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Japhet Koech: from Kenya's Rift Valley to the Edinburgh marathon Japhet Koech: from Kenya's Rift Valley to the Edinburgh marathon
(4 months later)
As you enter the small town of Iten, up in Kenya's Rift Valley, a sign over the road reads proudly: Home of Champions. This is no understatement. Among those living and running here are David Rudisha (the current 800m world record holder and Olympic champion), Wilson Kipsang (the second fastest marathon runner in history), Saif Saaeed Shaheen (world record holder in the steeplechase), Mary Keitany (twice London marathon winner) … the list goes on.As you enter the small town of Iten, up in Kenya's Rift Valley, a sign over the road reads proudly: Home of Champions. This is no understatement. Among those living and running here are David Rudisha (the current 800m world record holder and Olympic champion), Wilson Kipsang (the second fastest marathon runner in history), Saif Saaeed Shaheen (world record holder in the steeplechase), Mary Keitany (twice London marathon winner) … the list goes on.
But there are hundreds of other runners, too. If you get up at 6am on virtually any day, the dirt roads that criss-cross the countryside around Iten will be full of runners, passing each other like commuters in any other city.But there are hundreds of other runners, too. If you get up at 6am on virtually any day, the dirt roads that criss-cross the countryside around Iten will be full of runners, passing each other like commuters in any other city.
Almost all of them live and train as full-time athletes. They don't have jobs. Running is their job. They get up at 5:30am to train. They come back. Eat, sleep and then run again. This is their lives. In Iten, this is normal.Almost all of them live and train as full-time athletes. They don't have jobs. Running is their job. They get up at 5:30am to train. They come back. Eat, sleep and then run again. This is their lives. In Iten, this is normal.
Yet, for most of them it brings no financial reward. They live on the hope of success. They have seen many before them – neighbours, friends, family – travel abroad to race, and then return home with enough money to buy a small house, or a car. So why not them too?Yet, for most of them it brings no financial reward. They live on the hope of success. They have seen many before them – neighbours, friends, family – travel abroad to race, and then return home with enough money to buy a small house, or a car. So why not them too?
Mostly, they're fast enough. Two hundred and seventy-eight Kenyan men ran the Olympic qualifying time for the marathon last year. Only two Britons managed the same feat. But their problem is that they are Kenyan. The competition for places is so tough that men and women who would be lauded as stars in other countries for their running talents are left far down the pecking order, living in small, tumbledown shacks, supported by the kindness of family members or neighbours.Mostly, they're fast enough. Two hundred and seventy-eight Kenyan men ran the Olympic qualifying time for the marathon last year. Only two Britons managed the same feat. But their problem is that they are Kenyan. The competition for places is so tough that men and women who would be lauded as stars in other countries for their running talents are left far down the pecking order, living in small, tumbledown shacks, supported by the kindness of family members or neighbours.
One of those runners is Japhet Koech. He was my neighbour when I lived in Iten for six months in 2011. We often ran together and we became good friends. He has a best half-marathon time of 66 minutes, run at high altitude in Nairobi. That's fast. Yet in Kenya it's ordinary. By the time I left Kenya he had been training daily for five years without earning a single penny.One of those runners is Japhet Koech. He was my neighbour when I lived in Iten for six months in 2011. We often ran together and we became good friends. He has a best half-marathon time of 66 minutes, run at high altitude in Nairobi. That's fast. Yet in Kenya it's ordinary. By the time I left Kenya he had been training daily for five years without earning a single penny.
Kenya's success at long-distance running is partly a numbers game. To have so many dedicated, focused athletes training to this high level means that more brilliant runners will inevitably emerge at the top. Without the likes of Koech, plugging fruitlessly away, the champions would not be so numerous.Kenya's success at long-distance running is partly a numbers game. To have so many dedicated, focused athletes training to this high level means that more brilliant runners will inevitably emerge at the top. Without the likes of Koech, plugging fruitlessly away, the champions would not be so numerous.
Yet Koech has struck lucky. After I wrote about him in my book, Running with the Kenyans, he was invited to run the Utrecht marathon in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, his inexperience and the cold, windy conditions meant he didn't run well. "I have never felt cold like that," he told me afterwards. He finished fifth in 2hr 21min.Yet Koech has struck lucky. After I wrote about him in my book, Running with the Kenyans, he was invited to run the Utrecht marathon in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, his inexperience and the cold, windy conditions meant he didn't run well. "I have never felt cold like that," he told me afterwards. He finished fifth in 2hr 21min.
Now he has another chance, at the Edinburgh marathon on 26 May. To help him get to the race I set up a Crowdfunder page and raised £1,500 in eight days – such is the enthusiasm from readers to see him given his chance to shine.Now he has another chance, at the Edinburgh marathon on 26 May. To help him get to the race I set up a Crowdfunder page and raised £1,500 in eight days – such is the enthusiasm from readers to see him given his chance to shine.
So can he do better this time? He'll need to. The Edinburgh race has a strong elite field, with other Kenyans and Ethiopians chasing the same pot of prizemoney, all with the same hope of justifying all those years of training. There are also time bonuses if he can run under 2hr 16min – which is five minutes faster than his best. It's a big ask. Let's just hope it's not so cold this time.So can he do better this time? He'll need to. The Edinburgh race has a strong elite field, with other Kenyans and Ethiopians chasing the same pot of prizemoney, all with the same hope of justifying all those years of training. There are also time bonuses if he can run under 2hr 16min – which is five minutes faster than his best. It's a big ask. Let's just hope it's not so cold this time.
I'll report back after the race to let you know how he got on, but whatever happens, his friends and family back in Kapshow, our old neighbourhood in Iten, will be proud of him for having got this far. And the idea that running is a pathway to adventure and riches will be spread a little further, generating more hope, and inspiring more runners from Kenya's Home of Champions.I'll report back after the race to let you know how he got on, but whatever happens, his friends and family back in Kapshow, our old neighbourhood in Iten, will be proud of him for having got this far. And the idea that running is a pathway to adventure and riches will be spread a little further, generating more hope, and inspiring more runners from Kenya's Home of Champions.
• Japhet and Adharanand will be signing books at the Run 4 It running shop in Edinburgh at 3pm on Saturday 25 May.• Japhet and Adharanand will be signing books at the Run 4 It running shop in Edinburgh at 3pm on Saturday 25 May.
• New Balance has kindly sponsored Japhet with kit and shoes for the Edinburgh race.• New Balance has kindly sponsored Japhet with kit and shoes for the Edinburgh race.
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