Habari za Wiki - 17 Nov, 2020
First Mt Kenya FKT Attempt Coming Up!
Joan Cherop, Kenneth Kemboi, Sussy Chebet, and Alfred Moindi are gearing up for their attempt at setting the fastest known time (FKT) on the first of three routes up Mt. Kenya in the coming days. They’re traveling to the mountain tomorrow to attempt the FKT for the Sirimon route late in the week.
They’ll be running 48.2 km round trip with 2,410m climbing (7906 ft). It starts in an equatorial forest and runs up the long side of the mountain. It's the easiest (though longest) approach, so is the most popular route. It’s also the route with the boldest record: 3h 29m to summit and 5h 2m 22s round trip.
Make sure you’re following us on Instagram and hit the bell icon to get notified the moment we know the result from this first attempt.
Manangoi Says Sorry
2017 1500m World Champion Elijah Manangoi has owned up to his mistake after receiving the ban verdict from Athletics Integrity Unit. The AIU has banned Manangoi for two years with the ban backdated to 22 December 2019 - for three missed whereabouts.
“It was my mistake” Elijah shared on his Facebook Page “And as I sit here, I have acknowledged that I made a mistake on my Whereabouts failures and I have accepted their decisions, though it will be difficult to forgive myself.”
He is apologetic to all he has betrayed their trust – Kenya, Athletics Kenya, his management and coach.
And he has one message of all athletes – file your whereabouts. “Seriously take care of their own whereabouts to avoid unnecessary sanctions, it seems simple but a slight mistake can be costly at the end. It’s shameful,” he concluded.
Kenya For the Win
Athletics Kenya is among the six federations nominated for the World Athletics Member Federation Award. The award recognizes a Member Federation that has managed to deliver an uplifting athletics event, development event or other athletics achievement, in spite Covid 19 challenges.
Among Kenya’s successes is hosting the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi. In addition, Kenyan athletes also competed well internationally, sweeping the team titles at the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Gdynia 2020 with women's winner, Peres Jepchirchir, breaking the women-only race world record.
The winner will be announced during World Athletics virtual awards on 5 December.
We’re Going One Step Beyond
Our co-founder & CEO, Nava, had a long chat with the One Step Beyond podcast about growing up in Kenyan running country and the motivation behind Enda (that’s us!). It’s a great thing to pop on for a long run or cooking a nice meal.
Conseslus Kipruto Charged
Steeplechase Olympic and world champion Conseslus Kipruto has been charged with intercourse with a minor. He’s entered a plea of not-guilty and released on bail. We’ll have to wait and see how this plays out.
Karoki Runs Championships Record
While the world is struggling with athletics events, in Japan running only had the shortest of breaks. The country has plenty of athletics events every week.
Last weekend there were corporate events in the regions running their New Year Ekiden national championship qualifiers. Kenya’s Bedan Karoki competing for Toyota, won the second stage of Chubu Region Corporate Ekiden with a course record of 22:36 for 8.3 km.
World Champion Ruth Heading to Dehli
Marathon world champion Ruth Chepngetich will give a go at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon title on November 29. With a time of Ruth Chepngetich 1:05:30, Ruth is the second fastest woman in the women’s field. Ruth will have to fight it out with a strong Ethiopian line up which includes the defending champion Tsehay Gemechu. She’ll also have to deal with the record breaking air pollution - which seems like a serious hazard to athletes’ health
Rose Chelimo Doesn’t Regret Switching Citizenship
Rose Chelimo is the 2017 Marathon World champion. Chelimo switched nationalities and has been representing Bahrain since 2016. She says she doesn’t regret dropping her Kenyan citizenship because she says Bahrain knows how to treat her athletes right. That includes clarity around national team selection, and living stipend and equipment.
Busy Kenyan Running Weekend
Athletics Kenya will host the World U20 Athletics trials to select the team for World U20 Athletics championships which will be held next year in Nairobi. The preliminary trials will be held this weekend on 21 and 22 at Nyayo Stadium. Competing athletes have been drawn from different regions which held prior local trials.
Still over the weekend, and announced on short notice, Athletics Kenya will host Athletics National Mountain Championships this Sunday in Mt Longonot in Naivasha.
The Good Sukuma Wiki
Sukuma Wiki literally means pushing the week along. Sukuma Wiki is very common in Kenya. This straight leafed kale is seriously good for us. It is rich in iron and vitamins C and K, and high in fibre hence a plentiful supply of leafy greens in any runner’s daily diet is a must. In fact, it’s so good, even World Athletics is sharing up Sukuma recipes for runners around the world.
Non- Kenyan News
Salwa is Not Off The Hook Yet!
Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has appealed against the Disciplinary Tribunal's decision to dismiss anti-doping charges against world 400m champion Salwa Eid Naser. Salwa was provisionally suspended in June for four whereabouts failures. However last month the World Athletics Tribunal dismissed the charges against the 22-year-old. AIU has submitted the appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). It’s encouraging to see them stay on the case with the importance of whereabouts.
Who Will Break Usain Bolt’s Record? Bolt Thinks No One!
Whenever Usain Bolt watches athletics competitions he feels the urge to return to the track, but then he remembers the training he needs to undergo to return to his best shape. He retired in 2017 and with him is the 100m and 200m world records which Bolt thinks no one will break them, not anytime soon at least. He could be right though!
Running and Periods
Monthly menses can sometimes derail you from your usual run. You are so pumped up for that long run but your body won’t just respond in the morning. However, they don’t have to sideline you from running. Runners' World had a chat with a couple of OB-GYNs to answer questions about running on your period.
From Us At Enda
Every year, for the start of holiday season shopping (you know, that whole Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday time), we raise our prices by $10 or 1000Ksh.
The extra bit goes directly to a good cause. We then match your contribution, doubling your impact. Last year we raised money for KenSAP, helping high-achieving disadvantaged Kenyan students get full academic scholarships to some of the world’s best universities.
This year, we’re doing even more. As part of the campaign, we’re releasing a brand new colorway of Lapatet coming: the Black Rainbow Runner.
The funds we raise this year will be going to the National Gay and Lesbian Human Right Commission who are at the forefront of the struggle for equality and full inclusion of sexual and gender minorities in Kenya.
So mark your calendar. The campaign runs 27 November through 1 December.
From the Enda Community
You’ll get a workout just watching this one! Kroachevolutis on Instagram showed some serious skill & fitness as they bounced in synch with music while wearing their Lapatets.
The caption had some quality advice too:
“As the air gets just a wee-bit cooler, embrace the outdoors that much more. COVID is still a thing Miami, FL! Keep that in mind when being social. I think there’s a healthy balance ☺️
...
I recommend everybody to consider pulling away for a bit. I feel I can speak for many in saying that 2020 has had us highly stimulated and engaged in all things going on in the world. While it’s great to stay informed, balance is necessary and I for one have felt myself being excessive with it. Take some time for yourself as we prepare for 2021 🤟🏾🙏🏾🤘🏾”
This comment from @wrathofgrapes was a pretty good summary of just how impressive this trampoline routine is: “Running about 80 miles a week in those @endasportswear shoes, but pretty sure I’d die if I tried this.”
Grab your own pair of Lapatets right here.