Runner from Canadian documentary Gun Runners heading to Toronto to race the marathon

By Paul Gains

Had it not been for the prospects of becoming a distance runner, Julius Arile Lamerinyang might well have met the fate that has befallen many of his friends: death by gunfire.

From his early teens, Arile carried a gun and, together with his fellow ‘warriors,’ raided neighbouring communities in the highlands of northern Kenya, stealing their cattle. It was the only life he knew. Over a twenty-year career he reckons as many as twenty of his friends were shot dead.

RELATED: Documentary to watch: Gun Runners

RELATED: Gun Runners: From crime to marathon success

A decade ago, the Kenyan government program offered cattle rustlers amnesty together with a pair of shoes, in exchange for their guns. They were encouraged to take up running. Arile was one of the lucky ones who successfully made the transition and ended up taking home prize money from the New York City Marathon. His transition to running was documented by film maker Anjali Nayar.

Now he’s heading to Toronto to run the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Oct. 16. He intends to  compete for a podium place at the IAAF Gold Label Race.

“I need to go with the leaders until they leave me – or I leave them,” he says laughing. “I am comfortable with a 63 or 64 minute first half. When you run with people who can run, you can run your best time.”

This isn’t idle boasting. With the help of his late manager, Zane Branson, he visited Prague in early 2013 where he ran an excellent 27:42 for the international 10K. But the highlight of the 2013 season was his performance at the New York City Marathon. He finished fourth with a time of 2:10:03 earning $25,000 in prize money.

Arile says the turning point was meeting former Kenyan marathon star Tegla Loroupe, who organizes an annual 10K Peace Race in West Pokot County, Kenya and encouraged hundreds of warriors to put down their arms. More recently, she served as Chef de Mission for the UN Refugee team at the Rio Olympic Games.

“Tegla inspired me so much. She changed my life,” he says. “Tegla came there in the bush and talked with us and made it her business. Then we ran. When I ran I knew I could change. I started carrying a gun at 13 years 14, 15 and changed only at 23 when I left.”

Ariel’s current training partners include Wilson Chebet and former world marathon record holder, Wilson Kipsang.

Victory in Toronto is worth $25,000 but he is not thinking about the money as much as he’s thinking about winning the race. At home, he has seven children to support.

The documentary about Arile’s incredible story– Gun Runners– will be screened at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre on Oct. 7. The movie was fan favourite at Toronto’s Hot Docs Festival and at the recent Aspen Film Festival. It is the decade long work of Nayar, a Montreal journalist.

Nayar was working for Reuters when she met Arile at the finish of one of the Peace races. On weekends she had been traveling up to the region where the Pokot rustlers were active to capture to action on her camcorder. Her work progressed much further when she collaborated with the National Film Board of Canada.

Fellow Kenyans Isshimael Chemtan and Gilbert Kirwa, are returning to Toronto after finishing first and second respectively a year ago. They and Eritrea’s new find, Abraham Habte, will join Canada’s three time Olympian Eric Gillis on the starting line. With confidence and with commitment Julius Arile will give them all a run for their money.