should know about
running a half-
marathon
by Kenneth Mwangi
3. Have the right shoe for the job
So you’ve registered for the run, check. Marked the calendar, Firstly, the fact that I’m Kenyan doesn’t automatically make check. Made travelling arrangements with the team, check.
me a marathoner. Neither does a year of half-marathons Most people have these down and what they usually don’t under my belt. Having said that, Kenya is home and training account for is the right attire for the terrain and the weather.
ground to the most dominating long distance runners in the Apparently, it is not a good idea to run with a brand new world. RIP Samuel Wanjiru.
running shoe. I found that out the hard way when at around 14-km I was forced to run the rest of the race on blisters.
We all have our reasons for doing running. It personally Speak to a professional about the right shoe for the terrain started off as a good idea proposed by a good buddy Louis V
beforehand. Some of the recommended brands are Asics, who was introduced to it by an equally good buddy Nyambura Mizuno, Saucony and Adidas
and so on and so I now run with a bunch of friends.
4. Keep off the water bottle on the first few check Losing weight seems to be a popular reason to exercise. It is points
also great for balancing one’s health given the kind of eating Most runs have their watering stations at every 5-km mark.
and drinking that takes place in our generation. Most folks I Lewa Marathon, one of the better sponsored runs went know like running because they get to socialise. It is during as far as offering fruit and energy drinks in between and in some of the after-run socialising that I get some of the best addition, had cooling points that sprinkled you with cold water advice from strangers that I see on the running trail as they droplets as you ran through a tunnel. Absolutely heavenly. As passed us at full speed, going uphill like it was nothing while I was advised, just because it has been offered doesn’t mean we struggled to catch our breath and gasping for air. We you have to have it. While there is nothing wrong with having usually catch up with them at the clubhouse later and their fruit and sipping on energy drinks, skip the water on the first advice has been pretty useful.
few watering stations at all costs and only take a sip or two at the other stations. A stitch is quite the motivation killer 1. Running is an addictive lifestyle, however keep it while doing a long run.