Habari za Wiki - 16 June, 2020

Habari za Wiki
No. 23 // 16 June, 2020

Track is up and running!
Finally, a race happened. Bislett Games offered us an innovative exhibition Diamond League event in which Timothy Cheruiyot, Elijah Manangoi, Edwin Melly, Vincent Keter and Timothy Sein took part in a 2000m race. Team Cheruiyot ran in Nairobi in a pre-recorded race against Team Ingebrigtsen for raced in Oslo. 

Here’s a video of how things went down in Nairobi: 

 

Race day weather was terrible in Nairobi. It was rainy, cold, and windy plus the usual high altitude. Timothy won the Nairobi race in 5:03:05 but finished 4th overall. In Olso, the Ingebrigtsen brother were fast with 19 year old Jakob Ingebrigtsen carrying the day with a European Record of 4:50.01, smashing the previous best of 4:51.39 set in 1985 by Britain's Steve Cram, who was in commentary on the day.  

In Timothy's words "The race today was good and the weather was not good, it didn’t favor us but we did our best. I am satisfied with the performance, in every race there is a winner and there is a loser so we were expecting anything. It was a great opportunity because we are out of track for around 5 months now because of the pandemic, Covid 19, so I am happy we raced well. This is a unique way of doing sport. It is not easy, we have advantages and disadvantages, because we are running without fans in the field and here in Kenya we have high altitude, not like Oslo, so there is a difference between Oslo and here, but I am happy again to race on home ground." 

In Elijah Manangoi's words "It is a new thing, it is a virtual race, it is 5 laps, it is a tough one because of lapping , it is not like 1500m we are used to running 3 laps and a half."

Nairobi will offer a chance for a re-run with the Ingrebresten brothers being challenged to come to Nairobi for the Kip Keino Classic in September. That will be some show at Nyayo Stadium, Kenya’s best milers against Ingebresten brothers.  

What happened to the schools that produced Kenya’s athletics Stars?

St Patrick’s High School and Singo’re Girls in Iten have produced some of the world best athletes from the likes of former Kenyan turned Danish Wilson Kipekte (4 time World Champion, multiple world records at 800 metres and 1000 metres) Wilson Boit Kipketer (3000m steeplechase World record holder and World Champion), and many more attended St. Patrick’s. Vivian Cheruiyot, Janeth Jepkosgei, Hyvin Kiyeng, and Sally Barsosio are alumnis of Singo’re Girls. 

These schools and others were factories producing Kenya’s young athletics talent. When you walk around St. Patrick’s you see trees planted by renowned athletes who schooled there and/or were coached by Irish Missionary and Coach Brother Colm O'Connell. However, in recent years, these schools are no longer producing athletes like they used to. What is the problem? Many are blaming the Ministry of Education for changing school programmes as well as nepotism and corruption in the selection process of athletes for national competition. 

Kipchoge talks Mindset of Discipline and Success

Eliud is famous for living a nearly monastic life, and he attributes his longevity and success in athletics to self-discipline. He was part of the National Olympic Committee – Kenya (NOC-K) webinar discussion themed, “Mindset and Discipline of Success” alongside Kenya Volleyball Queen Janet Wanja. Here are his thoughts.

Eliud on success and discipline
Self-discipline is what drives me. You need to set your priorities right. Success without discipline means nothing. You also need to know when to say yes and no to certain things. Self-discipline has been my driver all the years I have been in sport. If you don’t prepare and plan well, you cannot be successful. Success is a mastery of your daily routine.

Eliud on Challenges and difficult days
No career is smooth sailing. Sport is like life and life is not always smooth. We face obstacles and I love to treat them as challenges. I don’t lose, I always learn, that is what I have been doing for the past 17 years.

I have never thought of giving up in life. I will accept defeat the moment I lose a race but that is the only way to enjoy sport. I am still very focused, even though I don’t feel like doing it. Focus is what is required in sport.

Eliud on Team work
I believe in the philosophy that 100% of myself is nothing compared to 100% of the whole team. I always identify with my mentor, who is my coach, Patrick Sang. You need to know who is your pace-setter in life, not just on the track. Are they pacing you well? Who are you interacting with? If you are around good people, then integrity sets in naturally.

Eliud on the success mindset
We need to think beyond our performances. Know how to carry yourself and interact with people. This makes you attractive to potential sponsors and partners. You need to fine tune your intelligence and know what is required as far as the world is concerned.

Advice to upcoming athletes
When you get a good deal, think twice. Find out what the deal encompasses, seek advice from those who have been there before you and know what it takes.

Eliud’s lowest moments
My lowest moment was in 2012 when I missed out on qualification for that year’s Olympic Games in London. Missing one big event is not suicide. Tomorrow is another day. I took that as a challenge and made an effort to understand why I failed. It was a big shock to me but eventually took it as a challenge and with the support of my coach and people around me, I have managed to get to where I am today.

A helping hand to the needy athletes

They say giving is a calling. And a Kenyan marathon based in Iten has heed the call. The 2017 Cardiff Half Marathon champion John Lotiang has offered his seven single self-contained rental houses for free to the athletes suffering financially due to coronavirus pandemic. Having won a number of races last year, Lotiang says it is only fair to give back society by helping struggling athletes. His houses are in Mororia area—3km from Iten town 

To Non-Kenyan news

It wasn’t Impossible for Karsten Warholm to break 300m hurdles world record 

Reigning world 400-meter hurdles champion Norway's Karsten Warholm set a world record in the seldom-run 300m hurdles at the Impossible Games. The 24 year old lined up alone and delivered a fast time clocking 33.78 in Oslo, shaving off 0.7 seconds off the mark set by Britain's Chris Rawlinson in 2002.    

Is running the best way to lose weight?

If you’re running more right now, you’re not alone. Running to keep fit during Covid 19 has been widely embraced. And everyone is talking about it. 

The Today Show in the US notes that running is effective, equipment-free exercise that almost anyone can take up. It is adaptable, versatile and fairly easy to start, running can help lose weight, especially when combined with a healthy diet.  

Running for a cause

There are normally tens of thousands of runners each year doing a marathon to raise money for causes. Just because the races are cancelled, doesn’t mean you can’t still use your running to raise money. 

Take Nicole Handel and her dog, Bear. This month the duo are running for a special cause. Nicole is behind Miles for Justice and throughout this month, she is pledging $1 for every mile she runs, and now has some donors joining her. Each dollar raised is going to Outdoor Afro, or Greening Youth Foundation, which works to make the outdoors more accessible for black youth and adults.

Let us know if you’re getting out there and using running to make a difference right now. We’d love to share your story. 

 

From the Enda Community

Shiko Nguru got her birthday wish: a pair of Mara Gold Lapatets. Over on Twitter she said: "I really wanted a pair of Lapatets for my birthday and I got them! Thank you @RamzZy_" 

Shiko Nguru's Enda Lapatets on Twitter

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