Training Day 12: 8km, 53:38 min

I'm back ...
It was such a struggle to leave the house; very much obeying Newton's First Law of Motion: Every body continues in its state of inertia unless compelled to do otherwise ...(so I haven't forgotten my high school physics, eh?)
The alarm went off at 5.05am but it wasn't until 5.21am that I left the house. In between, I went back to bed, closed my eyes and tried to sleep but a line from Jack's blog (http://the runningwriter.blogspot.com) - "If you quit running, nobody cares, but you'll always know" - hauled me out of bed, into my biker shorts/tracksuit/sports shoes and out into the cool morning. I actually said a prayer as I left (courtesy of Booker T. Washington's Up from Slavery - which I've been reading - where he says he made it a habit to pray every morning before embarking on any duty and before, especially public speaking.) Boy, I was in a prayer-gospel mood, what with My soul is built on nothing less/Than jesus' blood and righteousness ... On Christ solid rock I stand ... playing in my head all through. The song just came into my mind - courtesy of my high school days.
At that hour there was more traffic than is usually the case - fitting punishment for waking up late, I think. Every now and then, the matatus literally pushed me off the tarmack. What is with these drivers and their boyish enthusiasm when it comes to full lights? The other group that needs to be whipped mercilessly are those cyclists whose contraptions are without any lights - they are accident-eurs on the prowl. Enough ranting.
Started off at a steady but friendly pace. I was 'hearing' Jack tell me to do the strides, the longer the better and the safer. Down the river, up the hill - the lorries weren't there today, ILRI fence, the round about then up the road to the bridge that pours its traffic to Waiyaki way, back, one fast lap of the roundabout (felt very good) then to the road back to where I came from.
Yeah, and the road is good. The road fellas have done a great job ... they still are.
There were seven runners, al after 5.30am. There were also three people warming up/down at the roundabout - these guys are always there. Of the runners, Mr Three (so named for he was the third runner I ran into) gave me one nice run. I 'chased' him for about 5 mins then he turned back to run up ILRI ... I enjoyed that bit for it got me off autopilot and into some stretching as I tried to keep up with his pace.
A good run.
Eight kilometres done... more to follow.

PS
1. I have to admit preparing for the Lewa Marathon was a motivator of sorts. AFter I learnt it was off, I kinda lost some of the psyche - as if my goal was no longer a goal. Now there is the 23km run this month, Ndakaini in September and Stanchart in October.
2. Is it wrong to lose weight? Yesterday my friend Kate complained that I'm getting smaller and smaller. That I don't look as 'me' with less weight! She is the fifth person to worry about my weight. I am amused at this concern, really.

7 days, no run

It's been seven days since I last ran, s-e-v-e-n whole days!!!!
I rested on Thursday to prepare for the saturday 21km run. Sadly, I got home so late and so tired I could not run as I'd planned. It wasn't just another run, no; It was a run to hit the 2hr mark. In the form I was in, I wasn't going to hit that mark so I let it pass. Since I was travelling that same day, it meant Sunday's run was sacrificed too.
I will have a re-make this weekend. If I don't run Saturday morning - poor form, frame of mind as the likely reasons - I will run Saturday afternoon. Target: 21km, 2hrs at most.
Thereafter, i pick up Jack's challenge to do 50km/a week and on to 70km a week.

Day of rest

Today I chose to rest, at least to build up my energy reserves for Saturday, the day when I will try to slice off nine minutes from the 169minutes of last Sunday.
Just resting, eating well, enough water and come Saturday morning, I take on the 21km. The legs tell me they are all set for Saturday's run - who am I to say no?

Training Day 11: 9km, 55min

It was the run after the looooooong run. It was good. It was fun. And, yeah, I had on new biker shorts I bought yesterday. Just perfect.
The usual: alarm off at 4.59am, started running at 5:17am blah blah blah.
At the start, it felt as if the ground was whipping my heels - I could feel the impact all the way to the back of the head but it petered out as I approached the now famous river.
It was also chilly. I had - surprise, surprise - a teary eye and some almost running nose. These two forced me to every now and then reach for the lower part of the t-shirt to do a wiping or two... but did little to hamper my running.
Unlike the previous mornings, visibility was very poor - maybe some fog/mist was in the air, couldn't tell. Mercifully, traffic was almost non-existent but for the huge lorries up the hill after the river. One advantage of these lorries was that they had their lights on so as I ran up the hill and by the dumpsite, I didn't have to worry about some mugger or such.
Anyway, it was a faster run going by the way I took up the hills. I love those hills and what they do to my legs and my psyche. I’ll keep running up those hills for as long as I'm able. I guess that is one reason I get up early to run.
I set out to do an hour, split two-way, 30 min each. I got to the roundabout and back. I was to run till the alarm sounded then turn back for a complete run.
I had quite some energy. Going back uphill was a breeze and enjoyable.
In all I met 15 runners - most of them after 540am - I guess that is the best time for them. I wonder if it is possible to get them all together so we can be running as a team. That would be awesome.
Going by my speed today, I did 55min and not an hour as I'd planned. I'll do a make up on Thursday - 5 minutes to be added to the one hour run.
So far so good. Eight more kilometres, 55 minutes done. Great.
Talking of great, Jack was telling me about this guy who does 210km a week; two-f****ng-hundred-and-ten kilometres, halllooo!!!!! He also runs quite fast. What’s more, he runs like twice a day - morning and evening. And you thought I was crazy!
This brings to mind Jack’s insistence on putting the miles on the legs – or some such expression. That, for now, what is important is to cover as many kilometers as is possible. With time, the body gets used to running for longer and before you know it, doing 21km becomes the norm then you break it down intellectually (to borrow a phrase from Comedian Chris Rock), you work on speed, you improve on your breathing, you push and push until … until you just get those damn 21km in 90 minutes flat.

PS
It's official: Lewa is out for me and the crew at the office but our co-ordinator is talking of going to run around lake Elementaita. Those who are going will leave on Friday at 9am to be back on Sunday. I'm not going - I have a 21km run to do on Saturday.

Training Day 10: 21.2km, 129 min

Yipppppppppppppppeeeeeeee!!!!
I recorded four personal firsts:
a) Fastest 5km at 23 min
b) Fastest 10km at 50 min
c) Longest non-stop running: 129min
d) Longest distance covered running: 21.2km, 53laps

To the details ...
I missed the Saturday run for I was restless. I expected to travel to see my family but was broke. I expected some cash but it didn't come through by 1pm so I stayed in Nairobi.
Sunday was my 21km day. I'd informed Jack I was going for the race, hopefully in under 2 hours - the cancellation of Lewa notwithstanding. One way or the other, I left the bed at 11am... had breakfast at 12.45 and a quick lunch – githeri and avocado at 2.50pm.
I got to the track at 3.38.pm. It was so quiet, empty and inviting - no wonder three or so couples we on the greens, smiling in each other's face (I know it's an overused phrase by now.)
I peed by the side of the track, removed my employer-issue t-shirt, stuffed it in my bag and set off. Time: 3.44pm; Goal: 21km/53laps, 2hrs running whichever came earlier.
I started off quite fast, not even the fear of wearing myself out scared me, I just 'went.'
Lap after another. Stride after another ... The sun wasn't as punishing. Before I knew it, I'd done 12.5 laps/15km in 23 minutes.
At the 17th lap, I had some back pain which quickly fizzled out. I was about a third-way through, 36 laps to go.
At 4.34pm, I cleared the 25th lap/10km and started feeling the impact of it all - sweating profusely, hot all over and breathing heavily but determined to push it to the 53rd lap.
Nothing much, just me and the track. Two, three lovebirds appeared and proceeded to the greens ... a guy or two took a few laps and went to the main pitch to stretch and disappear ... but I went on.
At the 30th lap, I started a new way of counting. Instead of saying 30th lap over and over again, I went for 30-23. It was fun. Some combinations were just too enjoyable to the ear: 36-17, 37-16, 46-7, 47-6, 51-2, 52-1. The best was 50-3!
At the 43-10 count, Jack appeared. It was around 5.11pm. Finally I had company. The real guy. I was telling a colleague that if she thinks I’m crazy with my running she should meet the original, one Jacob Aliet. This guy's commitment is awesome. He runs like he is paid per run, per early morning run, per blogpost … he is just awesome. If you had an army, this is a guy you will want on your side.
From the 35th lap, I was over and finished but kept lifting a leg after another and moving forward.
Just as I crossed the line after the 50th lap, the alarm sounded - 2hrs done. So I did the last three laps to clear the 21km...
Thereafter I did 6 laps walking while drinking my water. After Jack was done, we did some heel-walk …then shared the fruit we had - he brought oranges, I brought bananas ... and left.
That was good.


PS
Our Lewa Marathon co-ordinator tells us the CEO may get us a slot at Lewa but ... I'd already given up on Lewa and made other plans ...
Let's see how it goes down.

Training Day 9: 8km, 50:21 min

Lewa is off. Apparently someone didn't do their bit in having us registered. We were told of this on Tuesday evening. Too bad. But as the Swahili say, 'Kuvunjika kwa mwiko si mwisho wa kupika,' so my trainig will proceed as if I'm running on June 27th, 21km no less.
Yesterday the computer system was down in part of the office so we had to give up our computers for the team whose deadline was nearer than ours. That offered me a chance to leave early - and walk 11km home - which I did.
I took the usual route: Kenyatta Av - Valley Rd - Argwings Kodhek Rd - Gitanga Road. I 'had it all together' - tie, cufflinks (Nzisa Muli's words, not mine. A colleague, very sharp designer if ever there was one). My walking had thus to be inconspicuous - slow, measured and as if I was walking to a spot 100m ahead.
Carrying my two books and three newspapers, I walked calmly home. So many people were walking (I think they cannot afforf fare) and there were so many vehicles on the road. This is truly a rich man's city. Those cars ...
To the present.
The alarm went off at 459am as usual but I delayed for about 5 minutes, got up, dressed and was off. Right outside the gate, I came across two guys trying to start a matatu whose battery, I guessed, was flat. They requested I help and I did so - part of a warm up, you know.
At 515am, I started the running. There was much on my mind - a new leave policy that would rob me close to 8 days, the cancellation of the Lewa sponsorship, a crafty creditor/middleman who was about to con me of 39,000 bob ... so much.
Just as I was approaching the Precious Blood church, I heard someone running behind me. In a minute he overtook me - he was an early runner like me. That was great company, I tell you. So, I chased after him for about three minutes then fell back to pee ... and I never saw him again.
All went well. It was light, my speed was better, the legs were cool and the road was familiar. Traffic too, was light.
Down the river, up the hill (huge trucks by the roadside, dumpsite, with their lights dimmed), ILRI fence, the gate, the roundabout, two laps and back.
Just before ILRI, the road is being recarpeted so it is narrower ... thank God there wasn't much traffic.
Also in short, short supply were the runners: only three ...
Anyway, beautiful morning, wonderful wind, sweat...
Eight kilometres gone, 50 minutes done and I'm feeling ok ...

PS
1. The Ndakaini marathon date has been confirmed: It's on September 19th
2. I'm joining Jack on July 19th for a 23km run

Training Day 8: 10km, 60min

I promised to do a one-hour run yesterday to make up for the hour that I missed on Sunday but a combination of factors made sure I couldn't. For one, the 11km I walked took a toll on my feet; two, I was exhausted. I think the rain had an effect too. So, come Monday at 5am, I just slept .. and woke up at 8am!
The alarm went off at 459am and I was up, dressed, some toilet thingy and off. As is usual at that time, there were few people on the road - some matatus were still parked at the petrol station. I thought this odd. It was 510am, how could the matatus.. anyway, never mind.
The run started at 5.13am. The first 30 or so seconds were not so good to me. The oncoming vehicles had their full lights on; I could not move as well as I would have liked. Damn the drivers. Never one to let such little matters come between me and my lovely run, I went on. Left leg, right punch, right foot, left punch, hmm, hmm, left punch, right foot ... on and on and down the river.
As is the case when I run, I kind of draft the blog in my head. I imagine the first line, I rewrite it. I polish it. I discard it. I pick another. A song comes to mind (today it was Tupac, Freddy Jackson, Oliver Mtukudzi), I say to myself I'll mention it in the blog ... a Bible verse intrudes into my thoughts (it is always Ps 121:1-2), I shove it aside; another song, an expression from my previous night's reading ... it's just a world of its own...
So up the hill after the river. My legs are feeling my weight. I try to guess the ditance covered. 2km? No, that should be one-and-a-half. No, two-and-a-half? What the heck, I am here to do an hour at a pace that is slightly above that of a jog... so what is 2km anyway?
Now approaching the ILRI fence... or is it that the fence has come up too fast? What's the difference, I keep on. Left foot, right punch, right foot, left punch, leftfootrightpunch, rightfootleftpunch, leftfootrightpunch, rightfootleftpunch, on and on till I get to the roundabout. This time, I did just a lap and ran back. My plan was to run for 30 min - I set the alarm to go off 30 min after the start of the run - then retrace the route back. After the lap I ran down to just before end of the ILRI fence and the alarm went off then I turned back and ran to the roundabout, one lap and I was on my way back smiling to myself and feeling good.
Runner one appeared just as I was heading to the roundabout. He opened the door to other runners, in a manner of speaking, for I met 12 others by the time I finished my running. In my previous run, I counted 21 runners and Jack doubted it. His argument was that you can't count that number of runners. I did. Today, I counted 13. It's easy coz they run singly and at irregular intervals ...BUt his point must have been that when you are running, you pay attention only to the road ahead... A man's mind must be let to wander and ponder over such mundane things as who else is crazy enough to be running at that time, no?
I've picked up a slight injury of the inner thigh. The friction between the inner lining - more like netting to me - and my thigh resulted in a bruise on Sunday. It came back today at around the 7th kilometre. I must get those biker shorts ...
Finally, my run came to a stop, to be continued on Thursday - I am not ruling out tomorrow, just to recover that one hour I lost.
Sixty minutes, 10 kilometres more and the legs are smiling.
By the way, I rested Lisa, my old running shoes, for good. The current pair, bought at the Jogoo Road secong hand shoe stalls at a princely sum of 2,500/- (two-thousand-five-hundred-shillings my guy) are doing just fine. I nicknamed them Truphena - they are true to my feet and the road. Long live Truphena.

PS
Our Co-ordinator for the Lewa Marathon, Samuel Mbau, sent an e-mail asking us to re-confirm our participation. I wonder what he is up to.
Apologies to Mejumaa Mbaruku for 'snubbing' her at the track on Sunday. I am poor of sight so I use glasses. However, I run without them. She was at the track, all right, and with her two beautiful girls. She called out my name but somehow I didn't connect the 'calling,' the sound, with her. POle Mej. I feel like Samuel of the Bible who missed out on two calls from the Lord, all the while mistaking them for Eli's (1 Sam 3:1-9) ... (I'm not likening myself to Samuel and I'm not likening Mej to Eli but ... it's a nice thought!

Training Day 7: 11.2km, 65min 32 sec + 11km walk

Another day of disappointment.
I set out to run 2hrs – and secretly wanted to do 53 laps – 21km but ended up doing 28 laps – 11.2km, got drenched and walked 11km.
I woke up feeling good, especially after sleeping for over 11 hours. For breakfast, I had three slices of bread, two fistfuls of groundnuts, two boiled eggs and a cup of black tea. An hour later, I made ugali and sukuma wiki. Then I set off for the track.
I got to the track at 4.07pm and started off at 4.11pm, all set to stop at 6.11pm. There was one guy running and a number of guys waiting to play soccer on the pitch. Going by the SUVs parked nearby, these didn’t look serious soccer players, rather some execs just letting off steam. Anyway, let each have their sin.
My form was good. I did the first 10 laps at a great pace. I just loved how I was feeling and how the legs were responding to the track.
All through, I was joined by five guys – at different times. They were all fast and after a lap or two they droped out did some semblance of push ups, stretches then disappeared off the scene the same way they got on it, fast.
Unfortunately, none of my workmates showed up for the run not even after a friendly invite that read in part, “Carry some water and come dressed unless you are ready to do so in the open – there is no dressing room.”
At the 20th lap, it looked like it was going to rain any second but I ignored it and ran on. Lap 21, lap 22, lap 23, lap 24, lap 25 … drops of rain. One, a long wait, another. A lull. Then two-three drops. The 27th lap, it sort of drizzled but on the 28th lap, it came down consistently. I’d carried a small rucksack. In it were a book, my cellphone, specs, a thirst and a bottle of water. I couldn’t care if they all got wet but for the phone and the book. So I stopped, picked the bag and walked away.
I didn’t go far for it now literally poured and I had to take shelter at some place in the university. After the rain subsided, I continued with my walk. Valley road, one, two, one, two, I went. Then Argwings Kodhek, hoo haa hoo haa hoo haa, I continued. Before long I was in Yaya. It had rained here too for there was mud all over the road. On and on I went then turned to Gitanga Road and before long I was in the house – 22km covered but the joy of covering them having been lost in the disappointment of not running for two hours.
Tomorrow, rather than rest, I will do an hour …

Training Day 6: 11km walk

It wasn’t as it should have been. I didn’t run, not even for a minute. When I was supposed to be out there, kicking the air before me, muscles in shock as they realized kumbe they can do these things, I was dead asleep; very much a worker’s slumber – so complete nothing else seemed to matter.
As fate – or should I say some wise-ass in IT? – would have it, we couldn’t put the paper to bed by the time the system went into auto-maintenance thereby shutting us out. The guy with the know-how was nowhere to be seen. We waited 5 min, 10, 15, 30 then we said, ‘Heck, let’s get our asses outta here. We’ll sort it out tomorrow.’
Anyway, I got home at 3am and was asleep by 320am. At 5am, I just couldn’t get up … so I didn’t run. All the same, when I finally got up, I opted for squats and crunches, 25 apiece. I felt nice.
Done with the usuals – bathe, breakfast, catch a bus, get to the office, wish Sara (my lovely workmate who after a trip to Germany is looking hot these days!) a lovely birthday, get down to cleaning up the page blah blah blah …
In the afternoon, I decided to walk home, 11km away. On my way Ipassed by a friend’s office. Unfortunately, I went to the wrong building, walked 5 sets of stairs up then down! I didn’t feel so bad about it, after all it was a form of exercise. Good people, preparing for the marathon makes you that generous and positive – but do I say?
So I set off by foot. An easy pace, looking around and enjoying whatever there was to enjoy. Past Uhuru Park I saw couples smiling into each other’s eyes and I thought it beautiful. It costs almost nothing to spend the afternoon lying on the grass in Uhuru Park but the fact that the couples are there just says so much.
Further ahead, up Valley Road, then Argwings Kodhek to Gitanga Road. After Valley Arcade, there was a traffic jam that stretched all the way to Kawangware … I got home earlier than those who’d left Valley Arcade in vehicles. How nice.
So tomorrow I do 2 hours at the University track. I invited guys we are going to Lewa with; I am not sure if they will turn out but I will be there to run, 120 minutes or more. Then I will walk home …
And the running continues …
The TV is on and Preacherman Joel Osteen is going on and on…’Don’t make decisions that you gonna regret… You will see your dreams come. It may be Friday but Sunday will come. God is looking for people that have a made up mind…’ Amen.
“I may not see it happening now but I know it is on the way” Yippee!!!!!!!!

Training Day 5: 8km, 53 min

Today, I almost did a 30-min run but for the beautiful morning. First, the moon was still up (somebody tell me how to put that in correct English) so it was light enough and I could dodge the potholes quite easily. (Note to Charles Nyende: This time I wasn't night running, tee hee!).
Second, and most important, it was cold going on to chilly. I enjoy such weather unfortunately, you don't get to sweat as much as you would love to.
I can't believe almost everyone is asleep at such a time. They should be out and enjoying the cool breeze ... It is the best time to be up and about. It is so quiet, the air is fresh... just great.
Anyway, I was up by 4:58am and ready by 5:03am but started running at 5:17am. The caretaker tried to engage me in some silly banter but I waved him off, "Hey, acha nipige tizzy kidogo. Story baadaye."
I was a bit faster than the previous day for in my mind, I wanted a 30 min run. That was not to be. As soon as I got past the bridge, I thought, "What the heck, who'll punish me for doing a 50min run? No one!" So I went, leg in front of the other, punch in the air after another punch in the air .... all the way to Uthiru.
No one on the road, really. Yeah, I met some three young men just after Precious Blood Riruta. They were speaking at the top of their voices. I concluded they belonged to the friend side of the fence so I ran past them. Down the bridge, up the hill, some huge lorries, some excavators by the roadside, a van here, a matatu there... before long I was at the ILRI roundabout and taking my laps.
I was more focused too, trying to maintain the correct posture as advised by Jack while thinking of the running strategy next week - whether to do some speed runs or just stick to adding kilometres to the legs. I was also thinking of take up that challenge by Jack that I try the Gitanga-Valley road route. I would love to take it but part of the road to Congo is full of people and the matatu guys there are crazy, high or a lethat combination of the two. Equally, this side of town doesn't appreciate some guy running in the morning, they may just dispossess me of my shoes, watch and even clothes. But I will try soon - right after Lewa.
I met a total of seven runners - all after 545am. I guess that is the time most runners take to the road, for whatever reason.
After my five laps at the roundabout I got back, longer strides now and feeling the leg meet the tarmac. Nice feeling...
I got to the house still full of energy. It didn't feel like I'd done 8km at all: no muscle-scream, no much sweat, no ... just great. Once in the house, I did some 25 push-ups ... I'm in a bad shape when it comes to push ups...I don't even like them!
Anyway, another 8km done, 53 minutes gone. A few more runs then the 2hr Lewa goal will just be a walk in the park while sucking on an ice-cream cone ...

Training Day 4: 8km, 58 min

Better late than never. I failed to update the blog yesterday but here I am. Welcome folks.
Woke up the usual time, just before 5am, changed and off, I went.
I wasn't feeling so fit - my right foot was complaining while the body was wailing for five or so more minutes of sleep. Since we had a staff meeting at 8am, I had no minute to spare.
At 5:14am I started my thing, a leg after the other, fists pumping the air and the breath coming in quick succession - such a lame expression but there it is. My target was 50 minutes. Jack said that I need not confine myself to the 30 min, I can push it up to 40 min or 50 min. This was a 50 min run so I was ok and all set.
The pace was comfortable and easy and within no time I was at the roundabout. Did five laps then ran back.
There were just five runners. I guess being a Tuesday most woke up and prepared for work, perhaps leaving the running for Saturday.
All in all a great run.

PS:
I think I need to consult a doctor. In the third lap at the roundabout, I got disoriented and had to take some time to get my bearings - I almost took the route to the bridge thinking it was the ILRI route but thank God I got my direction in good time. I think I need to see a doctor. This is the second time I am getting disoriented just like that. I hope it's not some disease that is creeping up on me.

Training Day 3: 18km, 103 minutes

I did 45 laps on the track, that is 18km (45 by 400m), in the afternoon/evening – from 4.37pm. I did 44 laps n 100 minutes but opted to add one more lap to get a round andd friendly 18km. Average 5 min 40 sec per lap.

The track was deserted when I got there but by the time I left, there were four other runners. From the way they were running, they are either just enthusiasts or short race guys – they were running so fast that just the thought of following them disoriented me and made my head spin.
I slowed down at the seventh lap but pushed on till the 45th lap. My mind was on 100 minutes – the laps just came. I wasn’t in the best of frames to take on the track, and not 100 minutes of pounding the track.
On Saturday, I travelled to Kitui – 3 hours from Nairobi. In the morning, I did some local tourism and went climbing Nzambani Rock, quite an energy sapping thing, to say nothing of my fear of heights. So when I went to run, I was really low on energy. Just four bananas and half a litre of milk.
After the run, I was all hungry but I chose to walk to Yaya Centre from where I took a matatu home.
Indeed, Lewa is manageable in under 2hrs ..

Training Day 2: 7km, 51 minutes

I would be lying if I said I woke up at 5am; I didn’t. I didn’t sleep at all. I got home from work at about 4.48am. That is not strange for a Saturday – we go to press on Friday. Come every Friday, we arrive at work resigned to getting home the next day. We just screw up, somehow, every Friday.
Anyway. As soon as I got to the house, I changed into my running gear, lazied about a bit then set off. The usual routine: walk about half a kilometer to Naivasha road then start the run. That was 5.20am. I was committed to doing 30 minutes – 15 minutes to and 15 minutes back.
Ku ku! ku ku! Hhm! Hhm! Hhm! I went. Metres, turned into tens of metres then hundreds then kilometres to match the change of seconds into minutes. My breathing changed from the easy almost noiseless type to an audible pant but I kept on. The sweat was pouring, the t-shirt soaking it all and I was feeling good, never mind the thigh muscles were speaking a language of their own.
It dawned on me that the route was pretty unlit except for a few security lights: one before the river, another just after the dumpsite then the few lights at ILRI’s fence all the way to the gate. Thereafter as you take the roundabout , you get back to darkness. And it seems some moron has been digging up the road thereby exposing me to leg injuries. Who is in charge of the lighting and what is he doing? Hold on, where does Nairobi City Council jurisdiction end and Kikuyu County Council start? Once I establish which local authority is in charge, I will write them a letter a week until they fix the street lights; you wait you will see. But wait, right after ILRI on the other side of the road stands a Kenya Power and Lighting Company sub-station!
Being a Saturday, the traffic – both vehicular and human – was almost non-existent save for one or two people, a vehicle here, a rickety matatu there and of course me – and Mbaraka Mwinshehe’s Dr Kreluu in my head.
Coming down the river, I thought I heard some sound like that of a person walking/jogging ahead of me. So I turned my ear to the direction of the sound knowing very well it could be my own feet. Two, three listenings and I could make out it was a fellow runner. And he was running in the same direction. What a joy!
Elated at the company, I went all the way to Uthiru thereby breaking rule number whatever: If the schedule requires 30 minutes of running, give it 30 minutes of running, nothing less.Thus, when the alarm went off signaling the time to turn back, I was so into the run I saw no harm in throwing in a few more minutes and in the process mileage to the legs. So I ran on all the while Mbaraka Mwinshehe’s Dr Kreluu is going like crazy in my mind.
I kept to a friendly pace all through. My breathing was light enough. The feet were co-operating and the breeze was ok. There was some pain in the chest, almost like a stitch but it somehow subsided.
On my way to Uthiru I met 6 runners. On my way from there, I met 21 runners, conspicuous in their dressing. May be I need to dress like them complete with a light-coloured nylon jackets that cover the head leaving only the eyes. But in that state, wouldn’t I be run over by a vehicle coming from behind? I am not sure I would hear it approach. Talking of vehicles, why oh why, can’t they be kind enough to runners and dim their lights as they approach you – the way they do with approaching vehicles? That light disorients one to no end.
Twenty-seven runners in the morning is encouraging. I’m tempted to change my tme from 5am to 6am. But 5am is so quiet you can hear yourself think. I’m not sure I want to shift to 6am – what with the crowds, the citi hoppas, KBSs, matatus…
Fifty-one minutes, seven kilometers done. Next stop 100 minutes at the UoN.
I love it.

Training Day 1: 8km, 61min

I was up by 4:58am, thanks to three huge motivators: a) the cold bedroom; b) the irritating alarm clock, and c) Jack's near-jeremiad: "What price are you willing to pay to do a 2Hr half marathon? You must be ready to do it alone and be your own motivator and coach and running mate."
In another minute, I was all dressed up - stopwatch, tracksuit (just the trouser-part), Stanchart 2006 marathon t-shirt and Lisa, my near worthless but useful old running shoes. Oh, I always remember to carry my staff ID and 50 or 100 bob. You never know what awaits you. (The staff ID would help if I met cops or if, God forbid, I got run over by some vehicle or otherwise died, passed out etc. The 50 bob, well, what happens when I meet a hungry mugger? It is a slum...)
I left the house, closed the door, hallo-ed the watchman and out the gate. I walked for about half a kilometre to Naivasha road - my routine whenever I run in the morning - and started my running at 5:16am. A friendly pace.
It was still early, slightly dark and very few people on the road. Just perfect, if you ignore the unlit/poorly lit route and generous amount of potholes that adorn the 200 or so metres at the start.
So, this was it, I said as I ran. I was clear: I was going to do 50 minutes but no reaching Uthiru as a dumping site had come up just after the river. My plan was to get to the river and turn back, thrice, to make it just over 6km.
The first lap went well. I got to the river and turned back. On my way up, I met one guy also running. So, I am not alone this early? This is encouraging, I told myself.
On the second lap, it was more light, you could see a guy 20 or so metres ahead. This time round, I went all the way to ILRI's fence, a distance of over two and a half kilometres and turned back. Another runner, this time a girl/woman. Tall-ish, slender. A few metres down the hill, one runner, a man. Ah, so we were many.
I got to the river more relaxed, not worried about Mungiki nor marijuana smoking/puffing/inhaling chokoras.
Up the hill, I met three other runners, two men then a woman. It was now past 6 am, a few minutes to my target, 50 minutes. Somehow I got my numbers all wrong: I'd set the stopwatch alarm to go at 6:16, instead of 6:06. After the alarm went off, I ran for a minute or so, slowed down then walked my customary half a kilometre to the house.
Kawaida breakfast: Black tea, loaf and groundnuts ... then two cups of warm water ...
The journey to Lewa has just begun. This is a warm up; 61 minutes down, 1,000 or so more to follow. I can't wait to crow!
But Jack's words still ring in my mind: "What price are you willing to pay to do a 2Hr half marathon? You must be ready to do it alone and be your own motivator and coach and running mate."
One thing though: I need to follow rules. My schedule says 50 min but I did 61 min...
I am ready and willing. I just started.

Lewa, here I come

I am preparing for the June 27th Safaricom Lewa Marathon. I'll be running the 21km race, sponsored by my employer.
To that end, I am embarking on a three-week training that will culminate in my finishing the race in 2hrs or less. So I asked my friend and running inspiration Jack Aliet for advice.
Here is his response:
"Three weeks is easy. I suggest the following - don't bother about speed for now: just focus on getting your body to learn to keep running for the indicated durations and days - the speed will come by itself. One rider is that you MUST follow the timetable - if you cant run in the evening, you must wake up early the next day and run for the indicated times. That is the most important thing: let the schedule guide you and tick away the runs one by one. Just get a stopwatch and do the runs religiously and I believe you will make it.
"As for food, so long as you are not eating chips, deep fried food and high-calorie types like cakes, eat to your fill. You should burn it successfully if you follow the timetable.
"Just follow the timetable STRICTLY. And if you are too busy to manage, acknowledge it to yourself but you need to be dedicated. Hata mimi leo niliamka 4:50am and will do so until October. That is the price I am ready to pay. What price are you willing to pay to do a 2Hr half marathon?
"You must be ready to do it alone and be your own motivator and coach and running mate.

4th June -50 Mins run - comfortable pace
6th June -30 Mins run - comfortable pace
7th June - 100 Mins run - easy pace
9th June - 60 Mins run - comfortable pace
11th June - 50 Mins run - comfortable pace
13th June - 30 Mins run - comfortable pace
14th June - 120 Mins run easy pace
16th June - 60 Mins run - comfortable pace
18th June - 70 Mins run - comfortable pace
19th June - 30 Mins run - comfortable pace
21st June - 140 Mins run easy pace
23rd June - 30 Mins run - comfortable pace
24th and 25th - REST AND GET YOUR LEGS
27th June Lewa Marathon"

So, join me as I document my journey to the Safaricom Lewa Marathon on June 27th.