Lewa Safaricom Half Marathon

On Saturday I participated in my first half marathon…and miraculously completed the 21km route! The days leading up to the pre-race meeting were filled with anxiety and nervousness. I kept wondering, “Would I even make it??” I arrived in Nanyuki, by Mt. Kenya, on Tuesday to begin acclimatizing to the altitude which is over three times higher than at my site. On Wednesday we went for a beautiful four hour hike around the foothills of Mt. Kenya and a short jog Friday morning to get my legs moving. Friday’s pre-race meeting completely lightened the mood, replacing my nervousness with overwhelming excitement.

The Safaricom Lewa Marathon was a perfect choice for my first half marathon – the mood was fairly casual, most of the participants taking part for the cause rather than the competition. The Lewa Conservancy has wildlife protection and educational programs throughout the region. The majority of participants are on teams, doing the half marathon as a fundraising event. Although I signed up as an individual for the full marathon, I knew going into it that I would only plan to run half since it was my first marathon experience.

The choice to do the half was a good one – between the altitude, cessation of training for the month leading up to the marathon because of an injury, and the heat and hills, the 21 km I did complete was fairly brutal at times. It was an interesting mentality, though, knowing that there was no turning back and the question of completion was never on my mind because I knew I had no choice. The first 9 km were fairly easy….then the hills began. From 12 km through to 17 km was a ‘nice little’ series of hills. Although my initial goal was to run the entirety of the route, I definitely walked. I have no shame in admitting that. But the beautiful surrounding scenery made for a nice view as I slowed my pace.

The beginning and the end of the course were the most memorable, as far as marathon experiences go. Since we were running through a wildlife conservancy, the commencement of the race was delayed as helicopters and planes patrolled the route clearly the surrounding areas of wildlife. With a chopper hovering overhead, the race started with the bang of a gun. Along the entirety of the course were Kenya Wildlife Service park rangers with their guns, assuring no one was eaten by a lion or trampled by an elephant. The avoidance of human-wildlife contact was done quite well – a little too well, in my opinion – since we only saw some grazing gazelle in the distance once. But all was redeemed on the drive into the park and the drive out as we passed numerous giraffes grazing along the roadside, some only 30 feet away!

The entire experience was quite incredible, even surreal at times. As we departed from the pre-race meeting Friday night, I had to keep reminding myself that I was actually having this experience: the picturesque fire red ball of sun was sliding behind the cloud cover engulfing Mt. Kenya, creating scenery over the African landscape like I had never seen before. The umbrella acacia trees speckled the dry grasslands, with a spot of forest sprouting up around a stream and providing the base for the conservancy’s tent camp. I know my description cannot even begin to do the entirety of the experience justice, but I try anyways – mostly in hope of convincing someone, anyone to seek out these moments in life. Because it is in moments like that I know there is nowhere else I’d rather be. And ultimately, isn’t that was life is all about: finding a sense of personal satisfaction in every moment of your life?? I guess I’m still figuring this out myself, but hopefully it is moments like this that bring me closer to my answer.

Kenya's Poetic Future

“What makes a Kenyan a Kenyan? Skin color? Language?,” the horseshoe-bent line of twenty young girls posed to the Kenyan adults. “No! NO!,” their strong voices echoed in unison, reverberating within the corrugated metal walls and roof. Surrounded by hundreds of children in a rainbow assortment of colored uniforms – purple and yellow, orange and blue, red checkers, red with grey and blue socks, pink and royal blue, green checkers, grey and navy plaid – I felt a smile of being profoundly impressed creep across my face as the powerful voices recited a powerful message. “We are proud Kenyans. Kenya’s national heritage – our pride.” This was just one of many poems I heard primary school aged children reciting at the poetry competition as Mgunkuni School yesterday.

In an education system where rote recitation is the key to success, how will children be able to learn critical thinking skills, and then apply them to serious real-world issues like water conservation, national identity, and peace along ethnic divides? One primary school teacher is using the poetry competition as a means for passing on messages regarding serious issues facing Kenya today. “We have so many meetings and they don’t listen to us. Maybe they’ll listen to the children.”

The message of another poem, the effect amplified by recitation in a group, plastered furrowed brows and pleading eyes on the children’s faces as they begged, “Spare me, mama. Spare me!” This one was about water – an increasingly dire situation in my town of Makindu. The price of water quadrupled as of March of this year and for almost a week in May we were without running water, and that shortage discounts the sporadic outages. Despite numerous town and government meetings regarding the issue, an ongoing saga continues to unfold with new information making the internal politics of the situation ever more interesting. So for now, I sit tight with my reserve tank full, waiting for a resolution to this ever-pressing issue.

Though my favorite poem came in light of the post-election violence and ever-present ethnic divisiveness in Kenya. “Unite, peace, and liberty is a possibility.” After hearing the profound and powerfully delivered poetic messages, a friend leaned over to me and said, “If these children believe what they are saying, you will see a change in Kenya in your lifetime.” I would agree. If these children do become embodiments of these poems’ messages, one cannot be left with any doubt that a positive change will come to Kenya as the next generation comes into its own.