Running Times, Online

Ed. Note: Neil has been in Kenya for 2 months already. He is bringing us up-to-date on his experience by posting entries from when he first arrived in Kenya. Follow along with us.

---

Alright! I have now landed in my final destination of Kapsabet, Kenya. I would have posted earlier, but Internet was running at about 1 bit/min the last two days, and I am taking a day trip today to Eldoret. Since I last posted I have experienced some of the most wild/jarring transportation ever in my life. Basic point A-B transport is done by matatu, which is a van with room for about 10-15 people judging on how tight you pack them. The drivers do laps from one point to the other and ferry people along the way. They are beyond reckless in their pursuit to increase efficiency. I just try and sit in the back now and avoid looking ahead, which would just stress me out even more.

Driving in Nairobi was like a snow globe of cars just endlessly being shaken. The road out to the country was smooth for about 3 hrs and then switched to the bumpiest ride I have ever had on a “road”. It is amazing that buses and big rigs take these severely pot-holed roads. We finally arrived in Kapsabet, and some of my training partner’s friends met us at the bus stop and helped with our bags to the house 400yds away.

For the standards that I had viewed out the window and running around since, we are not living badly. We have electricity and 4 rooms: 2 bedrooms, a sitting room and a kitchen room. The kitchen houses a kerosene camp stove where all our meals our cooked. Besides my training partner and myself, two other guys live there. They are runners as well, but do not seem to be as serious.

Compared to Nairobi, Kapsabet people are unbelievable. Every single person (after getting over the shock of my skin color) is bend-over-backwards nice and everyone has invited us over for tea. The countryside is beautiful, and the hills roll everywhere. I would guess this town has maybe roughly 10,000 people surrounding and no lie, I think 1,000 are elite if not world class runners. I have never seen so many runners flying around in groups training. The town track is a bees nest of activity.

I have been reading a bunch, and finished all my novels already. I read the bible everyday, and if I want a headache, I open a computer programming book my boss, David, gave me. My roommates listen to Kenny Rogers and N’Sync on full blast at all hours, which doesn’t really bother me because it could be way worse. I just never expected to hear ‘The Gambler’ at 6:15 am in Kenya!

Training:

For our runs we rise at before dawn and shuffle outside, for anywhere from 45-90 min run. This week is supposed to be a just get acclimated week, but we have run some of the hardest routes already. Thankfully I have been able to keep up, and the few extra days in Nairobi seems to have helped a lot.

This morning I met with Martin Lel before he went out to run with his group of 30 runners in tow. It was amazing to meet a Beijing gold medal hopeful, up close and we had a nice conversation. It is amazing how welcoming he was. People yell at me from their homes ‘Welcome to Kenya” or ‘Karibu!’. Thankfully I have picked up a little bit of Swahili and can thank people and greet them.

I am feeling pretty good training but naps afterward are a must to recover. I am going to have to adjust to eating less, and drinking copious amounts of Kenyan tea (roughly 10 cups a day!).

I hope all is well state side.

Neil

Hello Running Times Blog community. My name is Neil McDonagh, and I live in Charleston, SC. More importantly, I will actually be living in rural Kenya, for three months between August and October 2008.

A little background information about myself. I ran Track and XC, at Georgia Tech, from 2000-2005. I found my place as a 1500m runner, notching a personal best of 3:46. Due to the success of the American running scene, I was left in a gray area for post-collegiate competition. I have since moved over to the world of road racing, and enjoyed the variety it has offered.

During a road race in early ‘08, I befriended a Kenyan competitor. He had just out kicked me to the line during a 5k race. The young man and I struck up a conversation afterwards. He suggested that I travel back to Kenya, to train and in his words, “Then you will become strong.” I initially laughed off the idea, and told him I had a wife and a job to be concerned with in the States.

Upon further consideration though, I realized this was a one-time shot. Things played out in my favor, and everyone important (wife and work) supported me in traveling to Kenya. I know that I am not Bob Kennedy or Ryan Hall, or for that matter the talent level of the other bloggers on RT. Although, I did feel confident that for the most part, I would be able to hang with the training in Kenya.

This is not a commercial trip, with cooks and massage therapists, that you might find in the back of a travel magazine. I am living with aspiring runners, in Kapsabet, Kenya. Kapsabet, is a rural town outside of Eldoret, and home to many of the world’s best runners. I can only hope to give you some insight into the training and lifestyle, of the many runners striving to make a splash on the international scene.

9/24/08

Dear Readers,

Wow, can not believe it is Fall. I am so excited for the change of season and to begin running some marathons.

As you may or may not know, I did not achieve my goal of capturing the 50K American Record. We had a rough day at the race due to windy conditions and heavy downpours and that was enough waylay my attempt. I was still able to run 3:01:51 but I was well off the time I needed to best the current American Record (i.e., 2:51:48).

I hope to make another attempt in the future and I am looking forward to it.

Now, I am turning my attention to marathons and look forward to running a three (3) or four (4) marathons before I head to Italy this November for the 100K Worlds. I can’t wait and it should be terrific.

I have been doing well and getting ready for the various trips for the upcoming races and will keep you posted on my results as they become available.

Besides that I am really enjoying running with the guys and girls that I am training with at present. I don’t know about you but it just seems to make everything better to have a good group of people to meet and push each other. This morning, I did a 13 mile run with two (2) guys and they were killing it and I was just hanging on and enjoying the show, so fun.

Also, this past weekend, I did a longish run (20 Miles) with my buddy and he and I must have seen about 5 different runners that we knew and everyone was in such a good mood and smiling from ear to ear due the nice weather and excitement in the air to be getting ready for Fall races.

Anyhow, all is well with me and I hope the same is true for all of you.

Take care and talk to you soon.

Best Regards,
Michael Wardian

9/7/08

Did you see it!

I am talking about the Olympic Marathon.  I know it feels like ages ago but it was incredible.  I was so excited to see some of the best marathon runners in the world mixing it up in Beijing.

I loved the way those guys ran.  They took the “bull by the horns” and really pushed themselves and everyone in the race to the limit.

What a hard nosed way to run a race and really amazing to see.

I thought that the USA guys (Ritzenhien, Hall, Sell) ran really solid races and I was so proud that they represented us so well.

The only problem is now I feel “slow” and have been telling myself that I need to work even harder to get faster.  Those guys were running sub 5:00 minutes the whole race and were throwing in some sub 4:45 miles, that is just wicked fast but I can get there.

Besides that I am doing well, have been running a bunch of races (1/2 marathon, 20 miler, 5Ks, etc..) to get ready for the 50K American Record (sub 2:51:48) attempt next weekend, September 13, 2008 at the Lake City Marathon & 50K.  I am feeling fit and ready and can’t wait to get out there and see what I can do.

Also, I have to say that I really appreciate all the support from my sponsors and the local runners in the Washington, D.C. area as everyday on my runs and at races I have someone say “Hi” and, “We love what you are doing.”  It means a lot so please keep saying “Hello” and I will be sure to say “Hi” back.

Talk to you soon.

Cheers,
Michael Wardian

+++