Worst run ever – the September run

Worst run ever – the September run

They say August is the bad month in Kenya, but I have proved otherwise.  Anyway, that August thing is a hype that I have never believed in.   There are some phone calls that you dread.  I got one of those two years ago one early July morning, July 6, 2012 to be exact, when my dad passed on.  That is usually the ultimate one, so no other call can surpass that, right?

“The house has burnt,” that was on a Monday morning.  I know it was a Monday, since I had started by going to a lawyer’s place at Westlands early morning, to sign some university loan forms for a student.  I was back to office by 9.00am.  It was September 8.

“Pardon”

“The house has burnt.  Am standing next to it.”

My head was in a spin.

Three weeks later, I was set to meet the landlord of the burnt house to start discussing investigative findings and hence liability.  The circumstances remained mysterious.  A locked house and an explosion, according to first responders, then a fire!?  In a dwelling that we have stayed in for 3 years?

I did the Ndakaini marathon on September 13 with these exact questions still lingering in my mind.  I had the same questions when I finally landed in the city of Kisumu ready to discuss the matter with the landlord.

How do you react when you visit a new dwelling and the neighbor introduces herself as, “… born again”.  Is that supposed to send a message?

That aside, I now had to face the landlord and find out once and for all if the month of September would live up to its billing.

“You know that internal damage is the preserve of the tenant, don’t you,” the landlord started.

We were inspecting the burnt house.  For the first time I was looking at the damage.  I could say that it was good that the fire happened when no one was in the house, about 9.00am.  It is said that the landlord’s family who stay in the adjacent house heard an explosion and on investigation, found the house on fire, actually, the bedroom part of the house.

My inspection now told me why they heard the explosion.  That must have been the glassware and chemicals (spray cans and assorted beauty things) on the wardroom.  The wardroom was completely damaged, same to the ceiling of the whole bedroom.  Electric fault had been ruled out, since none of the electrical systems caught fire – not even the wires that connect to the switches or sockets.  There was no power failure in the last 24-hours to the fire, hence no chance that a candle had been used in that period to have been left burning.  It could not have been gas, since the fire did not touch the kitchen where the gas was kept.

“It could have been worse,” I comment, more in shock than conversation.

The neighbours and artisans that are participating in the construction boom at this Kisumu East estate were the first responders.  They had broken the bedroom windows and even removed a few iron sheets from the roof, on the bedroom location on this bungalow.

“Can you believe that they had to even break the main door when madam came back and tried to open the door without success?,” the landlord commented.

I looked at him puzzled.

“Look at this lower bolt,” he said, pointing at the still affixed bolt on the lower part of one half of the metallic door.

“Coincidentally, this bolt was fixed in place, despite it being virtually impossible to do that if you are locking from outside as one leaves, the way mwalimu had locked as she left”

That was a puzzling realization.  What really happened?

“The repairs shall be about 50,000,” he said, as a matter of fact, some minutes into the inspection.  I know what he meant.  He was slapping me with liability and I was expected to make good.  I had just spent another 35k for new house charges, and almost said as much, but did not.  My mind was wondering.

“It could have been worse,” I did not realize that I had repeated this.  But this was true.  We could be talking about the house plus the landlords.  We could be talking about the block plus the neighbouring houses, and the way they have crammed houses in this estate?  Houses literally touch each other.  Forget parking space if you live in Lolwe.  It could have been worse – if this happened at night!  It could have been worse – if I was looking at more expensive damage. 

In one day's time I shall be starting my October runs.  I would like to forget September in a hurry.  After all…

It could have been worse!

Barack Wamkaya Wanjawa, Kisumu, Kenya, September 29, 2014

Ndakaini II - I was ready, but...

Ndakaini II - I was ready, but...

I am already planning for the third attempt at Ndakaini.  This is because I failed to beat the under 100-minute, which was my intention, as a way of getting back at the organizers.  I was getting back at them for their pre-race poor organization that forced me to go for my run number about 5 times without success.  I finally got my run number 1957 one day to the event.

Early

But this is how it was: For Ndakaini 11 of Saturday, September 13, 2014, I left my residence at 4.45am and walked to the highway to get a matatu that dropped me in town around 5.00am.  I did not know where the communal transport was to be picked, since the organizers had promised to call with this information but they did not.  I just decided to match to Kenya Re parking, where we got our transport last year.  True to instinct, I found the first ‘Double M’ bus almost full and ready to leave.  I boarded and was out of the city at exactly 5.45am.  I sat just behind the driver, next to a lady who looked like a press girl.  Just in front of me, and to the left, I saw other press men, evident by their badges and big bags, out of which I could see cameras protruding.

The drive through Uhuru Highway to Museum Hill roundabout was smooth, with hardly any vehicles at this time of the morning.  We hit Thika road five minutes later and it was smooth all the way to Thika, where we turned off to the left towards Gatanga at 6.30am and finally disembarked at Nairobi Water station Ndakaini at 7.20am.  I noted that this was about 30 minutes after Gatanga shopping centre.  I was at the starting point, a five minute brisk walk away, by 7.30am.  I now had a whole hour to warm up.  In fact, only a handful of athletes were gathered at this time.  Alas!  The runners started streaming in from all directions, and by eight, the starting line was packed.

Homour

The warm up started and the so did the excitement.  By 8.15am, the jostling for the front line was already evident.  We even had a false start at 8.30am, only for the runners to be called back.

“Let them start the run now!,” someone shouted from the crowd.

“We did not come here for a warm up!,” someone else responded.

“I may be running till late evening, the earlier we start the better,” this particular one left all in stitches.

Amidst all that, I could hear a fellow runner tell his colleague, “I have gauged the runners.  I shall at least be number 990 out of 1000.  I cannot be last, that’s for sure.”

The starting blast occurred amidst all that chatter.  I press the start button on my phone’s stopwatch, and off I went, with the middle group of runners.  The first stretch of hill to where we parked the bus was unnoticeable, though those who sprinted were out of breath in five minutes.  The weather was cold, chilly to be exact.  It was even drizzling.  The run pace was good and I was doing quite a fast run.  I hit the 5km marker at a water station, with a time of 0.23.33.  That was fast!  I had envisaged a 0.25.00 at this point.  With that pace, I was surely going to do the sub-100 guaranteed.  Then the first hill hit me out of nowhere.  I reduced pace together with all the runners on my group.  Some of them reduced so much that I had to overtake them.  I remembered that I still had the next many hills, though this time round I was psychologically prepared for them all.  A turn, followed by a river crossing brought the next hill, then another turn brought the next hill.  A short stretch, a steep downhill and there again, another hill.  After that, just a sharp left turn then a hill, followed by another hill.  I knew that this was not the end of it.  We passed by a noisy crowd of secondary school children urging us on.  Later, some lady commented on our direction, “Sasa ni mlima moja tu.”, translation, 'just one more hill'.  I knew that she was lying, but I kept going.  Keeping the truth to myself.

Hilly finish

We then faced the 45 degrees hill.  I had seen it described on the runners guide, I remembered it from last year, and I knew it when I saw it.  No worry, since I was ready for this one.  I know that there are other hills ahead, though not as steep.  I kept doing hill after hill after hill.  I make a final turn to the main road that leads back to Ndakaini.  I knew that this stretch was about 5km, though it could ‘cheat’ you that you are just about to finish.  It also had its share of mild hills, but I was ready for all these hills this time round.

My mind was still lost on the number of remaining hills, when I finally reached Ndakaini shopping centre and had to take the last hill, followed by a right turn to Ndakaini primary school finish point.  I finished the run and …. I was not tired.  Some lady pointed a gadget on my run number as I walked out of the finish line.  I realized this was the timing chip being read.  I also remembered to stop my timer at 1.46.50.  Now, this was 106 minutes.  So, where did I gain the 6 minutes!?.

At the finishing line, I do not remember how many 500ml bottles of water that I took.  At least five, that’s for sure.  Later on, it was time to crown the king and queen of Ndakaini 2014.  Mathew Kisorio won the 21km mens event in 1.05.30, while Gladys Chesire was the ladies champ in 1.15.37.

This is what I wrote to colleagues on the runners page after I was back home, “I could blame the cold or drizzle or the added hills or all. However, that does not matter, since next year am meeting the route for the third and final duel.”  Maybe even the run edition was to blame.  Was it Ndakaini 11 or Ndakaini II?

I cannot conclude before talking about the speeches.  How do you keep tired marathoners waiting for the crowning moment by engaging in long speeches?  The Chairman of the organizing committee calls the area MP to greet the people, in a greeting that lasted over 5 minutes.  MP Roho Safi then calls the Area MCA.  MCA then calls the Senator.  Senator is followed by UAP MD – surely!  At some point we heard from the Cabinet Secretary in Charge of Environment, Prof. Judy Wakhungu, which was significant since she was the one who then awarded the 200k cheque to Kisorio and another 200k to Chesire.  For the rest of us…

Barack Wamkaya Wanjawa, Nairobi, Kenya, September 13, 2014

Ndakaini 2 - Shall I be twice lucky?

Ndakaini 2 - Shall I be twice lucky?

Second time
I shall be going for my second attempt at the toughest marathon on earth very soon.  My run last year was curtailed by the many surprises that I encountered on the route.  I hope that am now more psyched for the run than last time.  Whether this comes to pass remains to be seen when I hit that dusty road on Saturday, September 13, 2014.

Before, then I have been trying to get myself on the ready.  Sample this...

I just read on the organizers website that the registration fee for the event is KShs.1,000/= (USD12.00) unlike the previous fee of half that amount.  There is no explanation for the 100% increase, but I do not expect any.  At this rate, am afraid that the transport fee shall be double the amount charged last year, when it was pegged at same rate as registration fee.

I have been kind-of practicing for this run, trying my best to do the three runs per week.  Of the four week passed, since I started the 15-week countdown to Nairobi Marathon on July 21, 2014, I have managed to run 8 of the 12 scheduled runs.  That is a 66% success rate, but I need to up the game, if am to beat Ndakaini in 2014.

More dollars
Talking of increased registration fees, I have just read an invitation to Nairobi International Marathon 2014 aka Stanchart Nairobi Marathon.  And… surprise, surprise… they have also doubled their registration fee from KShs.1,000/= to KShs.2,000/= (USD24.00) for all categories of runs.  I know that increase from USD6 to USD12 makes you go, “Ah!”, but from USD12 to USD24... that makes you go “Hapana!”.

Finally, I had to publicize the Ndakaini event on the marathoners page on FB, on the group “Runners with strong spirit”.  I have been out of the SMS for long and found quite a few surprises (including abbreviated language such as SMS which means Social Media Site – that’s my creation).  The types of updates that I see!  Let me just leave this to ‘see’ and not write about it.

Barack Wamkaya Wanjawa, Nairobi Kenya, August 18, 2014

Comrade power

Comrade power

“You mean you can run to here?,” a colleague asked.

We were now in the institutional bus on our way back to work after a successful tree planting exercise.  Pure fate and luck had enabled me to be attending this occasion on Friday, April 4, 2014.  To start with, I had started feeling like having a cold the previous day and had in fact promised myself that I would take the Friday off.  Secondly, I only came to learn of this event by virtue of being accessible to department communication, where my staff were being asked to assist in delivery of seedlings from Muguga to UON’s Upper Kabete campus grounds near Ndumboini.  Just as simple as that, I had asked my colleague, John, who was organizing the event if I could join in... and he said that they needed a photographer… and who else?

The tree planting exercise was eventful.  We started by reviewing what was planted last year, and the remnants did not look good.  Our head of delegation had in fact lamented that it was an exercise in futility spending long hours during a similar event last year only for the products to be left to the vagaries of nature.  It did not end there, he went ahead and stated this when he was called upon to give a speech on behalf of the Director General, during this Friday event.

I had already lost a cap, technically ‘given it out without getting it back’.

“Can I have your cap?,” the lady had asked.

I could see that ‘student’ was written all over her.  I could guess that she is either fresher or sophomore, but more to the latter due to her very outgoing nature.  The former tends to be a bit reserved, at least that is how I knew them to be, then.  The clincher was her dressing, which left a lot to be desired.  I could easily see more that I bargained for and it was still early in the day.  Or do we need to shed off more cotton in the name of 'going green'?

“Of course,” I had replied.  For good reason, I may add.  Our institution and UON Upper Kabete campus collaborate a lot.  Our head of delegation was an alumni of UK.  (My association there however had a HT aka Harry Thuku... road).  In keeping to this spirit of cooperation, I had given out my cap without thinking twice.  The silent understanding was that it was to be used for the photographic moments (and handed back).  To prove the point, I handled the camera in taking a few shots of my team and the student visitors.  I could see that another one of the students had also acquired a branded cap.

The tree planting event was 'started and finished after it had been started and finished'.  This statement is true.  We arrived at the farm land around ten and went straight to tree planting.  By eleven, we were through with our allocated parcel and seedlings.  However, that is the time when the ceremony marking the start of the event was taking place, at the tent installed in the middle of this vast bushy farmland.  After speeches, they gave a vote of thanks and then…. welcome all to participate in tree planting.  How is that for protocol!

Am no stranger to the geography of the university land.  We trespass with abandon during our runs.  Our trespassing is however justified because the UON is a public institution and therefore its roads are public, are they not?  There is only one road that they prevented us from accessing, and that is the one through the college where their campus buildings are located.  However, we have not given up on getting through.  Someone needs to help me interpret the constitution on the freedom of running and the bill of runners rights.  One run route that passes close to where we were planting the trees starts at Ndumboini to the hilly path towards the university farm, then a right turn through this farm, then to Mary Leakey school, before joining Lower Kabete road to 'the tarmac', where we take another right turn past Kabete Childrens Home on the left and  Kenya Animal Genetic Resources on the right.  This dirt road goes down to 'the tank', then the hilly stretch back to Ndumbo.  That full circuit is about 6km.  The stretch from Ndumbo back to Uthiru is about a kilometer.  If you add the Vet-lab loops, you are likely to get to 10km.  In our list of marathon routes, this is the standard 10km lunch hour route.

“So, it is possible that one can run upto here?,” my colleague repeated, since I did not seem to have answered the first time, as my mind had wondered over the events of the past two hours even as I realized that I did not have my cap – but well, “Comrade power”.

WWB, Nairobi Kenya, April 9, 2014

Of Cheating Snakes and New Running Routes – The Story of Nairobi Marathon 2013

Of Cheating Snakes and New Running Routes – The Story of Nairobi Marathon 2013

Cheating
“Jimama liziiiima linadanganywa na nyoka”, his eminence had said, to a congregation that responded by loud laughter.  Cardinal Njue, the Catholic Church's Archbishop of Nairobi was delivering a summon as the church prepared to give Holy Communion for the very first time to its new congregants on this second of November date.  It was a Saturday, my otherwise usual day of service, though I was in another church deep at the suburbs of Karen at the Resurrection gardens.  The Cardinal’s statement was in reference to the Adam and Eve story, and probably a warning to women not to be cheated by snakes – literally or figuratively.

All this was going on while my mind wondered about my Nairobi Marathon 2013 performance.  I had deliberately failed to write the blog story.  In fact, a colleague back at the office had voiced this omission loudly when I passed by his department immediately after the marathon,
“I have not seen the marathon story on your blog”
“Am buying time.  The new route needs a completely new story, which am working on,” I responded.
The truth was that I was not working on anything, I was just buying time, with good reason.
“You know,” he continued, “there is no marathon without the blog story.”
I also knew that there was no blog without the marathon.  Now that the event had occurred, I surely needed to do what was expected.

While the church continued with the rituals to usher in the new congregants, I continued to think about the marathon…

Good time
I write this almost one month since the marathon.  This is deliberate.  I wanted to know my run time on the new route before I can talk about it.  The certs are now out and I managed a 1.35.33 on the new 21.098km course.

The 2013 Nairobi Marathon was held on Sunday, October 27, 2013 on a new route.  The new route was not very bad.  In fact, the Ndakaini marathon route remains the route to beat.  I did not expect the new route to be unmanageable, having done the Ndakaini about one month prior.  When I was explaining the route to my running group, one month to due date, I remember telling them that this shall be a run of ‘many hills’.  My mail had indicated that…
“We shall run the (museum) hill then (upper) hill…”

Long run
I had quite a number of participants in my team this time around, thanks for the corporate sponsorship of fifty.  This was after three failed attempts to convince the management that runs are good for its staff.  I even managed to get an official mini-bus to transport the participants to and from the Nyayo stadium venue.  However, none of my team members dared the 42km run.  I did not dare it myself since I did not want to try this long run on a new route that I was not yet familiar with.

The run day had one of the best weathers – cool with the sun from afar.  I was almost in perfect shape, apart from the stomach that had decided to do a run with me.  In fact, I almost canceled my participation due to the condition of my tummy.  Nonetheless, I found myself on the 21km starting lineup that was flagged off at exactly 7.30am, thanks to a sudden relief that I experienced.

The first part of the run was nothing to write about.  We were just running opposite the direction of the last marathon.  The stretch from Nyayo to Haile Sellasie road loop, then Harambee avenue loop and finally University way loop was uneventful.  If anything, I was really running fast.  I recall hitting the 4km mark at 17minutes and 6km at 25minutes.  If I could maintain this pace, then I was capable of doing 18km in 1hr 15min and probably the last 3km in 15min.  That would mean a 1hr30min run – a new record by all accounts.

The hills
My dream of breaking a record was not to be.  The Museum Hill stretch then flyover took a good amount of my energy, even as my unstable stomach haunted me the whole stretch upto the 10km turning point at Parklands.  The return journey was a struggle but I maintained good pace and was not surprised to find myself doing the Parklands – UON route quite steadily, then the UON – Uhuru Park route at almost the same pace.  The Upper Hill was not that tough, as I soon found myself on Bunyala road with a right time to the stadium, just after the railway flyover.  I turned towards the stadium at about 1hr27min and was surely headed for a record when I saw the 18km marker!

This marker almost ended my run right there, outside the stadium.  I had thought that I would be running straight to the entrance of the stadium then to the stadium but that was not to be.  We were to go past the stadium towards Nairobi West, then back on Langata Road to Mombasa Road, then back to Langata Road to rejoin the route to the stadium.  It took sheer strength and willpower to tackle these last 3km.  I just finished the run in good time for my stubborn stomach to start on me.

Future plans
As we took photos with team members and congratulated each other for another run done, all agreed that that 18km marker was a mistake and the next route should finish straight at the stadium instead of being near yet so far from the finish line.  We also complained about the sponsor asking the runners to 'go digital today', as printed at the back of the running kits, yet our Analogue team aka ENG-thoners are quite comfortable where we were.  Isn't this coercion?  In reflection, I note that this route is not that bad and can be beaten in under 1.35, especially if you are ready for the surprise that the 18km marker presents.  On that note, I need to start preparing for the 42km on the new route, which is just the 21km augmented by another 21km on the Mombasa route double circuit.


Barack W. Wanjawa, Nairobi, Kenya, November 23, 2013

Ndakaini Marathon – Strategy fails from the start

Ndakaini Marathon – Strategy fails from the start

I have been asking myself some ten questions about Ndakaini Marathon 2013, held today, September 14, 2013.  The main issue is on my failed strategy on this maiden run during the 10th edition of the event.

1. Why did I decide to run the Ndakaini in 2013?
A – I have had excuses for the last nine years.  I finally ran short of excuses.  The main excuse was provision of transport to the venue, which the organizers solved by providing a bus from Nairobi city centre to Ndakaini and back.  The initial plan was to have the bus leave at 7.00am, I remember the lady at registration desk at Sarit confirming this, after I paid her the 500/= registration fees and an additional 600/= for transport.  However, an sms two days to the event changed the time to 6.00am reporting and 6.20am departure.  I was in town by 6.15am, missed the first bus that was filled as I got in, and finally left the city at 6.45am with the second bus.  Another two buses were on queue at Reinsurrance Plaza, even as we left in a 'Double M' branded bus.  The journey to Thika took about 50minutes, with an equal amount of time being taken to reach Ndakaini.  I came back with the same bus, leaving Ndakaini at 2.30pm and getting to Nairobi at 4.30pm.  Another reason is the conservation bit.  The Ndakaini dam supplies most of the water used in the city of Nairobi, over 60km away.  Conserving this resource assures the future of Nairobi, the largest city in East Africa.

2. How was the run?
A – This was the most difficult run ever.  I had early already declared the UNEP marathon held in February 2013 as the toughest, but that title has now changed hands, maybe forever.  This was the toughest run ever!  I would do a 42km at Nairobi anytime than face the course that is Ndakaini.  The run started at 8.32am, according to my chronometer.  This was after I had run an initial 1km from Nairobi Water Treatment plant Ndakaini, where we had parked, to the starting point, at Ndakaini market.  We faced the first hill on the first minute of the run back to Nairobi Water.  From there, we rushed downwards in twenty strides to face the second hill.  After that hill, we were facing the next and the next and the next.  How I managed a 1.44 finish time still amazes me.  How the mens winner took it in 1.04.47 (and 1.14.35 for the ladies champ) is sheer genius.  I had given up after third hill and thought I would be in for an over 2-hour run.

3. Describe the Ndakaini course.
A – Simple, a 21km uphill run, with over ten hills, one after another.

4. What kept me going
A – I had assumed the hilly run would be akin the ones I face during practice – 5 minute hill runs, followed by some 5-minute flat ground before facing another hill.  During practice, it is only the Kanyariri-Gitaru route, a 18km circuit, that comes close to challenging this scheme.  This one gives you 9km or uphill, then 9km of downhill.  Therefore, after the second Ndakaini hill, I hoped for some flat ground to regain by breadth, since I had given it my all, ready for some rest.  This turned out to be false.  Immediately after this second hill, a third one was introduced out of nowhere.  I convinced myself to survive the third (and hopefully last), then recover on the flat or downhill.  This did not happen.  After the third hill, a forth one came out of the bend and I could see athletes up there on the other side of the road.  I gave up, shattered the strategy, threw it down the stream that I crossed toward the forth hill and decide to ‘run for survival’.  I decided not to even worry about how long it would take.  That is what kept me going – just run to survive the otherwise imminent humiliation by this hilly course.  That meant not stopping for a walk, however slow my uphill run was.  My survival instinct kept me going hill after hill until the finish line.

5. Describe the finish
A – The finish was confusing.  We reached the starting point, assuming it was the finish line, with all the decorations and all.  However, the official urged us on, stating that the finish line is ahead.  Remember that we started on a hill and hence the finish kilometer turned out to be the same hill.  This was the most painful kilometer ever, ending at the Ndakaini Primary School.  At the finish line, we were asked to queue so that our names and runner numbers can be recorded again.  (Why do they insist on recording names once more, when they already have the registration records?)  We were supposed to be given position numbers.  This did not happen as they were finished before we arrived.  Apart from that, there was no much event at the finish line.

6. How was my hydration
A – Unfortunately, I failed to take much water during the course.  The trick of taking water requires a general flat terrain, where you can reduced your pace, recover your breath and take a sip.  For this course, it was impossible to take water.  The breathing was on the high and a sip would have result to chocking or would necessitate a complete stop.  The first time I took proper water was at the finish line, where I drained one litre of water in one go – strictly speaking, in three installment of 300ml, 500ml and 300ml.  I did not feel any relief and picked the next double of 300ml, though I took this more slowly.

7. Anything eventful
A – It was quite something stumbling upon Catherine Ndereba, one of the finest marathoners that Kenya has ever produced.  Her achievements and records are so big that I was in total awe as I saw her chatting with fellow athletes at the finish line.
“Can we take a photo with you?,” my colleague Harry asked her.  (Harry is in my marathoners team and is expecting a challenge between our institutional teams soon, just before we participate in the Nairobi International marathon on Sunday, October 27, 2013.  He also faced a failed strategy when he was forced to run with an injury.  He was the only other colleagues, apart from Moses, who is not quite in the team, who made it to Ndakaini.)
To our surprise, she responded, “Of course.  Where do we stand?”

And just as simple as that, we were having a photo moment with the best of the best.  I was amazed at her simplicity and down-to-earth nature despite big achievements.  But do not let this fool you.  Sample her accolades: A record 4-time Boston marathon winner, Two time marathon gold winner at World Championships, Two times marathon silver at Olympics, Two time Chicago marathon winner with one of them being World record.  Need I say more!

8. Whether I intend to participate in Ndakaini again
A – My sanity tells me a big NO.  However, five hours after the run, I find myself formulating new strategies to conquer this run.  That means that I shall go against my sanity and participate one more time, preferably next year, of course, with a new strategy, since the current one failed just at the starting line.

9. Would you advise the team to participate?
A – Sure, but with the following humble advise: you need to ensure that you can do at least 4 hill runs, each 10minutes long, before you decide to take the challenge.  Each of the Ndakaini runs – 5k, 10k and 21k have the inevitable continuous hills.  I would also advise a maiden 10km run, to sample the terrain, before graduating to the double-torture that is the 21km run.  You also need a strong spirit, yes strong spirit, not just mere physical strength.  Add to that a cool head, since being emotional would definitely get you out of the run.  Finally, in terms of logistics, you need to have private means of transport, since public transport cannot get you there in good time, unless you travel a day before the event.

10. Impressions of Ndakaini marathon
A – I was quite impressed with the organization of the event.  Water was available in 300ml bottles at all designated points, generally on 5km intervals.  We were also pleasantly surprised to have four sponge stations, fully stocked with quite some cool watered sponges.  This was my first time running on a course where sponges are provided.  I know they were meant to cool the body but am not sure if it did, simply because my mind had generally switched off.  However, I know for sure that these enabled me have a cool head, which in turn helped me finish the run.  Whether we shall ever get certificates of participation is another thing altogether.  Am now used to running without confirmation, after all, am still waiting for the Sotokoto one, three months down the line.  Come to think of it, even the UNEP marathon organizers are still withholding our certs.

In conclusion, make no mistake about it, Ndakaini marathon is actually and truly the "Toughest marathon in the world"

Barack W. Wanjawa, Nairobi, Kenya, Saturday, September 14, 2013

Running with the Belgian PM - quite a secure experience

Running with the Belgian PM - quite a secure experience

“This is the highest ranking European visitor since Kenyan elections 2013,” the organizer of the event, Ally Khan Sachu declared, as he welcomed Didier Reynders, the Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium, who also doubles as the Minister for Foreign Affairs.  To be politically correct, his other docket is ‘Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and European Affairs’.  Ally has a way to ensuring that a statement sinks.  I tend to think that he was so excited being next to such a dignitary that he even forgot to introduce the sessions with the usual, “Welcome to today’s session of Mindspeak”.  But who cares, we were holding our breath waiting for the main address.  I was looking forward to a presentation like none before.  I was already fixing my eyes on the big projector screens.

But strange things happen, and the first was this other guy standing with a Mac laptop on the aisle, just about 7 metres from the podium.  He was standing to the left of my sitting position, two rows from the podium, almost at the centre of the big room.  The guy with the Mac just stood there, laptop open, laptop screen facing the speaker and... just standing.  I could not make out what this was all about.  Could it be that this is one of those high level protocol things?  How can they just punish this poor guy by having him hold the 5kg of laptop in mid-air for that long?  A few faces in the room turned, followed by whispers.

Amid all the uncertainties, some answers started trickling in, when he finally, after about 10 minutes, moved with his laptop to the back of the room, whether the audio visual mixing table was located.  I glanced back, and could see a video display on the laptop screen.  He must have been capturing a video of the podium using the inbuilt laptop camera… but why would he do that?  Why would he have to hold the laptop?  Could he not get a laptop stand?  Could they not use better video capturing equipment or technology?  But there were already expensive looking camcorders, located at the front and back of the room - was this not enough, I have never been so confused.

Speech
A second oddity was the fact that the DPM did not have any presentation or notes.  He just stood up, walked to the podium and started talking.  I believe that being a diplomat must have enabled him to just have a speech within his system.  In fact, during Q&A, one member of the audience deliberately congratulated him on being “the only speaker without a speech”.  Lack of a written speech or presentation meant that he also could not speak for long, unless this was part of the script.  He was on the podium for a record 25 minutes.  All speakers during previous sessions ensured they utilized the one hour time slot allocated between 10.00am and 11.00am.  A Q&A session would ordinarily take the next hour.  Finishing early however gave the audience over one and a half hours of questions in this particular occasion.

And the audience did not disappoint, as they asked about anything they thought was worthy of a diplomatic redress.  The DPM did not disappoint either.  Most questions were on the role of Belgium in the DRC, one of the counties that they colonized in Africa, though an almost equal number was about the relationship between the EU and China.
“What is your view on China?”, someone asks bluntly.

University
The topic on the lack of skilled manpower generated some debate, with the CEO of Safaricom, Bob Collymore diving in and stating that, “Universities are getting out of date”.  While the audience was about to give a sigh of discontent, he added that, “Last year’s technology is not relevant this year”.  To ensure he remains the talk in town, he finalized, “… That is why not everybody should go to the university”

On democracy, the diplomat said that democracy should not only be stated, but must also be seen.  He drove this home by comparing the elections in the US where two candidates were vying for the top seat and those in China where there was one contestant.  However, by mentioning ‘China’ more than twenty times during his speech and answers, it was evident that this was a country worth paying close attention to.

Just around mid-day, the session came to an end and the podium once again was taken over by the men-in-black.  As we milled out of the five star hotel, we had a few moments to reflect on the events of the day, and how high level diplomats operate. 

Reflection… when I arrived, I noticed some smartly dressed gentlemen strategically positioned near each of the doors.  Of course, the promised breakfast was not available by 9.00am when I arrived.  Piled up cutlery alluded to a sumptuous breakfast earlier, but who could have benefited, if by nine there was nothing?  For a meeting whose reporting time was nine?  Could it be that our fellow stocks investors now come to these meetings at 8.00am?

Chicken
Reflections... In the meeting room, it was business unusual.  Ten minutes to ten, while the wiring of the audio-visual system was being finalized, three smartly dressed Kenyans moved to the podium and almost literally ripped the carpet apart, looking underneath for... for what?  As two of them crouched near the wires, to scrutinize them, a protrusion could clearly be seen forcing itself towards their backs from under their coats, just above the waist line.  That was the easiest “chicken leg” that one could ever notice.  It was that evident.  The observable trio also tested and looked through all doors and emergency exits.  With such a treat, it was apparent that this was high level function, even as the guests arrived about five minutes to ten.  The smartly dressed guys had surely every reason to be armed.

Back to the street, I mingled with the masses and soon was running into a matatu to carry me back to Central.  “Kwaheri, rudi tena,” the signboard read, as I lighted from the matatu and walked to my residence.  It was just another Saturday in mid-August and life was full of its usual Kenyan hustle.

WWB, Nairobi, Kenya, August 17, 2013