Running with Kenyans

HAving turned 30 I wanted to see if i could run a marathon under 3.0 hours- ridiculous, i know!

Kenya, 2013

A week before my 30th birthday (in January) I stared into the mirror pulling various smiles and winces, as I fingered at the crows feet that appeared by my eyes. “When did these appear?” Was it because I was about to venture into the next decade of my life? Is this when everyone gets ‘them’ (read wrinkles). My January calendar was empty with work and social events and my imminent birthday made me question what I was doing with ‘life’- which is the basis for a great adventure to brew. I slumped down on the couch next to mum (and yes, I’d moved back in with mum once again) to as the first episode of David Attenborugh’s Africa was about to start. The opening title sequence were bright and bold and contained all the majestic wildlife that roamed in the continent. I felt a sense of nostalgia as the enchanting theme music played and I thought about my time cycling to the World Cup. “Oh, what it would be like to return to Africa and evade this horrible, miserable, cold and depressing month.

Oh, what it would be like to return indeed! I barely had any work, the sun was probably not going to share many rays with us for a few months and I really needed a challenge to inspire me to get me through turning 30. The previous year I’d run the Paris marathon in a time of 3’44”. I was pretty impressed considering I’d barely trained and cycled three days to get there. How about I train properly and see how fast i can run a marathon? Could i do it in sub 3 hours, if I really really tried. I will be 30 after all.

‘Turning 30, running sub 3.0 hrs’ I declared on Facebook on my birthday and within a few weeks I was off, with the cheapest one way ticket I could find. When I passed through Kenya en route to the World Cup, I met someone who ran a charity. She offered to put me up for free if I helped her out in between running. Ah yes, the running. Another friend I had made put me in touch with a running camp. I had three months to train as hard as I could and come back and attempt to run a sub 3 hour marathon. I trained more than I’d ever trained and was the skinniest I’d ever been, yet I still acquire the nickname- Fatty Mazungu!