Running with the Kenyans - by Andy Baldwin

When one thinks of marathon champions, one undoubtedly thinks of the almighty Kenyans. Since the rise of marathon running in the 1970’s the Kalenjin tribe in Kenya’s western mountain region has produced some of the most prolific marathon champions the world has ever seen. Paul Tergat, Moses Tanui, and Joshua Chelanga are just a few of the prolific runners to emerge from this group. One of my dreams as an endurance athlete has always been to visit this region of Kenya and train with the world’s best. This past week, I finally got my chance.

After the Comrades Ultramarathon, myself and several members of the World Vision Comrades team proceeded on to Kenya to spend a week in very rural areas meeting our sponsored children and seeing the impact that our contributions are making in health care, education, and delivery of clean water. Our first stop was in the town of Eldoret, which lies at nearly 7,000 feet right on the Equator and is the hub for many distance running training groups. We rode through town in an old Safari type truck and encountered a scene full of animals, bustling markets where people were selling their wares, and children yelling “muzungu, muzungu” (an endearing word in Swahili for white people). As we rounded a bend our truck almost hit a donkey crossing the road. Beyond the donkey… was a group of incredibly fit men on the side of the road sporting brand label athletic warm-up jackets and pants. The temperature was at least 90 degrees with 100% humidity, so I was completely baffled by their heavy attire. Our driver pulled over and spoke to the men; they were a local elite training group of Kenyan runners out for a morning run. One of the runners said in Swahili, “Care to join us?” “You bet!” I said, not even inquiring how far or fast we would be going. Several of the others also agreed, and we hurried to change into our shorts and running shoes.

We were still very sore from the Comrades race, but this was a chance of a lifetime. One of the Kenyans spotted an American flag in my bag and asked if he could carry it on the run. “Definitely”, I said smiling. He also saw the trumpet of sorts we had called a Vuvuzela (now famous because of all the noise they make at the World Cup). It was agreed that he would blow the Vuvuzela for the starting whistle. We lined up on the makeshift start line, in the middle of a dirt road with cows and chickens passing by us. Alongside us were a dozen or so elite Kenyan runners, chiseled and lean, still in their warm-up gear. The Vuvuzela sounded and we were off!

The pace was easy at first, but proved to be difficult as we attempted to make conversation while avoiding cow pies and enormous bumps in the red dirt road. Through broken English and my feeble attempt at speaking Swahili I ran alongside and made friends with one of the Kenyan runners named David Weisenheimer (or at least that is what it sounded like when he introduced himself). He asked me what my 10,000 meter time was, and I very humbly replied a number between 30 and 40 minutes and then asked him his time. David replied that he had run the 10,000 meters YESTERDAY at a local District track meet in just over 28 minutes! And then he pointed at a fellow Kenyan next to us and said, “He beat me, he went faster by!” I couldn’t even fathom running that fast. I jogged along in awe as the blazing sun beat down on us, at what must have felt like a snail’s pace for these running warriors.

The Kenyans were STILL dressed in their warm-ups, not a bead of sweat on their brow. I looked at my American buddies Hannah and Michael and they appeared just as awestruck (and sweaty) as I, so I didn’t feel as out of place. I asked David why they run with their full warm-ups on. “Protect from the sunburn and killer mosquito,” he replied.

The pace began to pick up as we ran dirt road after dirt road. I had the biggest smile on my face the whole time. I watched the Kenyans run in perfect rhythm, their graceful strides beautiful and so natural. I got the chills as I realized what an incredible moment this was and how I was realizing a dream. What impressed me most about the Kenyan people was their overt and overwhelming KINDNESS. It was wonderful and most importantly genuine. Children waved from the side of the road, and some of them ran and joined our group. Some of these kids could very likely be the future Boston Marathon or NYC Marathon champions. There are moments in life that you want to bottle up and capture for eternity. This was one of them.

It is difficult to put into words the impact that Africa has had on me.
It is a magical place, so pure and so beautiful. People say that once you’ve been to Africa it becomes part of you. It gets in your blood and calls you back. And as I prepare to depart, I can feel it. I know what they mean. I already am planning my trip back.