The first international half… a full half

The first international half… a full half

It ended

“The run is ended,” I told Faye, when we hit the 13k.

“You mean?”

“Yes, I do. From here it is a downhill for five…., a single k…, then the final home stretch of two,” I elaborated, amid sips of water, “This run is done.”

That was about one hour and a quarter into the run.

It started

The event, the first ever 21k international half, which initially was called ‘Kanyariri half’ started as a joke between regular runners.  When Edward (finally) shared a 21k route that circuits from the compound and back, we, the ‘inner circle’, knew that it was getting serious.  ‘The circle’ of six kept this to themselves as the planning and discussions continued.

It was my duty, as ‘the coach’, a name that had been forced my way principally by the same circle, to market and sell the idea to the bigger marathoners group.  By ‘bigger’ I mean one hundred and twenty or so members bigger.

I did send a message to the marathoners and gave them the full details of the ‘first every international half’.  I mapped the route, shown below, and also worked out some alternative distances, being 18k, 15k and 12k, just to encourage as much participation as possible.  I had two weeks to do this.  I had two weeks to see if it shall happen.  Knowing my bigger team, this was an event that I was not holding my breath for, it was an unlikely.  However, my mind had been made from the time I first saw the route – I was going to do this run, even if I shall be alone – just to scout this route out.

I had an idea of the profile of the route.  In fact, it is only the stretch between 9k and 12k that I had never run on.  I had been to the route upto 9k on some occasion.  This section goes to ‘the tarmac’ at 5k, then on Lower Kabete road all the way uphill to the junction of Gitaru-Wangige road.  The other section of the road that I had been to is the usual ‘Kanyariri full’.  This branches at Ndumbo stage, and runs the full length of the Kanyariri-Gitaru road, all the way to Nairobi-Nakuru highway at Gitaru.  It is just the connection of the two route sections that was new to me.

Countdown

“Today is (finally) Friday, August 10, 2018.  It is 12.30pm.  We have 4hours before the international half marathon,” started my Friday message to marathoners. 

It gave subsequent instructions on what to do, where to assemble and most importantly, “No one should come to the assembly point without at least 500ml of water, ideally 1,000ml.  We leave 4.30pm, and not a minute later.”

I did not get any confirmations.  I was not expecting any.  I know my marathoners.  They consent in silence (or course, they also dissent in silence).  My only worry was that this was not one of the occasions for the latter response – but as already said, I was not holding my breath on this.

I filled up my water bottle at 4.20pm, then changed to my running gear.  That is when I met Chris at the changing room – also changing.

“I did not think that you shall be going for this run,” he reminded me, “I have not seen you run whole of this week.”

“Nikose, nichekwe,” was my response, “Being out of the run this week was just one of the strategies that I had for this run… I have plenty of these strategies for today.  Just wait and see.”

Full team

We were to assemble at the generator house… and that is where I jogged to at about 4.28pm.  The run was a strictly 4.30pm sharp event.  I was surprised to find Faye at the assembly point.  She was the last person that I thought capable of joining in.  She was just running her first month with the team.

“I have been waiting since 4.20pm,” she complained.

I responded, “It is 4.30pm that matters, and I am here now.”

“Hey, you guys can’t leave without me,” Edward shouted from somewhere.

“Mimi pia niko ndani, ndani, ndani,” Chris added from somewhere in the works.

A team of four was more than I could ever hope for in the first ever international half.  This turnout had exceeded my expectations already.  I had feared for a solo run.  I was now 400% successful.

“OK, it is 4.35pm, we must leave,” the coach declared.

“Not so fast,” Faye interjected, “Nathan is joining us!”

“You must be kidding!  I have not seen him on the road all year!?”

“Don’t speak about me like I am not around,” Nathan appeared momentarily, “I am in the run, even if it is the last thing that I do.”

That could then only mean that we move to business…

“Race call!,” I shouted out, “Any 12?, any 15?, 18?”

Silence.  No one answered.

“Okay, 21s?”

“Yea! Tuko!,” all the team shouted.

A few seconds of describing the route preceded the real countdown and at exactly 4.45pm the run started.

Pole pole

Slowly at first, we started off towards the gate, and out of it.  The runners were generally in two groups by the first kilometer mark at the Waiyaki way.  The faster group of Chris, Edward and Nathan, and the slower duo of coach and Faye.

It was a good, sweet, relaxed run.  We headed for the 4k at the river with the runners all in great spirit.  It was generally slow on average, but fast on the splits, clocking nothing over 6km per minute so far.  We hit 5km at the ‘tarmac’ in about 34minutes.  We now have to do the 4km uphill on Lower Kabete road to Gitaru road junction.  I have been on this road.  I know it is mean… and it turned out to be as mean as I know it.  Gentle uphill, but uphill nonetheless… for 4k.  Having decided that this was a group run, we kept each other company and slowed down, or even walked if a team member was out of form.

New section

The 9k to 12k section on Gitaru road towards Nakuru highway was the new stretch that I was doing for the first time ever.  It turned out to be a gentle, but short hill since we soon (about 16 minutes later) were taking the left turn towards Gitaru market and then onto Kanyariri road that I know so well.

“The run is ended,” I remember telling Faye, when we hit this road at 13k.

As sure as mapped out, the next five km were smooth downhill all the way to Ndumbo river.  By the time we reached that river crossing it was already getting dark.

“This lying Equinox!,” I shouted, “How can it be this dark when it is hardly seven!”

“Be happy that there is still visibility,” Faye updated me, “In Europe it would have been dark at four-forty when we started the run.”

“You don’t say!”

Do it again

It was a relief when the five of us reached the ‘Stop’ painted on the tarmac at the gate.  That is where we stopped our timers, technically stop watch for me and some form of digital gadget for all the rest – one particular type of these gizmos that keeps making announcements every ten minutes.  Our group time was an impressive 2.26.40.

As we took a ‘selfie’ of five, (though I am informed that there is no such, if anything it is a ‘groupie’), we congratulated ourselves for a run well run and promised to do this again.

“After Ndakaini for me,” that was my response.

“What Ndakaini?,” Edward wondered, “There isn’t going to be a Ndakaini this year.  The main funders pulled out”

“Not possible,” was my disbelief, “This is the second longest running marathon after Nairobi marathon?  They can’t dare do that!”

“You wait and see.”

On reflection, this was my most enjoyable 21.  So relaxed, no pressure, and also did run in a group the whole distance.  My legs were not aching as much, in fact not at all, for the first time ever.  I ended the run without feeling like collapsing.  This run had a different feeling… a good different feeling.

WWB 'the coach', Nairobi, Kenya, August 10, 2018