The Standard Chartyered 2009 certificates are finally here. My official time is given as 2:25:56 (as opposed to my watch's 2:25:13.83).
Equally, they got my names right including the elusive 'Otsieno.' Last year I was referred to as Otieno. The two are different: Otsieno is derived from Otieno. I can't get a matching pronunciation for 'ts' offhead but it is softer than 'th' in 'thing.' Most non Luo and Non-Luyia speakers can't tell the difference or they just don't give a damn.
Anyway, I downloaded my certificate yesterday and should print it out on good quality paper tomorrow or Monday.
Whatever else you may say about the race organisers - like: 'What the heck were they thinking not to place those distance markers on the course?' - they did an awesome job on certificates.
No queues, no faulty printers, no countless helps etc.
They saved on money - all that printing, personnel, paper etc (not that I care!) - and put technology to good use.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Just a break
The Stanchart 2009 race is behind us now. Training takes on a different meaning, a different pace, a different style but the end is more or less the same: cut some weight, increase speed, cover more distance.
I'm taking two weeks off to rest, somehow. There won't be any running during that break. But I will do the usual walking home from work and take up that 50 pushups in 6 weeks programme. The latter I start off on Sunday, November 1.
Keep well people.
I'm taking two weeks off to rest, somehow. There won't be any running during that break. But I will do the usual walking home from work and take up that 50 pushups in 6 weeks programme. The latter I start off on Sunday, November 1.
Keep well people.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Before the road grabbed, kicked, and crushed us, we were all relaxed, cheerful
Here, Jack (2023), me (3442), Kariuki (2622), Gachanja (2533) and Sikuku (2429) pose for a photo before the race. We were still fresh and full of energy. You should have seen us after the race, weee!
Jack had an injury so he dropped off; I wangled a 2:25; Kariuki dropped out, he had an injury, something or both; Gachanja did 2:13; Sikuku had an injury but he did an amazing 1:50. Yeah, he ate ugali, dried fish and some very bitter herbs before leaving the house that morning. Just that you know, he strolled over Ndakaini - he did 1:47 while the guy in specs and between the two caps, did 3 hours. OMG!
Standard Marathon, 2:25 (Whaaaaat!)
Boy, wasn't it fun!
I have never enjoyed a run like I did the 2009 Standard Chartered half marathon. I kid you not.
The weekend was as confusingly tight as you can imagine. For one, I left the house on Friday at 7am and went back on Saturday at 6am. At 2pm, I was back at the office all the way to 8pm.
So, home at about 9pm, made ugali, sukuma wiki. Wolfed both down, no ceremony there. I had bought this 500ml of milk. I drained it. What next? Oh, water - a litre and more. Then I slept. Uneventful. My knee was not very co-operative but I'd sworn to walk the wholw damn 21km if I had to.
I got up in good time, way before 6am but somehow ended up leaving the house at 6.10am. Assembly time was 6.45am. The breakfast wasn't much. A less-than-filled-to-the-brim mug of black tea and a piece of warmed up ugali which was so tasteless it filled my mouth. I spit it all out, pronto. I was cursing why I didn't buy bread the previous night. Then I remembered I just didn't have any money on me. I got to town at 6.45am and had to jog the kilometre or so to Nyayo Stadium. I even broke a little sweat.
Unlike the previous race, I didn't carry any luggage. Just fare, a measly 100 bob, my job ID, handkerchief and gum. This saved me so much time; and, worry.
I settled down easily - had some guy help me pin the 3442 on my tshirt, fastened the chip onto my shoes and was ready. Looked around, traced Jack then Kariuki, then Sikuku then Gachanja.
Team? Check.
Watch? Check.
Toilet? Check (I can't stand those mobile loos!).
Psyche? Check.
Tension? Check.
Weather? Check, at least for the moment - sunny, some wind and all.
Check.
Check.
Check.
Everything as it supposedly should be. Ok, the knee was playing up from a distance. And my tights had just ripped that morning where it mattered - my family jewels were at risk. So had to wear something inside before the tights then the track pants. Too 'dressed' for a race.
Not the best of places to meet new, important people, really, but that is where I met Jack's wife, Mary. I felt such a phony as we shook hands. It was just not the best of times! But am sure she will understand.
Catching up here and there, Jack's advise (the first kilometere should be the slowest etc etc), Kariuki and why he didn't come for Ndakaini, Kamau was missing...
7.32am sharp, and we were released onto the road, the 21km ahead of us.
We started off with Kariuki. Jack and Sikuku just flew off like they were shot from a cannonor something. Me and Kariuki agreed to take it easy. And boy, didn't we take it easy!
Off Nyayo, Uhuru Highway, Uhuru Park, back to Uhuru Highway... the pace was light, easy, friendly. It was almost a jog. But a number of people were walking, already! Anyway, Kariuki had started disappering behind me. I couldn't see him in his blue track pants and all. Just sooooo many Stanchart tshirts ...
Uhuru Highway all the way to the University turning point you could see more people slow down and some more people walk. Poor souls, we had not even done 5km and they were already walking?
Uhuru Highway, up Kenyatta avenue. First setback. My runnning inspiration, the guy who even got to me to commit to running before I totally got hooked, the one and only Jack, was ahead, but walking. Damn! That hit me bad. He had an injury. But ever a sportsman, he urged me on. 'You run on and finish.'
Just after Jack, a few minutes, the 42km crew came by, police, motorbike, Mahindra escort and all. They sped past as if they were high or crazy. Sometimes the line between the two is so thin that it is not there anymore. When it comes to running, it is one and the same thing. They are high on something or crazy for the prize etc. Ah, doesn't matter.
Anyway, got back and pushed on. The knee was playing up but so mildly. That I could take but I could not run as fast as I would have loved so I just maintained the pace, slightly above a jog.
Uhuru Highway to Harambee Avenue back to Uhuru Highway then to Haile Selassie back to Uhuru Highway, roundabout on to Mombasa Road. By then Kariuki was nowhere in sight nor in mind. Instead,there was this Indian I was following. He was as 'heavy' as me, with a friendly pace to match. There were also these two girls, average of build, one with hair reaching her waist... their pace? I could live with it or is it I could keep up? Make it both.
I also picked out this lady, No. 5900 whose pace was constant but friendly. I never lost sight of her until just before the stadium.
Past Nyayo Stadium and now more people were dropping by the wayside to walk. As we talk the final bay hill to Zain's turning point, Gachanja overtook me. I lost him somehow and never saw him again.
So far so good. Two, three water points. I took none.
As we approoached Zain offices, a few drops of rain, nothing more but it was definitely going to rain some more. Not to worry. We needed the showers, not as badly as we did at Ndakaini. The rain was more than welcome. It didn't come until way after the turning point. Jack had warned us never to shy away from poor weather as we could not tell how it would be on the day of the race.
There were quite a number of distractions. Actually that is one of my favourite pastime when am running. There were all these 'I survived this-and-that 2009 marathon;' 'Great Body Gym marathon team.' But what took the cake was 'Ja Walk-a-thon' neatly done and balanced an this girl's t-shirt. the two/three times I saw this particular girl, she was walking!
And the people were of all shapes. The shapes did not get in the way of running, not all. hats off to the ladies. They were so many and they really gave their all. Well done ladies.
Mombasa road after Zain and we turned back. My energy was up - I right away thought back at the bread that I failed to eat in the morning - so I slowed down to walk hoping to resume running at the next water point. Wapi! It was a first aid stop. I walked over to have my knee attended but when Isaw some guy on his back, ice all over his knee, I opted for a quick fix and had some liquid sprayed over my singing knee. I couldn't imagine taking 10-15 minutes getting the knee sorted out. No way.
'Would you be having any water?'
'No son, right ahead.' She actually called me son and I was dying? How comforting.
Anyway, from there it was walk run, walk run. I even adopted a silly style of running: I'd lean forward and run as if I was about to drop ... somehow it worked for I was able to take on the stretching baby hill ahead. Oh, it also rained for a few minutes. All this while, girl no. 5900 was right ahead, doing her easy pace thing. My two track 'girlfriends' were ever near - ahead or behind. They seemed to have a lot to catch on. All the times I overtook them they were talking. When they overtook me, they were talking. sad I didn't cram their numbers - I'd have recruited them into my running team.
On and off, on and off ...
Two or so kilometres to the Stadium, I had this muscle pull creep up on me. No way I was going to let it invite the ambulance over, I told myself. I mean, what was the need of doing 19/20km only to be carried off in astretcher or ambulance? No way. So, I just walked. It wouldn't let up. It kept coming back. I'd come to do a sub 2hrs, I'd already lost that one. I wasn't going to lose it all by not finishing. So I just babysat the leg. At that time my thighs were afire - those tights must have been fakes - next time, it's Nairobi Sports House or none! I was bruised like hell. Walking just made it worse. Anyway, I invited myself so no one to blame, au vipi?
I limped all the way but managed to throw in a run or three after I got to the Stadium but the muscle kept me in check...
Crossed the line with the beep beep of the chip's info being fed ino the organisers machine.
I'd done it. I'd cleared the most unlikely of half marathons in 2:25. So much had happened to my disadvantage. First, the guys we run with had goten a coach and 'defected' to a real club. Then I got a back problem and was off running for about a week. A little later, my knee developed a mind of its own - never mind that I forced to do the 21km hilly Ndakaini; worse, my Saturdays are no longer what they used to be: I'm most likely to get home in the wee hours of the morning from work. There is gotta be a better way, really.
This time, Stanchart were much sharper. No more long queues. After you handed in your champion chip, you were givena medal and this flyer that directed you on how to get your certificate online. How nice.
Looking back, the Ndakaini race - the 3hrs of it - gave me some confidence that the Stanchart course could not dent.
The most important lessons I came away with from the race were: a) Practise, practise, practise. b) You must first be willing to go all the way before even the body can accept. c) I just didn't push myself as hard as I should have.
Now, a week or two off for the kneeto heal then I get back to running.
A year to go befre another Stanchart, tukiwa wazima.
For 2010, I will enrol for all the walks and runs I can. If money comes my way, i will do Lewa too. But Ndakaini is a must.
PS:
Pictures will follow shortly.
I have never enjoyed a run like I did the 2009 Standard Chartered half marathon. I kid you not.
The weekend was as confusingly tight as you can imagine. For one, I left the house on Friday at 7am and went back on Saturday at 6am. At 2pm, I was back at the office all the way to 8pm.
So, home at about 9pm, made ugali, sukuma wiki. Wolfed both down, no ceremony there. I had bought this 500ml of milk. I drained it. What next? Oh, water - a litre and more. Then I slept. Uneventful. My knee was not very co-operative but I'd sworn to walk the wholw damn 21km if I had to.
I got up in good time, way before 6am but somehow ended up leaving the house at 6.10am. Assembly time was 6.45am. The breakfast wasn't much. A less-than-filled-to-the-brim mug of black tea and a piece of warmed up ugali which was so tasteless it filled my mouth. I spit it all out, pronto. I was cursing why I didn't buy bread the previous night. Then I remembered I just didn't have any money on me. I got to town at 6.45am and had to jog the kilometre or so to Nyayo Stadium. I even broke a little sweat.
Unlike the previous race, I didn't carry any luggage. Just fare, a measly 100 bob, my job ID, handkerchief and gum. This saved me so much time; and, worry.
I settled down easily - had some guy help me pin the 3442 on my tshirt, fastened the chip onto my shoes and was ready. Looked around, traced Jack then Kariuki, then Sikuku then Gachanja.
Team? Check.
Watch? Check.
Toilet? Check (I can't stand those mobile loos!).
Psyche? Check.
Tension? Check.
Weather? Check, at least for the moment - sunny, some wind and all.
Check.
Check.
Check.
Everything as it supposedly should be. Ok, the knee was playing up from a distance. And my tights had just ripped that morning where it mattered - my family jewels were at risk. So had to wear something inside before the tights then the track pants. Too 'dressed' for a race.
Not the best of places to meet new, important people, really, but that is where I met Jack's wife, Mary. I felt such a phony as we shook hands. It was just not the best of times! But am sure she will understand.
Catching up here and there, Jack's advise (the first kilometere should be the slowest etc etc), Kariuki and why he didn't come for Ndakaini, Kamau was missing...
7.32am sharp, and we were released onto the road, the 21km ahead of us.
We started off with Kariuki. Jack and Sikuku just flew off like they were shot from a cannonor something. Me and Kariuki agreed to take it easy. And boy, didn't we take it easy!
Off Nyayo, Uhuru Highway, Uhuru Park, back to Uhuru Highway... the pace was light, easy, friendly. It was almost a jog. But a number of people were walking, already! Anyway, Kariuki had started disappering behind me. I couldn't see him in his blue track pants and all. Just sooooo many Stanchart tshirts ...
Uhuru Highway all the way to the University turning point you could see more people slow down and some more people walk. Poor souls, we had not even done 5km and they were already walking?
Uhuru Highway, up Kenyatta avenue. First setback. My runnning inspiration, the guy who even got to me to commit to running before I totally got hooked, the one and only Jack, was ahead, but walking. Damn! That hit me bad. He had an injury. But ever a sportsman, he urged me on. 'You run on and finish.'
Just after Jack, a few minutes, the 42km crew came by, police, motorbike, Mahindra escort and all. They sped past as if they were high or crazy. Sometimes the line between the two is so thin that it is not there anymore. When it comes to running, it is one and the same thing. They are high on something or crazy for the prize etc. Ah, doesn't matter.
Anyway, got back and pushed on. The knee was playing up but so mildly. That I could take but I could not run as fast as I would have loved so I just maintained the pace, slightly above a jog.
Uhuru Highway to Harambee Avenue back to Uhuru Highway then to Haile Selassie back to Uhuru Highway, roundabout on to Mombasa Road. By then Kariuki was nowhere in sight nor in mind. Instead,there was this Indian I was following. He was as 'heavy' as me, with a friendly pace to match. There were also these two girls, average of build, one with hair reaching her waist... their pace? I could live with it or is it I could keep up? Make it both.
I also picked out this lady, No. 5900 whose pace was constant but friendly. I never lost sight of her until just before the stadium.
Past Nyayo Stadium and now more people were dropping by the wayside to walk. As we talk the final bay hill to Zain's turning point, Gachanja overtook me. I lost him somehow and never saw him again.
So far so good. Two, three water points. I took none.
As we approoached Zain offices, a few drops of rain, nothing more but it was definitely going to rain some more. Not to worry. We needed the showers, not as badly as we did at Ndakaini. The rain was more than welcome. It didn't come until way after the turning point. Jack had warned us never to shy away from poor weather as we could not tell how it would be on the day of the race.
There were quite a number of distractions. Actually that is one of my favourite pastime when am running. There were all these 'I survived this-and-that 2009 marathon;' 'Great Body Gym marathon team.' But what took the cake was 'Ja Walk-a-thon' neatly done and balanced an this girl's t-shirt. the two/three times I saw this particular girl, she was walking!
And the people were of all shapes. The shapes did not get in the way of running, not all. hats off to the ladies. They were so many and they really gave their all. Well done ladies.
Mombasa road after Zain and we turned back. My energy was up - I right away thought back at the bread that I failed to eat in the morning - so I slowed down to walk hoping to resume running at the next water point. Wapi! It was a first aid stop. I walked over to have my knee attended but when Isaw some guy on his back, ice all over his knee, I opted for a quick fix and had some liquid sprayed over my singing knee. I couldn't imagine taking 10-15 minutes getting the knee sorted out. No way.
'Would you be having any water?'
'No son, right ahead.' She actually called me son and I was dying? How comforting.
Anyway, from there it was walk run, walk run. I even adopted a silly style of running: I'd lean forward and run as if I was about to drop ... somehow it worked for I was able to take on the stretching baby hill ahead. Oh, it also rained for a few minutes. All this while, girl no. 5900 was right ahead, doing her easy pace thing. My two track 'girlfriends' were ever near - ahead or behind. They seemed to have a lot to catch on. All the times I overtook them they were talking. When they overtook me, they were talking. sad I didn't cram their numbers - I'd have recruited them into my running team.
On and off, on and off ...
Two or so kilometres to the Stadium, I had this muscle pull creep up on me. No way I was going to let it invite the ambulance over, I told myself. I mean, what was the need of doing 19/20km only to be carried off in astretcher or ambulance? No way. So, I just walked. It wouldn't let up. It kept coming back. I'd come to do a sub 2hrs, I'd already lost that one. I wasn't going to lose it all by not finishing. So I just babysat the leg. At that time my thighs were afire - those tights must have been fakes - next time, it's Nairobi Sports House or none! I was bruised like hell. Walking just made it worse. Anyway, I invited myself so no one to blame, au vipi?
I limped all the way but managed to throw in a run or three after I got to the Stadium but the muscle kept me in check...
Crossed the line with the beep beep of the chip's info being fed ino the organisers machine.
I'd done it. I'd cleared the most unlikely of half marathons in 2:25. So much had happened to my disadvantage. First, the guys we run with had goten a coach and 'defected' to a real club. Then I got a back problem and was off running for about a week. A little later, my knee developed a mind of its own - never mind that I forced to do the 21km hilly Ndakaini; worse, my Saturdays are no longer what they used to be: I'm most likely to get home in the wee hours of the morning from work. There is gotta be a better way, really.
This time, Stanchart were much sharper. No more long queues. After you handed in your champion chip, you were givena medal and this flyer that directed you on how to get your certificate online. How nice.
Looking back, the Ndakaini race - the 3hrs of it - gave me some confidence that the Stanchart course could not dent.
The most important lessons I came away with from the race were: a) Practise, practise, practise. b) You must first be willing to go all the way before even the body can accept. c) I just didn't push myself as hard as I should have.
Now, a week or two off for the kneeto heal then I get back to running.
A year to go befre another Stanchart, tukiwa wazima.
For 2010, I will enrol for all the walks and runs I can. If money comes my way, i will do Lewa too. But Ndakaini is a must.
PS:
Pictures will follow shortly.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Stanchart Marathon, 1 day to go
One day, nay less than 12 hrs to go. I can feel the anxiety, the adrenalin flowing ... even my breathing is not easy. So this is how it feels just before you go to war or before you take to the stage? I felt the same way at the Ndakaini starting line.
My knee is not in the best of shapes but as my colleague Sara says, 'Just make sure you finish; if you don't, make sure the ambulance takes you straight to ICU!'
I know Mark Kapchanga is coming, so is Joseph Ngunjiri (though his is more commercially inclined - he has a book to author-sign. He's co-authored a book with Henry Wanyoike, the runner)... so, here we go.
I hope to do 2hrs with the screaming knees...
See you on Monday for updates.
Cheers
My knee is not in the best of shapes but as my colleague Sara says, 'Just make sure you finish; if you don't, make sure the ambulance takes you straight to ICU!'
I know Mark Kapchanga is coming, so is Joseph Ngunjiri (though his is more commercially inclined - he has a book to author-sign. He's co-authored a book with Henry Wanyoike, the runner)... so, here we go.
I hope to do 2hrs with the screaming knees...
See you on Monday for updates.
Cheers
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
5 days to go: 5km walk
After the one hour run on Sunday morning, I threw in a walk on Monday evening, at least to 'firm' the knee and warm up the thigh/leg muscles a bit (they are feeling the strain of not running for long).
So after work, I walked to Yaya Centre, a distance of about 5km from the office. Nothing much save for the litte inconvenience of the wet road that my leaking shoe generously welcomed. fact that it had rained a bit leaving the path home wet but usable.
Did my walk in about 45 min or so and got there all sweaty and breathless but feeling ok. The knee is not 100 per cent back, maybe 70 per cent but will do.
I didn't manage a run in the morning as I had planned for I went to bed pretty late, 1am.
Cheers
So after work, I walked to Yaya Centre, a distance of about 5km from the office. Nothing much save for the litte inconvenience of the wet road that my leaking shoe generously welcomed. fact that it had rained a bit leaving the path home wet but usable.
Did my walk in about 45 min or so and got there all sweaty and breathless but feeling ok. The knee is not 100 per cent back, maybe 70 per cent but will do.
I didn't manage a run in the morning as I had planned for I went to bed pretty late, 1am.
Cheers
Monday, October 19, 2009
7 days to go: 60 min
I took the knee for testing Sunday morning and to my surprise it went very well.
Ananda - my 'coach' came for me at 540am and we set off at 547am. A new route, no less: Kawangware Road, Gitanga Road, Ole Odume, Argwings Kodhek to the Elgeyo Marakwet junction, back Argwings Kodhek, Ole Odume up Riara all the way to James Gichuru, Gitanga Road and back at home.
A few baby hills dotted the course: Gitanga Road, Argwings Kodhek, bits of Riara and back to James Gichuru, where Ananda always shoots off.
All went well despite a little knee pain which subsided and allowed me to complete the run in one piece - though the shoes and track had a different story to tell.
All is well, another run Tuesday morn and Thursday morn then I rest the legs for Sunday
Ananda - my 'coach' came for me at 540am and we set off at 547am. A new route, no less: Kawangware Road, Gitanga Road, Ole Odume, Argwings Kodhek to the Elgeyo Marakwet junction, back Argwings Kodhek, Ole Odume up Riara all the way to James Gichuru, Gitanga Road and back at home.
A few baby hills dotted the course: Gitanga Road, Argwings Kodhek, bits of Riara and back to James Gichuru, where Ananda always shoots off.
All went well despite a little knee pain which subsided and allowed me to complete the run in one piece - though the shoes and track had a different story to tell.
All is well, another run Tuesday morn and Thursday morn then I rest the legs for Sunday
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Finally, Stanchart ...03442
I have registered for the Standard Chartered 2009 half marathon. I registered yesterday but was given the 10km kit and only realised the mistake after I got to the office. I blame this confusion on CA's magical aura. That is for another day though!
I went back today to have that anomally fixed. It has been fixed and am all set for the Stanchart. Look out for no. 03442 - fat, a little potbelly and with a swagger to match.
Now to fixing the knee - the stretches, the squat and such are helping. So, too, are the pushups, the 50 a day that I started three days ago. My hands are singing a song of their own.
A week and a day to go.
I went back today to have that anomally fixed. It has been fixed and am all set for the Stanchart. Look out for no. 03442 - fat, a little potbelly and with a swagger to match.
Now to fixing the knee - the stretches, the squat and such are helping. So, too, are the pushups, the 50 a day that I started three days ago. My hands are singing a song of their own.
A week and a day to go.
Friday, October 2, 2009
It's Osgood Schlatters disease
I finally went to the doctor, today, Friday.
The knee wasn't getting any better so I thought I should get some intervention before I blow my chances of the Stanchart race.
It's Osgood Schlatters, a condition where the bony protrusion below the knee (called the tibial tuberosity or tubercle) becomes inflamed, painful and swollen.
It's not as serious but the doctor said I stay away from running/jog for a week or two. I was given some medicine too.
But looking at what is mentioned on the net, it a disease of children and adolescents 'who are still growing.' Bah!
Here:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/osgood.htm
I'll do a little running to see how it goes.
PS
All the best to Jack and Kamau as they take the run tomorrow.
The knee wasn't getting any better so I thought I should get some intervention before I blow my chances of the Stanchart race.
It's Osgood Schlatters, a condition where the bony protrusion below the knee (called the tibial tuberosity or tubercle) becomes inflamed, painful and swollen.
It's not as serious but the doctor said I stay away from running/jog for a week or two. I was given some medicine too.
But looking at what is mentioned on the net, it a disease of children and adolescents 'who are still growing.' Bah!
Here:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/osgood.htm
I'll do a little running to see how it goes.
PS
All the best to Jack and Kamau as they take the run tomorrow.
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