John Clohisy
Wonder and Awe: Kenyan Runners
Image taken from http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper736/stills/1j6y79zh.jpg
I started SLUH cross-country the summer before my freshman year because I knew I was going to do a sport and I thought I had a chance at being pretty good, even though I had barely any previous experience when it came to running. Over two years later my talent and hard training have helped me develop into one of the most serious runners you may ever come across. Running has brought me many great gifts, such as lifelong friends, great coaches, a greater connection with God, and huge success. Every once in a while I will hear what some pro runner did, like set a new world record or win a huge marathon. Almost every time these runners and the runners they had to battle for the win are Kenyans. Often I find myself shocked, asking, "How do these guys do it? The things they do are inhuman!" I am astounded to the point of extreme humility at the beauty and amazement these athletes bring to the sport, and I am so curious that I cannot even imagine how they do what they do. Kenyans have shattered the rest of the world at the distance running level, and there is no sign of stopping. They hold many more world records than any other group in the world at an enormous number of events, spanning from the 1000m to the marathon.
Whether it is the Kenyans' everyday lifestyle at altitude in places like the Rift Valley, their genetic makeup, their running culture starting from birth, or their fierce determination that helps the most, there are several advantages that the Kenyans have to make them into the running machines they are. One of my greatest idols is Robert Cheruiyot (see picture above), who is currently the best marathoner in the world. Seen from the outside, Cheruiyot might seem like just an amazing runner whose talent and hard work has paid off, but this is not even close to the whole story. Cheruiyot has had to battle poverty, violence, and near suicide to get to the top. He now lives on his farm in the Rift Valley with his family, working hard on the farm, training hard, and being part of his family. When I look at Cheruiyot and then at some of our more famous athletes, I can see almost exact opposites. Last year, Cheruiyot wiped out at the finish line of the Chicago Maraton as he crossed and first and smashed his head on the hard concrete after 26.2 miles of a grueling pace. He suffered internal bleeding in the brain and suffered a major setback, but less than a year later, Cheruiyot was back on top and won the Boston Marathon despite some recurrent head pain and nausea throughout the race. Cheruiyot is a personal hero of mine and sometimes I strive to be like him. I am amazed at such runners' dedication and success, and I wonder what else it is about them that allows them to be so successful. I know that I have inner talents like the Kenyans, and I must try my hardest to find and use them to make myself a better person and the world a better place.
Sources Consulted: http://www.slate.com/id/2090658/
