Ngong Hill Run

By Tony Daley - Athenry AC and Predator Tri Club Athenry

When I knew I was heading out to Africa, I knew that my triathlon training would not be able to carry on. The thing I did know was that my running would. I’ve been to Africa a few times and always found some fantastic places and trails to run on.

Even though I was going to be working with the UN in Somalia this didn’t stop me from bringing my running gear and more importantly my Athenry AC running vest and top. Even more to my delight was that security in Somalia was at Level 5, (the highest there is) and so it would mean only going in on missions for short trips. The base I would be working from was Nairobi in Kenya.

Nairobi sits at an altitude of about 1,600 metres above sea level and it took me two weeks before I could muster a decent run. Slowly I began to acclimatise and met up once a week to run with the Nairobi Hash House Harriers. For those not familiar with ‘Hashing’, it’s a running club with a drink problem, I won’t say anymore! The running trails are worthy of a drink after.

Most people know that the Kenyans have World and Olympic champions in abundance in long distance events and so to run alongside some of them in the local races was a great honour. Needless to say, I’m renowned for being a plodder, always was, always will be, so I’d have to admit that I’d be on the start line with them and that’s all. There were two events that I’d targeted when looking at the running calendar. One was the Ngong Forest Hills 14km run and the other the Safaricom Marathon held in Lewa. The first one I managed to enter no problem, the Marathon was closed for entries but if I could find a team that had entered I maybe could get a place with them.

Ngong Forest Hills 14km 14th June

The run starts about on hour outside Nairobi but you can see the hills from a long way off. There are seven hills in all, the highest being 2,500m. The route would take us along the spine of a ridge that runs beside the Great Rift Valley. The bus pulled off the main road and started to ascend along a very rough road towards the park entrance. I was hoping it would go higher and higher but alas it stopped around the first corner. We had to sign in at the park entrance and were then given a safety briefing by one of the park wardens about the risk of buffalo on the route. They reassured us that there were park wardens along the route who were armed just in case!

The route went up and up for about 4km right from the start, which I have to admit, I walked just about every step. Once at the top of the first hill you could see the route ahead. I’d been warned beforehand but forever the optimist, I thought it could not be so bad. It looked really bad, especially the first three peaks. I’d done plenty of mountaineering but this was going to be up there with the best of them. Without doubt the only thing what kept me going was the views from the ridge. I was determined to finish, but also determined to enjoy the views and enjoy the experience. The three peaks were covered in about an hour, lung-busting, leg-sapping, heart-wrenching but bloody enjoyable. From the top I could see the other hills which were much friendlier - it seemed like the worst was over. To top it all there were only three or four people in front or me. There was no official start like we get on the 5km runs; they said “Off you go!”, and so off I went, even while people were still getting ready! The next 40 minutes passed and I was really surprised how well I felt, the hills were rolling and you could manage to run up them. Only one more runner passed me but I was happy to him head off in the distance. My final time was 1:38 but it was the total experience of the run that made it such an unforgettable experience.

Lewa Marathon 5th July

The Lewa Marathon has been described as one of the ‘top ten’ marathons in the world to run, or should I say ‘top ten toughest’. The event is held in a National Park and is held each year to raise funds for conservation and community projects in and around the area. The route is run on dirt roads over a 21km loop which takes in the half and full marathon. Run over tough terrain and under harsh climatic conditions, but surrounded by some of Africa’s breathtaking scenery, it was easy to see why runners from all over the world take part. Needless to say, I was not going to run the full distance - You must be joking!

Lewa Marathon

Lewa is around five hours from Nairobi but you have to get there the night before. As I had managed to get a spot and was going to be in the ‘Hash’ team the accommodation was to be a tent. Trying to scrounge sleeping gear is very difficult when the temperature is around 30 degrees everyday, but I thought I’d need it. Once we had clearance to enter the Lewa Conservation Area we were meet by a giraffe and an ostrich. They seemed to be part of the officials patrolling the transition area. After signing in and getting our meal voucher we headed off to look for our tent. It was 7pm but getting quite cold. The bed was small and the mattress supplied was shocking. My confidence was beginning to drop!

The meal consisted of beans, pasta and some Nyama Choma (meat), but it took some digesting. One thing that struck me, apart from the cold, was the wind blowing through the camp. By 9pm I was in my tent, with all the clothes I had brought with me. It was cold and it was a long night. I was wishing the morning would come soon. At 5 am I was up and moving around the camp looking to get a wash and lose a bit of weight before the start! At 7am we were all at the start ready for the off. A helicopter hovered overhead waiting to give us the all clear. They have to make sure the dangerous wildlife have moved away from the area. Eventually we get the go-ahead and I get into my plodding rhythm. By the 3km marker it was getting hot. A herd of elephants were out in the distance but they never bothered us. It was just great to be running in the wild. The group I had travelled with had mentioned the climb at about 9km into the run. They said it was brutal, but, after the Ngong run I thought I had some fitness in my legs. It loomed in the distance but as we reached the foot of it, it snaked away to a very manageable climb. I was really enjoying myself but the heat was getting unbearable. Everyone was having a great time and the camaraderie was superb. The locals really know how to enjoy themselves. Another climb arrived at 17km but it was still ok, the views were incredible which just lifted you to keep going. By the time the last 500m arrived I was suffering from the heat but the legs were ok, still plodding but managed to get home in 1: 45 mins. The run had been one of the best I’d ever taken part in.

Kenya Olympic Trials

Since being in Kenya, I’ve been keeping in touch with Lezan, (winner of this years Connemara half-marathon) but we managed to meet last weekend at the Olympic athletics trials in Nairobi. Lezan lives eight hours from Nairobi but had made the bus journey with his club and family. His brother, sister and uncle were all running to gain selection to Beijing. Lezan had already made the marathon qualifying time but so had 20 others. Only two were being allowed to go but he was still in with a chance. As we sat in the baking heat he spoke of his training plans. The Kenyan Olympic squad had been training in Eldoret and Lezan was with them. He is now in training for the Dublin marathon in October which he hopes to win in around 2:10. Fresh from winning the 3,000m steeplechase the current Olympic champion, Ezekiel Kemboi, came over to say hello to Lezan. He is favourite to defend his title this year. Sitting around us was a who’s who of Olympics champs but they were all happy to chat away. A great day was had but what struck me most was that most of these runners have a great chance of bringing home medals from the games and it was free to watch them and sit alongside them. I promised to join Lezan on the start line in Dublin but that I would only be plodding away, hopefully I will be plodding a bit faster after my trip to Africa.

Tony Daley, Lezan Kimutai and Ezekiel Kemboi