I had registered to run a month ago, which is the same time I started training for the race. Outside the gate of the school is a football pitch that every morning I would will myself out of bed to run several laps. Initially I was training with a fellow Peace Corps Volunteer, who teaches at a nearby school, and a fellow teacher at the deaf school. As the weeks passed they slowly became infrequent for the morning runs and thus my motivation for longer distances became harder to convince myself to do.
Halloween eve/Reformation day eve 15,000 people have gathered in downtown Nairobi for the marathon. There were full and half marathon runners, 10km and a family run. My initial plan was doing the half marathon, but later changed to a 10km. Something new to me was the timing chip, it was no longer to be clipped onto the shoe, but it was taped behind the race number that you wear. I am not sure which way is better. The results will be published soon, so we will see. Unfortunately when i registered i neglected to look at my race number to see if I had a timing chip, so my name will not be published on the web/newspaper.
Normally when running in a race like this people dress up in costumes to be seen. This day was know different. A group of people were carrying an inflatable water raft while running and would sing. 1-2-3-4- 1-2-3-4 "We will not quit." It was amazing that they ran nearly the whole 10km caring this raft.
The race started just outside of Nyayo stadium in Nairobi. The 10km runners finished outside while the 1/2 marathon and full marathon finished inside the stadium. I got a glimpse of the marathon runners before I set off, WOW. They are fast.
