Running Tales

So it’s no secret that I am not the world’s greatest runner. I am an exercise runner, not a pleasure runner. There are those rare days when I actually do enjoy my run, but for the most part I am panting and praying (mostly that my lungs don’t give out and I die during this run).

However, running in Kenya is much more exciting than running on my treadmill in Kentwood. The most exciting thing that happened on my treadmill runs was the occasional child-destroying-the-house while I tried to run or me tripping and falling off (I swear that only happened a few times).

Here, however, there are all kinds of exciting things. Let me tell you about some:

*I get up at 5:45 to run. It is usually very dark (especially if there is no moon) but I am not alone out there! There are many, many school children walking to school at this time (yes, you read that correctly)

*You may know that I like to run alone. However, I rarely run alone these days. Those same school children run with me. In front of me, behind me, beside me. Yes, I am a human ham sandwich. Yes, it is claustrophobic. But they are so excited to run with me.

This happens at different intervals. Some will be with me in the beginning and then turn off at their school, others I will pick up at a different point in my path. All are wearing school shoes, backpacks, coats and hats. (and they still could beat me hands-down in a sprint). Once I tried to avoid them by switching sides of the road when I saw them coming. They simply chased me to the other side.

*Some children I pass  are walking the opposite way I am running. These children yell things at me (mostly Hello! How are you?! occasional snide comments) and expect me to high five every one of them.

*I have to be on the look-out for donkeys. It is dark remember, so I am sometimes surprised by them. I just need to watch out that I don’t run by the back of them and startle them. No one wants a morning donkey kick. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

I also get stopped by groups of cows or donkeys passing, taking up the whole road with their “shepherd” (is that what you’d call them??) smacking them with a twig.

*The real runners are out now, training. Their legs are about as long as my whole body and when they pass me, I think “was that lightening?”Oh no, just a real Kenyan runner passing me as if I were standing still. They are beautiful to watch though.

[ Side note: Kenyan runners don’t care at all about their time in race, it’s all about the place that they finish in. They will be known to quit a race if they can tell they aren’t going to finish at the front]

*There is a man that often runs by me in dress shoes carrying 4 containers of milk. I don’t know why he’s in such a hurry.

*By far my favorite experience is when I pass the man who walks up the road playing Celine Dion on his phone. I just love some good Celine first thing in the morning.