakamega's Masinde Muliro Gardens, with some of the characters being claimed to be institutional students. The late Masinde Muliro was a freedom fighter and Kenyan hero, who hailed from the Western Kenya region. The gardens and the institution, both situated in the town, are named in his honour.

Since the showing of these pictures took a national dimension with all major news players in the country making it a headline, I knew that my task of championing the KK marathon would be hard, unless I did something about the news. Friends (and some haters) have even called me to state that, “You lunje's are very hyper! You go around getting it on the public park in broad daylight – wapende wasipende”

Let me therefore dispense with the matter of the photos so that we can go on with our lives. I have monitored several conversations on this topic and pointed out issues that contributors ignored in their commentary and outright harsh judgment. Having spent more than four continuous years in the town of KK, I know quite a lot about the town. Subsequently, the student loan scheme forced me to this town at least twice every year for another five years. I still pass by this town at least twice when visiting folks in that region. I have also handled a camera for quite a long time, starting with the manual film strip type, to the digital ones. I still like the feel and sharpness of a Fujifilm. A Canon that I used sometime mid-last year was also quite something, especially on daylight conditions. The Sony remains the popular and easier one to handle though.

Ten reasons
Let me start with a disclaimer that I do not support indecent exposure and public nudity. I believe that private matters should be kept private. Nonetheless, contrary to popular belief, the photos were fake and stage-managed to give KK town bad publicity. Ten reasons why you should not believe the stories behind the photos:
1. Why do we believe that the bench is located at the gardens in KK? It could be any bench anywhere. (I know there is a similar bench at Muliro Gardens, but is it the same? Currently someone is collecting 20/= for those willing to see this particular bench! Wasn’t this a script to collect money eventually?)

2. The actors were just that, actors. You can deduce this from their many actions (or lack of). You can clearly see that in some instances they seemed to be asking for direction on how to pose.

3. The hidden photographer concept is deliberately propagated. The location suggests that the camera is straight ahead, probably on steady hands (or a tripod). The photos are taken with a zoom setting with a clarity that suggests about 10-15m max. The camera is placed at eye level, about 1.5-2m above ground.

4. The photos posted on the internet were basically random, ignoring the order of how they were taken. This has caused quite some debate on 'taking yoghurt before' vis-a-vis 'taking after'. If one bothered to put the photos in the order of their being taken, then you would know that they were following a script.

5. There was no evidence of any action. Nudity is portrayed, but that is all – the rest is just taking of poses as instructed by the director.

6. Why did the news hit the media in March, when the photos were taken in December and January? Isn't news supposed to be 'news'?

7. The photos did not attempt to conceal the digital markers. So unless the photographer or the person processing is a digital guru, we know the model of the equipment used is a Sony DSC-W120, a fairly common armature equipment. The setting were mostly 3M auto, which affected some focal settings and hence the tint on some images. (A W120 is a 7.2mp camera at maximum setting, with a 2x digital zoom. Am a regular user of the superior W130, which is a 8.1mp and 4x zoom)

8. I have been told on my face that the actors are lunje's. Can you just know someone's tribe by looking at a photo? Isn't that too much of a generalization? Even the stereotyping of our gals was not considered when this generalization was being made!

9. I have already talked about the order in which the photos were taken. If you were to zero into the timing, then you shall have quite some food for thought. Some sequences are taken within a minute. Some change of position/posture could not happen in the time span. By the way, the police scene, that is mostly misjudged, needs to be taken in perspective. The action occurs first before the police meets the couple. It is not the other way round. So, if the police meet two people standing in a garden, what are they supposed to do? Charge them with 'prior action'? (And while at it, this was in December)

10. Lastly, why should we be bothered with consenting adults having their thing wherever they want, at whatever time they want to? They can record the sights and sounds if they so wish! My only discontent is the broadcasting of the material without the consent of the actors, and the subsequent passing of judgment.

Lets just run
The invitation for the Kakamega marathon 2011 was forwarded to my mailbox by one of the members of my running team. It is a run worth considering. It gives members of my running team, and anyone else the opportunity to not only participate in an endurance run, but also sample the scenery of the western Kenya circuit. This part of Kenya is predominantly agricultural, green most of the year and rainy throughout the seasons. The main cash crop is sugar cane, with major sugar factories located in Mumias and Nzoia. The people are quite friendly, the boda boda bicycle taxi concept has some roots in the region, while the mondia is quite a popular thing. I have deliberately left out the origin of the chicken as we know it, but that is for your finding out.

The details of this event are:
Host – Masinde Murilo University of Science and Technology
Theme – Conservation of the Kakamega Tropical Rain Forest
Purpose – nurture talent in sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity
Registration fees – Yet to be communicated (just budget 1,000/= (US$ 12) for this)
Date – Saturday, June 4, 2011
Time – 7.00am (subject to confirmation)
Run categories – 21km half marathon & 10km road run*
Starting point – Mumias town (for marathon)
Finishing point – Kakamega town
Registration modalities and deadline – Yet to be communicated

*There shall also be a 10-km road race, whose route is yet to be finalized. The 10km run will probably be held from Kakamega town through a 10-km circuit back to the town. (I still wonder how they shall manage two starting points, but the details shall follow).


How to get to Mumias
This is generally a fun run, that should enable you enjoy the good green environment of Western Kenya. The challenge is to be at the Mumias town starting point in good time. If you can manage a run immediately after travelling, then the easiest option is a Friday night bus from Nairobi to Mumias, arriving about 4.00am, then just go for the run after 3 hours of rest. Take a night bus at the country bus station. If you cannot make it to country bus station, then book either of Akamba Bus or Easy Coach that shall drop you at Mumias. The fare is about 1,200/= (US$ 15).

If you can afford the days, then travel on Friday daytime and spend the night in Mumias. Budget about 1,000/= (US$ 12) for bed and breakfast.

After the run, you have the option of an immediate travel back to Nairobi by connecting vehicles to Kisumu then Nairobi or to Eldoret then Nairobi. The former is shorter, with relatively many public service vehicles operating the route. There is the option of night travel after spending the day in Kakamega. You could take the day off to visit the Kakamega forest, which you were running to conserve. Park entrance fees are KShs.200/= for citizens, 500/= for residents and US$ 20 for non-residents.

Muliro Gardens
Whatever you do, make sure you visit the Muliro gardens – a quiet lush green garden full of shade and good ambiance. Occasionally a political or religious rally is held here, but these tend to be in the afternoons of weekends. The gardens are on a triangle formed by three road – the main Kisumu road, the Mumias road and the town road that connects the two. Be the judge on the existence of the bench. (Carry some loose change, as 'viewing' fees).

See you there, see you then.

Wanjawa, W. B., Nairobi, March 20, 2011

FAQ - Running from my own perspective

January 31, 2009

Frequently Asked Questions – Running from my own perspective

(Disclaimer: The FAQs are answered from my own experience, which should apply to others. However, do not sue me if something goes wrong – remember, this is my experience, yours may be different)

1. Personal
1.1 How did you get to running?
1.2 What are your credentials?

2. Planning and Preparation
2.1 What are the benefits of running?
2.2 What is your running programme?
2.3 When should one start running?
2.4 Should I run the road or run in the gym?
2.5 Should I run morning, mid-day or evening?
2.6 Should one run alone or in a group?

3. On the road
3.1 What is your running strategy?
3.2 Define short, medium, long, slow, normal, fast runs
3.3 What do you think about when running?
3.4 How do you reconcile distance with time of run?
3.5 What distance do you run?
3.6 Should one take water/fluids during the run?
3.7 Should one take water or energy drinks?
3.8 How should I start my running, this is my first time?
3.9 How do you run a race in unfamiliar routes e.g. marathons etc.?
3.10 Should I 'show off' during practice/real events?

4. After the run
4.1 How do you feel after running?
4.2 What do you do after running?

5. Experiences
5.1 What are the memorable experiences worth mentioning?
5.2 What are the bad experiences?


Frequently Asked Questions – Running from my own perspective

1. Personal

1.1 How did you get to running?

I have generally been running since my college days. I however confess not to have liked running in my earlier years. During my primary school days, cross country runs were compulsory in the first term. I would do all that I could to avoid them. Schooling at a rural setting, it was possible to hide in the thickets while the rest did the run and finally join them on their way back. During these runs boys run bare chest while ladies also left their blouses in the class rooms (of course, they had those dresses that were supported on the shoulders). After the runs we would put on our shirts/blouses, attend evening parade and then go home to bath. If you were found to have missed or tried to avoid these runs, you would be caned then, cut grass on the school compound the next day. The run distance was about 5km (30-45min run)

In secondary school cross country run was also compulsory in the first term, though our school were the kings of football in Kenya (why would we not just concentrate on our strength!). In the boarding school setting, we had one particular day when all student would go for cross country. On Wednesdays we would have a 'free' day aka clubs day. We had different games, depending on your house, for the other three days. When I attended my first cross country run, with the games captain hot in pursuit just behind the slow runners like me, I heard some voices forming music next to our Admin block, on our way to the gate and cross country road. The cross country route was about 10km (60-90min run). This was the only run that I did, being about the second week of my first year. After that I joined the school choir who run-their-mouths instead. This is how I avoided the run for four years in high school.

When I joined college we were told on the very first day during orientation to 'do what we wanted to do', provided we 'were not arrested and did not fail exams'. Running surely could not form part of a students life, when there is so much freedom, good pocket money, lots of other entertainment and nobody to bother your life! Phew! However, this is where I took my first serious shot at running. In the first year I took to tennis, thank this to MJs influence (MJ had been with me at high school and we coincidentally took the same course at college). However, hitting the ball with a racket on the small court finally took a toll on me and by end of first year I was 'gameless'.

In second year I started taking a run round the field for 4-5km (10 to 13 runs around the field). This I did in the evenings, about twice a week, and probably due to nothing-else-to-do-after-classes. I maintained this consistently over the year. My decision was just for keeping fit, and have something to discuss with the comrades when the topic of sports was on the offing.

During the third year of studies I got tired with rounding the field and started running cross country in the mornings. I would wake up at 5am and run for about one to one-and-a-half hours. The route I took was generally State House road to join State House avenue and end up at Argwings Kodhek road at Yaya Centre. I would came back through the same route. This was still to keep fit and have a sports topic to discuss.

These runs finally had to come to an end for a few reasons – every morning as I passed by State House gates the bright beams would suddenly and unexpectedly shine on me almost as if commanded. After I had passed by, the lights would go off. This started to scare me. I started fearing that one day some trigger-happy security personnel may just 'become happy' at my expense. The route was lonely with no encouragement – I never met anyone jogging the route. This discouraged me. I was chased by fierce dogs severally, when I lost my way and wondered into private roads at those dark hours of the morning. This scared me. The lecturers decided to strike during this period. This disturbed my routine since we finally decided to go home, after two weeks of waiting for a return-to-work-formula that never was. During the break I moved between different estates in Nairobi staying with my brothers, even taking time at my rural home. When I finally settled in Nairobi, staying at Kawangware, I got a part time job taking my 6-days per week, but got to start running again in the mornings. I formulated routes around Kawangware, Lavington, Valley Arcade that were between one and two hours long.

From that time on, running got engraved in my system, since whenever I was in the city, either on school session or on holiday, I would find an excuse to run at least three times a week. I would usually run in the evening or mornings around the city estates. I stayed either at Buru or Kawangware.

After college I continued to run at my first place of employment in the town of Gilgil. At this time, I would run about once a week, usually weekend, for about 45minutes. This was purely to keep it and to avoid boredom (small town having nothing of interest). This routine persisted for about half a decade.

Getting my second job after one-year without one probably ignited the running spirit with a vengeance. I joined the new employ when they were just making announcements for those interested in joining the marathon team. This was in August 2007. One month later and I had started featuring on the lips of the team members as 'that new threat who joined recently'. I was just doing what I had been doing, though this time the new team had a schedule that was generally followed, being three weekday runs, and one weekend run.

Two months later I was participating in my first ever marathon event and taking the bronze in the team where all members participated in the 21km event. (I just remembered that one actually did the 42km event). This particular result changed my approach to running. I started aiming for running the full marathon, improving my running time, being consistent and breaking few records by the next year.

As can be read elsewhere on the blog, by end of 2008 I had conquered the 42km full marathon but had also spend two-nights in hospital as a result.

That is generally my experience.


1.2 What are your credentials?

- Weekly runs of between 25km and 100km
- Finished 2007 Nairobi International Marathon, half marathon event (21.12km) in 1:43:02
- Finished 2008 Nairobi International Marathon, full marathon event (42.21km) in 3:26:27
- Participated in 2008 Mater Heart Run, Nairobi (about 10km)
- Participated in 2008 Red Cross sponsored IDP assistance run, Nairobi (about 15km)
- Participated in 2008 Ngong run, Nairobi (about 2hours on the hills)


2. Planning and Preparation

2.1 What are the benefits of running?

There are various aims of runnings, and with the aims comes the benefits.

Health reasons:
- keep fit so that your body feels good, your muscles feel relaxed, your joints feel okay, you have no pains etc.
- maintain a desired body weight/figure

Personal goal reasons:
- participate in the marathon (or many other races in the calendar)
- run a particular length of road in a particular time duration
- defeat someone who defeated you last event
- win the team event
- save on spending/temptations which you would otherwise engage in at the run time
- be seen on TV
- appear in newspapers
- appear on photo albums of your institution/friend
- get mentioned during institutional meetings/websites/hall of fame
- to prove that you can do it
- to prove someone wrong (who said you can not do it)
- develop discipline by being able to formulate a programme and abide by it (the discipline can be extended to your other projects)

Financial/benefit reasons:
- take running as a career
- get awards, certificates, free T-shirts, free caps etc.
- get free sponsorship for events that you would otherwise pay for

Others:
- to fill out the 'other activities' section of your evaluation forms


2.2 What is your running programme?

When I joined the current team in 2007, in them I found a formula that worked, being three runs on the weekdays and one weekend run. This formula provides adequate preparation but does not wear you down too much. It is a formula you can apply even when you are engaged in other national building duties. This is for armature runners, of course.

I have generally maintained the 3+1 formula since 2007 August, and it has worked great. Though am not consistent but 80% of the running has been on the 3+1, while I do not remember missing the +1 run since 2007.


2.3 When should one start running?

I get this question often – the answer: “Yesterday!”

Believe me, you shall only start running when you see yourself on the road with others looking at you wondering 'what is this crazy guy/gal doing?'.

Just make a decision, get out and start running – there is no ideal time to start – just get out and run. “Yesterday” would be ideal, “Today” would be desirable. If you think “Tomorrow”, then you shall never start.

Am also asked, “Will people think am crazy when I run around?”

My answer, “Are you crazy?, Kenyan will think you are crazy every time you are running!”. So just do not think about what others will think – do your thing.

(Surprisingly, non-Kenyan believe that all Kenyans are runners so they would think you are crazy if you are not running)


2.4 Should I run the road or run in the gym?

I do not have experience on the gym. I believe both have their advantages. I can only comment about 'the road'

Advantages:
- you generally enjoy fresh air (depends on your locality)
- it is cheap (we do not have a road toll yet)
- you decide on your running time slot and duration (generally 24-7)
- you can invite others to join you (or join others) at no cost
- if your aim is running the marathon events, then the road is like the real event

Disadvantages:
- you may be discouraged when you are lonely on the road
- some routes/road are not safe due to danger of being attacked by muggers, wild animals, dogs or vehicular traffic
- without a trainer, you may adopt wrong or harmful training styles
- you may not exercise the full body

(I shall speak to a gym person and see the pros and cons)


2.5 Should I run morning, mid-day or evening?

This depends on the time available to you.

Mornings: requires that you wake up early if you have other day time duties and ensure that you finish your run and prepare for day time duties. This is difficult for those who have regular day time jobs. Sometimes the wee hours are also too dark to see the road. The timing is however good if one believes that there shall be no other free times for the rest of the day. The weather is usually cool before the sun rises. This is also a good time for your weekend runs and it simulates the actual run if you are preparing from the marathon.

Mid-day/lunch hours: usually good for those who aim for short runs, have clearly accessible routes within their day time duties and are able to access facilities to freshen up after the run. This run is also good for endurance since the days temperatures are usually high and your body system is put to the test.

Evening runs: are usually desirable due to the time slot being after working hours and the duration being longer (upto 2hours of day light). The time can be used for medium and long runs. Calculate your timing well so that you can finish your runs before it gets dark and visibility reduces. The weather is usually cool as the sun goes down.


2.6 Should one run alone or in a group?

This depends on the choices available to you at the time. Each has its advantages.

Running alone:
- you get to understand your limit and pace
- you learn about your body and how it reacts to pressures (distance & pace)
- you run your own pace
- you are in charge of your own training schedules
On the flipside:
- you miss out on competition this may lower your improvement time
- you face the hazards of the road alone

Group training:
- you get to compare your pace with others (good if you are preparing for a competition)
- you are encouraged by seeing others also doing it
- you can improve your pace by matching that of your group
- you get into a routine
- you face road hazards together
The disadvantages:
- the group pace may discourage you if much faster than you can cope with
- the group pace may be slower than your desired pace (bad if this is consistent while you are preparing for a competition)
- you are forced into a schedule that may not work for you
- group's training goals may be different from your own goals


3. On the road

3.1 What is your running strategy?

Before every run I ensure that I know the route that am taking (or the time am aiming for). I then stick to this route/time plan.

Runs are classified by their durations (short, medium, long) and their run speeds/aims (slow, normal, fast)

During the weekday runs, due to time constrains, am likely to do short to medium runs either slow, normal or fast.

During the weekend runs, am likely to run medium (normal or fast) or long (normal or slow)


3.2 Define short, medium, long, slow, normal, fast runs

Durations (short, medium, long):
They are defined depending on your running goals (if any). Your maximum safe limit shall be your long run. Upto two-thirds of the run shall be your medium while a third of the run shall be the short run.

If your running goal is the half marathon (21km), then determine the time it should take you to do the run. For first timers, assume this is 3hrs. The long run shall therefore be upto 3hrs. The medium run shall be upto 2hrs while the short run shall be 30minutes to 1hr.

You may as well convert the times to distances to come up with your short, medium and long distances.

Speed (slow, normal, fast):
Slow runs are used to warm up or recover from a long run. They are slow by definition and should be over shorter duration to avoid staying on low pace for long. 'You can feel when you are slow'. You should be able to breath normally and talk throughout your run.

Normal runs are the usual run pace that you do over the distance. You should breath generally without much labour but usually unable to maintain a conversation at this pace unless laboured.

Fast runs are faster than the usual pace. Your breathing is usually laboured and you are not able to make conversation. You feel tired as you run. Fast run is not a sprint – it is a faster run over a long distance over 30 minutes at fairly constant pace.


3.3 What do you think about when running?

Good question – the mind can wonder and even stop you from running. So you need to tune your mindset to the 'frequency' where it can allow you to run the distance. I usually think about what I shall put on this blog. I imagine the topics to post, how the layout shall be, what shall be the content, the many what-ifs that come with it etc. With the route in mind, am able to keep this line of thought from start to finish. I also think about my past race experiences and what my next milestones should be especially my imagination of conquering the marathon in some 'very good time' and the excitement from self and crowds if I was to run in 3hrs or less.

Good thoughts keep me going. I hardly notice the things on the road. Severally I have been accused by colleagues for ignoring them and their greetings while am on the run. The truth is that I usually don't even notice them. It is just the mind focusing of the race, strategy and something good.

However, do not let your mind wonder to the extend of forgetting you are on the road. Remember that the road has hazards as pointed out elsewhere on this post.


3.4 How do you reconcile distance with time of run?

You do this from practice. The starting point is to be able to get the distance right. You can measure the distance (tape measure) or run on a measured field road.

The stadium is usually measured, being 400m on the inner track. If you can access one, then run the inner track at 'normal' pace for about 10 rounds (4km) while timing your total run. Repeat this about three times to get an average. Calculate your time per 1km. Consider this your running pace at 'normal'

Once your mind 'knows' the normal pace and the time-per-1km, you can run any route and be fairly accurate on the distance you have covered, based on the time it has taken.

My normal running pace for 2008 was 5minutes per km. I have shaved a few seconds for 2009.


3.5 What distance do you run?

As said before, I start my race with an aim – medium and normal, long and slow, short and fast etc. The timings have been converted to distance since am tuning my mind to the 42km marathon again.

At the peak of training, my weekly programme has two short runs (10 – 12km), one medium run (20-23km) and one long run (30-36km) over the weekend. To avoid being excessively worn out, I do the long run every fortnight and replace a missed weekend long run with a medium run.

From my running pace, short runs take me 45min to 1hr, medium runs take about 1hr 30min while long runs take from 2hr 30min to 3hr 30min.

When gearing up for the peak training, I do at least two short runs and one compulsory medium run weekly.

The worst case over the last year is one medium run per week over the weekend.

So in summary, I cover between 23km to 100km per week depending on the training cycle. With January to March being the lower end of the scale to reach the peak by September in readiness for the October event.


3.6 Should one take water/fluids during the run?

“Yes”. All authorities agree that you loose fluids when you run and these need to be replenished. The real question is the extent of the loss and whether the loss-without-replenishment can be harmful/dangerous to your health. If the loss can not harm you, then you may avoid taking fluids during the run. If the loss can harm you then you must take fluids.

For a short run at all paces - you may avoid taking fluids, though consider some fluids on a fast paced short run.

For medium run at normal to fast pace – carry your bottle of water and take at least half litre by the time you finish the run

For long runs – compulsory taking of at least 1 litre of water

(some authorities recommend 200ml (about quarter litre) of fluids/water to be taken every 5km)

Carrying water during a run is another issue altogether. During marathon events, there are water points along the way so your strategy is to pick the 200ml bottle at every water point usually 5km apart.

When doing your own run, increase your running weight by carrying several water bottles depending on the distance. You would rather be burdened by the weight of water, than end up in an hospital bed or worse!

Elsewhere on the blogsite, I narrate my 'jog to the hospital' which was a case of running without taking fluids upto a point where the loss of fluids caused my body to cease. Do not let this happen to you. I still do not want to imagine what would have happened if anything could have gone wrong beyond what I encountered. Do not let this happen to you!

Skills of taking water/fluids while running:
You need some skills of taking water while running. I used to get chocked when taking water while on the run, until I learnt some tricks. The method is:
- slow down slightly before you take the sip
- place the bottle on one side of the mouth and take a sip retaining the water in the mouth
- swallow small bits of water that is in the mouth, till through
- take the next sip
- take water on a flat stretch or before ascending, when your breathing is not very laboured


3.7 Should one take water or energy drinks?

I have experience with water and it works. At least take some water. Energy drinks may be taken but you shall need to experiment and confirm that they do not affect your system to prevent you from achieving your run goals. This precaution is important when you are in a competition. For your own training/fitness, experiment with energy drinks and find out what works for you. Water works for me and I have not yet experimented with energy drinks, even over the long runs.


3.8 How should I start my running, this is my first time?

Make an effort to get on the road: Get your running gear (shoes, track attire) and start running slowly, having established some route that you need to cover. The easier option would be to run on a public field if you could access one. Aim for 30minutes of continuous run at your own pace, however slow. When tired stop running and keep walking at your pace. Once recovered, continue running slowly at your pace. Note that you shall feel a burning sensation on your chest. This is normal as you experience the first few weeks of running. The burning shall die down and finally cease with weeks of practice. Elsewhere on the www they have biological explanations for this feeling.

Establish a running schedule: At least aim to run once, weekend being preferable because you may not be on duty. Decide to run morning, mid-day or evening. Mornings are preferable when you lack time later in the day, or if there is fear of interference. On weekends, it is easier to make time in the morning before you get visited or attend some bash or birthday party somewhere that may take over the rest of your day.

Get a running partner/group: If possible get someone to accompany you on your runs so that you are encouraged. You may as well join a running group.

Generally just start running, at your pace and establish a routine. Be faithful to the routine, even if it is once a week. Over time you should be encouraged/confident enough to increase the frequency of runs if you so wish. It also depends on your goals – health, ambition, freebies

WARNING for beginners and veterans: At any point in your training, if your body tells you to stop, then just stop and end the race. At this point you may walk home or take a vehicle. Obey your body and you shall live to run another day - ignore it and you may never live to run! Consult a doctor for any aches and pains that last more than one day.


3.9 How do you run a race in unfarmiliar routes e.g. marathons etc.?

Prepare well:
- Study the map: All such events shall have a route description and usually a map. Ensure that you read and understand the description and map. Have this generally etched in memory. Also get to think of the distances on every stretch of road so that you may think of some running strategy e.g. hills, plains etc.
- Confirm the water points and what shall be availed: We already agree that you need to take water every 5km. Make sure you study the notes to understand their locations and conditions of use. Confirm if other fluids shall be on offer.
- Restrooms: Very important. There usually are some at the start and finish points. However confirm the in-route ones. You may just need them or their quest may mean retiring from the race.
- Safety, evacuation and first aid: Your health is important – this is paramount. Confirm that the route is safe and know the hazards. Know what is said about first aid and medical help.

Race day lookout:
- Visit the restroom upto few minutes to start of the race. If pressed during the race, take the liberty to use a restroom
- Obey route markers: The route will usually be marked by signs, guides, posters or markings on the road. Be on the lookout. If the route is used by different race categories then be twice careful so that you adhere to the markers of your race category.
- Follow the crowds on race day: You probably will not be the first person in the pack, so generally follow the pack – the whole crowd can not be wrong, unless the race itself is wrong. (The exception is the 2007 Nairobi International Marathon where the first pack of half-marathon runners took the wrong turn – blame the misleading map on this. The race was almost called off, I believe it should have been called off!. This is one of the reasons why the route was changed in 2008)
- In case you get injured or your body tells you to end the run, then retire. You shall live to run another day. Obey your body at all times. (Refer to warning on 3.8 above)


3.10 Should I 'show off' during practice/real events?

Generally you should! Running is not for all, the few that do need to feel good about it, even if it means showing off. Circumstances may however dictate whether you show off or not:

While practicing:
- you are running same direction as this other athlete who is ahead of you. You gauge him up and decide to give the runner a run. Make sure you gauge him well otherwise you may overtake then run out of breath. This would be a bad show-off
- you are running towards this crowd of do-nothings beside the road. You know the focus is on you. You may do a show-off by increasing your pace and passing by as if the run does not hurt. However, do this if for sure it does not hurt, otherwise maintain your pace.
- you are running in a group and want to show who is champion, so you lead the pack and hope to maintain the lead. Do this before you are faced with a hill, otherwise your show-off will flop. Hills have a way of determining who is champ (ask Kenyan international runners about hill strategies)

During a real event:
- starting point sprint is a bad show-off, it will backfire on you when you fail to gain pace or even run at all when you get exhausted in the first 400m. Avoid this at all costs
- show-offs during the course of the run are okay. If you have practiced on strategies that work then put them to work e.g. overtaking and succeding on this, taking advantages of hills to get ahead of the pack and increasing your pace at some flat stretches. However be careful with overtaking – some flop if you underrate the competition.
- finishing show-off is something to aim off. Imagine during a sprint on the last 400m after a two hour run! This is show-off employed by many great athletes. Nonetheless attempt this only if you have practiced. There is nothing as bad as 'spoiling' your run when you collapse in the middle of a packed stadium after sprinting out of energy. At least aim at maintaining your pace to the finishing line. Speed up the last 50m (this you can survive). Remember to give a victory salute whenever you finish any race.



4. After the run

4.1 How do you feel after running?

“Tired”

Whenever I answer this, I get surprised looks. Nonetheless that is the truth – you feel tired after the run, even if it is a short slow run. Surely, your body has been working for at least 30 minutes.

However, the degree of tiredness varies. After a short run you are tired but you have a faster recovery to normal. After the other categories of runs, you are tired and the recovery is longer, lasting upto days.

The 'feel good' after running is more psychological, because you know the benefits of running and after running you have credited the benefits to your system for that day.


4.2 What do you do after running?

When practicing – after the run I take about 30minutes of rest then take a shower. After that I take about half-litre of water and am good for the rest of activities of the day. I also fill in my running log that I have kept since 2007.

During a major event like the marathon – after the run, I greet the stadium and go for the medal/certificate. Take photos with the certs/medals as I take my fill of water and drinks on offer (juices, energy drinks, iced teas, froths). Later when at home I take a shower then take a bed rest for the rest of the day.



5. Experiences

5.1 What are the memorable experiences worth mentioning?

- I enjoy the outdoors, the fresh air, the greenery, the scenery, the people. It is just wonderful out there.

- This one time we were running with a colleague in the evening, then we get out of the river and wind through the thickets, just near the Kabete Childrens Home and suddenly without notice we see this guy and gal just two metres from the road with lips locked and hands wondering their middles. What to do? They did not even seem to know that they were on planet earth. Being a deserted road and the deep thickets few meters beyond, we leave it to the imagination as to what happened after we passed by. We who have daughters, pity us! We who have sons, pity us! We who have both – double pity!!

- Kenyan produces the best runners in the world, hence running is inborn. For that reason, most Kenyan do not practice their run, just bring the race and they are in. That is the assumption. From my experience I hardly find any other runner on the road when am on. Severally, I have been called 'crazy', or gestures thrown at me to indicate the same. The looks people give you make you wonder if you are not crazy after all.

- Elsewhere in my blog there was that vehicle that deliberately splashed me with muddy rain water, just to prove who owns the roads.

- The Kenyan main roads are a hazard. Severally I have had vehicles, especially matatus leave the road and follow me to the side of the road. I have had near misses with imminent knocking from the back. I have learnt to run opposite the traffic (keep right), even so I still look behind every few minutes.

- On the day I did my penultimate run to mock the 42km, it rained most of the first two hours of this event. As detailed on my blog on that experience, it taught me to be ready for anything on the road.

- Though I have not had any incidence, I still dread the routes that wind through rivers and thickets. They are usually lonely and feel like some danger is lurking somewhere in there.

- My best recent experience is finally conquering the 42km event despite having been 'written-off' by the doctors following my admission to hospital. That story is carried elsewhere on the blog.

- 'Taking the run to the www' is also quite memorable. I like sharing my experiences if only to let others avoid the pitfalls.


5.2 What are the bad experiences?
- The one time that I collapsed on the road, lost consciousness and ended up in an hospital. That remains my worst experience to date.

Happy Running 2009! Mark 25-October-2009 on your calender

If there are any Questions that are unanswered please forward them to my attention and I shall have them included, from my point of view, of course.

WWB - Nairobi, Kenya