Running Wild in Kenya

If you follow running, then you know that Kenya produces most of the world’s best distance runners (800 m and further). Much of Kenya’s greatest talent lives and trains in the town of Eldorat (situated in the Great Rift Valley), which is the defacto mecca for marathoners. With the limelight constantly focused on Eldorat, it is easy to overlook the other regions of Kenya where incredibly gifted runners live in complete obscurity and anonymity.

I recently traveled to Lakipia, one of these lesser-known regions in northeastern Kenya to participate in the Amazing Maasai Ultra Marathon. The race is a charity event in its second year that raises money to provide academic scholarships for Maasai girls to attend secondary school. It consists of three races – a half, full, and 75 km ultra marathon run through the heavily rutted and dust covered ochre roads that penetrate the bushlands north of Mt. Kenya.

This region is home to many of Kenya’s Maasai people, these semi-nomadic herders are known to the Western world as fierce warriors and (formerly) cattle raiders. They live in small primitive villages called Manyatas, maintain herds of cattle and goats, and walk tens of kilometers per day. The Maasai in this area are lean and lithe, and when given the opportunity to compete, able to run with the best in the country.

The race offered three options – a half or full marathon, or a 75 km. There were ~20 international athletes from across the globe, and over 100 Kenyan runners, ranging in age from 8 to over 40, although most of the competitors raced the half marathon. The race course was designed like a clover, with the runners returning to the start after the 1/2, full, and 75, so if a runner wanted to continue in a longer race, they could simply head out on the next loop after coming through the start/finish area. The course had significant elevation gain on each leg, and while there were no major mountains to ascend, there were several hundred meters of gain per loop.

Not surprisingly, the race started out fast, with the top runners settling into a blistering pace that ultimately led the Kenyan winner to a sub-2:20 marathon. The fastest ultra competitors were not far off that pace, clipping off a sub 2:30 marathon and basically holding that pace to finish sub-5 hours. While some of these runners were Kenyan professionals, many simply showed up for the challenge – entering without any real training and still running sub-3 hour marathons with ease. As for me, it’s one I’d rather not remember. I don’t know if it was the travel, the lack of running due to lingering patellar tendonitis that proclaimed itself after Iceland, or the heat, but I never felt comfortable out there, nor could I find that higher gear on the day.

This race ended up being quite a mental struggle for me which, I suppose, has its own rewards, albeit it none were realized during the run. My plan was to race steady, baby my knee, and go sub-7 hours – but you know what they say about the best-laid plans… Suffice to say the back end of this race involved a lot of walking and dealing with some seriously low moments. Typically a character flaw of mine, being a stubborn Canadian-Italian with a big ego was a plus because it’s the only thing that pulled me through when the race started to unravel. Racing is a metaphor for life: compress into 75 km – where pushing yourself can give you the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows, the only bonus is that they pass by in brief moments, and all add up to an epic experience. During ultras, I savour the highs so much more, as they are sweetened by struggling through seemingly insurmountable lows. Enlightenment through suffering I suppose.