It was still dark, so I turned on the light on my watch and I was delighted to find it was 6:17. I have three minutes left and I will definitely make it! I walked through the woods between the house and the hut, took the hrdzavého plechu through the school, and walked to the intersection next to the gas station. This is where it all starts in the morning.
I no longer run the last few meters alone. A couple of people joined me from the surrounding streets, and they also left it to the last minute. Fortunately, he arrived on time. About a hundred Kenyans stand at the crossroads of dvoch poľných ciest. Just like every Friday, today they are waiting for the start of the 18km run, which they call free. But don’t get confused. In Itene, in the center of svetového vydlinostného behu, “voľný beh” is a relative term.
It will show in a few minutes how well I am doing, I was already in a hurry but I arrived on time. It was at 6:20 that the leader gave a short speech announcing that we had run the traditional route at the traditional speed of 4 minutes per kilometer. He added a few words in the local dialect – obviously inspirational – but in the end it was a directive we all understood. “Three two one. Let’s go!”
If we were allowed to get injured in Europe, we would probably start with a stretch or rozcvička. However, they are not worn much in Kenya. Náhradou maju bích vodovné Two kilometers, running at a leisurely pace. Another group of about 50 people joined us from the trail, but we picked up speed. At the third kilometer, we were already running at 4 minutes per kilometer. It’s dawn, and the real training begins.
Somewhere on the Bratislava embankment I would have thought that pace was a faster trot, but today I would be happy if I could keep up with Kenyans for at least 10km. Vyššiu náročnosť treningu is created by rough, hilly terrain, but also has a subfloor – the roads here are rough and full of rough stones. However, the biggest challenge for me was 2400 meters above sea level. The air is scarce here, making it more difficult to breathe. Ako výhovorka mi to odkej nedube dnes nedučičit. I’ve been in Kenya for two weeks and I certainly have time to adapt. At least, that’s what I think. Longer sixth kilometer, first longer climb and first question. Cítim, already mi sily ubúdajú faster, ako som dúfal. By the 8th kilometer, the road was up again, and if I started to get tired, the coach’s order to stop was getting louder and louder in my mind.
After nine kilometers, I already knew I didn’t listen to the coach. Trápim sa, but tych 10 km museum vydržija. I’m getting deeper and deeper into the group, but the feeling is already reminiscent of the people I know at the end of the run. Three women were also before me. Even if they take a shower, I’m already among the best runners in the country, and I can’t help but laugh. But I’m not entirely happy. We reach the last one at the tenth kilometer. I was about to stop, but exhausted I had to sit down until the end of the trail. Ostatní bezzárostne kůljújú, but I’m looking, ako miznú za zákrutou medzi kukuríční ľami. The question I came here with came back to my mind and I still haven’t found a clear answer. “If possible, are Kenyans already such good runners?”
I will try to give you the answer in the form of ten articles that will be published on Denník Naj’s website in print and magazine form. If you don’t want these texts, follow Behanie in Kenya.
Further accolades for Behania in Kenya will be:
- If an Irish missionary unplanned produces dozens of world record holders;
- How difficult is the road for Kenyans from chóduby to European pretecky;
- If I had my first training with Kenyans at high altitude;
- What do you think about the idea of independent bežecka nadvláde in Kenya, but what does science say about it?
- About an American expert who founded the running group vyvracia mýty o Keňanoch;
- ako som hladal Kipchogeho a cho o nóm hovoria neighbor;
- Interview with Patrick Sango, coach of Eliud Kipchoge, the best marathon runner in history;
- Keňania mohli bøch has been better trained but less corrupt and more dominant;
- Keni pomohol bežecky’s ako mi mesio, he taught me ako sa mi svetni obraz.
Na tomto hadam nebehajú
I went to Kena with my twin Michal at the beginning of the semester, but okrem poznavacích sme small obja and running goals. Months in Africa should prepare us for the indoor sports season and a series of spring road races. We flew from Vienna to Ethiopia, from there to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, before taking a domestic flight to Eldoret – a city as big as Bratislava – which is also known for its elite runners . Our last stop, Eton, the capital of elite endurance running, is further up and higher.
The drive from Eldoret to Iten takes about an hour, but it’s a daunting task for someone finding themselves in the Horn of Africa for the first time. Trasu tu lemujú lowe drené stánky striedajúce sa with privytkami z plachu. One of them is used as a cosmetic salon, the other as a coffee shop, and the other with the inscription on plechom obydlí láka na “výhodné pôžičky”. Výnimkou nie sú ani murované domy, but their numbers decrease with increasing distance from the city. In front of bydyliami, it is often a mess, especially the ubiquitous animals. Cows and goats graze on the road and donkeys wait in the shade until their owners drive them to work. The animals have become accustomed to passing cars, minibuses or many motorcycles, they run onto the road without warning, they slow down the flow of traffic and stop walking after a while.
It wasn’t until well beyond Eldoret that the journey finally went smoothly. Stalls were replaced by fields and small farms, and between them we made a smooth run to Itten, the home of the champions. At least that’s what the iconic sign on the metal gate we enter into the city says. Welcome to the home of ITEN Champions.
If ever there was a holy place that could confidently claim to be the home of champions, it’s Eton. Many Olympic champions, world record holders and world champions grew up here, and we can say with confidence that dozens more will follow. If the locals told me later, now, in early January, between 1,000 and 1,500 fugitives were left in and around Itene. In a city of 12,000 people, that’s a decent job.
But there are still moments when you won’t find a domestic fugitive on the streets of Itenou. Like the day Michal and I finally reached our destination after 24 hours. It was already five o’clock in the evening, the time when the sun was slowly sinking towards the horizon. Even before sunset, we were allowed to take off our running shoes and do a quick sprint. Most common in Africa.
By chance, we went to the gas station already mentioned, but got off the asphalt and came to a clay foundation full of deep pits and high rocks. “Hádam po taliki předá nebehajú”, we said to ourselves, but guarded every step carefully. We were even more surprised when we later found out that this was already one of the most frequented parts of running.
Rovnakým príčníměním bola