Back from Kenya

Hiya,

Well I returned to the UK earlier this week having spent 7 days out in Kenya visiting the projects that the money I raise through the Arch to Arc will help support and running the Safaricom Marathon in Lewa.

So where should I start? Well seeing 1st hand the projects Tusk support out in Kenya was brilliant. It’s really inspiring so see how much of a change our donations make for so many people out there.

As for the marathon, well it’s a tricky one! There was a half as well as the marathon and running along side 5 work colleagues two of us opted for two laps of the 21km course while the rest did their 1st half marathon. I loved their enthusiasm and hats off to them you wouldn’t find many people flying 8 hrs to run their 1st half at 5,500ft and against the best long distance athletes in the world including world record holder Paul Tergat.

With over a 1,000 athletes on the start line at shortly after 7:15am the mass start saw the local Kenyans quickly disappear into the distance in cloud of dust. Pushing through the course which started climbing at the 8km mark and rolled through to the 16km mark meant that it was a tough course and that was proved by only 100 athletes having opted for the full marathon.

The game drives were awesome in Lewa and in the first 2 days we had seen almost everything you could wish to see including Black and White Rhino, Lions and Cheetahs.

And the finishing times were impressive too. 1st Home was Harry in 1hr58 followed by Neva in 2hr 23 next in was Matt in 2:48 and then John in 3hrs dead.

While they all enjoyed a fell local brews and re-lived the race Andy and I had a mental and physical battle on our hands. It was like a solo race out there at the athletes were strung out by now with most of the Kenyans (48 of them) finishing within 3hrs30 leaving mostly the Europeans and the USA runners to bring home the rear of the race.

Andy crossed the line in a very respectable 4hrs10 followed by myself in 4:12.

Runners work had the marathon on the top 10 toughest in the world and I now know why!

Sadly I have to end on a sad note upon my return I home I have found out of a tragedy in the family and my thoughts are with my aunt and my two cousins in Cape Town at this time.

Regards
Nino