Running with the Kenyans
In episode 6 of Marathon Talk (currently my favourite podcast), Alex Vero - a journalist, was interviewed about his efforts to try and become a world class runner. Alex's documentary tracks his incredible journey as his personal bests fall as he gets fitter and faster while be begins to set almost world class half marathon times. Now take Alex's story - add a lot of simplicity, raw candour, add complexity in the form of kids, a wife and general mid-life existential crisis compounded by an innate urge to get better as a runner with occasional Kenyan flavoured humour and you get "Running with the Kenyans".
Adharanand (what a lovely name!) Finn's "Running with the Kenyans" is a sort of spiritual memoir in the running sense (if that makes any sense at all) and an ode to the good old world of "running your heart out", except that he was already a reasonably accomplished athlete as a young man before what we call "reality" took over his life.
It documents his seemingly reckless decision to uproot himself and family (3 little, delightful and occasionally bewildered kids included) and spend time in Kenya to run with the Kenyans. For those of you who have seen the documentary on Bekoji or read the article on the Robertson brothers in Kenya in Running Times, this is an entire book on something similar.
If you are a reader who doesn't run as yet, it is a sort of travelogue - except that the running destinations are all running related. I am sure by the time you finish reading, you will feel compelled to try running. But if you a runner, this book can be the catalyst to transform your running. It does not really give you a training plan or recommend
During the course of the book, Adharanand rubs shoulders with pretty much every elite name in Kenyan running from Mary Keitany to the Kiplagats to the Mutais as well as some of the legendary coaches - Canova as well Brother Colm (himself the subject of another documentary). Even the original muzhungu in Kenya, Toby Tanser whose books also document Kenyan running from a different perspective features in the book. And Adharanand brings us all their stories.
If you are the sort who reads Michael Palin's Himalaya or Eric Newby's A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush and is persuaded to run off to the mountains, then this book is positively dangerous for you in the same way that anything that makes you pursue true passion can be dangerous for you. Along the way, you'll learn about Sammy's legacy to Kenyan running and marathon racing in general, as well as how Adharanand , Sammy & others celebrated G. Mutai's incredible run at Boston (I was crying when I read this - if you have seen Sammy run the Olympics and his duel with Kebede at Chicago as well as Mutai's run at Boston, you will know why). You will also be entertained how you could be a world champion in Kenya but still want someone's old Toyota! You will marvel at how a world-class Kenyan could still be milking her cows when not in training. You will chuckle with Adharanand at Mike Boit's measure of a Kenyan runner's fitness while discovering what happens to the Kenyans who don't win the World Marathon Majors including the existence of a Kenyan cycling team!
You really didn't know there was a black cyclist in the Tour de France, did you? Or who came up with the famous parable about how you better be running in Africa in the morning whether you are antelope or a lion, if you want to live. That is just one of many things that Adharanand's book will tell you, including a lot about yourself and not just your running.
True love must be pursued to be tested and this book is a testament to Adharanand's love for running. Of course like all good stories, the book uses Adharanand's preparation and eventual participation in the 'wild'# Lewa marathon as a thread which runs (no pun intended) throughout the book.
Read it with an open mind and be prepared to make some uncomfortable changes to your life make it more fulfilling.
For those of you who enjoy the book, Adharanand also writes for the Guardian and is now on their group of experts for the Olympics!
Follow him on Twitter
p.s. This review was made possible due to my pal, Ashwin Bala, who lent me his copy of the book.
# The term "wild" is not used loosely here. A helicopter tries to get lions off the course of the Lewa Marathon, as if the difficulty of racing against Kenyans wasn't enough!
Adharanand (what a lovely name!) Finn's "Running with the Kenyans" is a sort of spiritual memoir in the running sense (if that makes any sense at all) and an ode to the good old world of "running your heart out", except that he was already a reasonably accomplished athlete as a young man before what we call "reality" took over his life.
It documents his seemingly reckless decision to uproot himself and family (3 little, delightful and occasionally bewildered kids included) and spend time in Kenya to run with the Kenyans. For those of you who have seen the documentary on Bekoji or read the article on the Robertson brothers in Kenya in Running Times, this is an entire book on something similar.
If you are a reader who doesn't run as yet, it is a sort of travelogue - except that the running destinations are all running related. I am sure by the time you finish reading, you will feel compelled to try running. But if you a runner, this book can be the catalyst to transform your running. It does not really give you a training plan or recommend
During the course of the book, Adharanand rubs shoulders with pretty much every elite name in Kenyan running from Mary Keitany to the Kiplagats to the Mutais as well as some of the legendary coaches - Canova as well Brother Colm (himself the subject of another documentary). Even the original muzhungu in Kenya, Toby Tanser whose books also document Kenyan running from a different perspective features in the book. And Adharanand brings us all their stories.
If you are the sort who reads Michael Palin's Himalaya or Eric Newby's A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush and is persuaded to run off to the mountains, then this book is positively dangerous for you in the same way that anything that makes you pursue true passion can be dangerous for you. Along the way, you'll learn about Sammy's legacy to Kenyan running and marathon racing in general, as well as how Adharanand , Sammy & others celebrated G. Mutai's incredible run at Boston (I was crying when I read this - if you have seen Sammy run the Olympics and his duel with Kebede at Chicago as well as Mutai's run at Boston, you will know why). You will also be entertained how you could be a world champion in Kenya but still want someone's old Toyota! You will marvel at how a world-class Kenyan could still be milking her cows when not in training. You will chuckle with Adharanand at Mike Boit's measure of a Kenyan runner's fitness while discovering what happens to the Kenyans who don't win the World Marathon Majors including the existence of a Kenyan cycling team!
You really didn't know there was a black cyclist in the Tour de France, did you? Or who came up with the famous parable about how you better be running in Africa in the morning whether you are antelope or a lion, if you want to live. That is just one of many things that Adharanand's book will tell you, including a lot about yourself and not just your running.
True love must be pursued to be tested and this book is a testament to Adharanand's love for running. Of course like all good stories, the book uses Adharanand's preparation and eventual participation in the 'wild'# Lewa marathon as a thread which runs (no pun intended) throughout the book.
Read it with an open mind and be prepared to make some uncomfortable changes to your life make it more fulfilling.
For those of you who enjoy the book, Adharanand also writes for the Guardian and is now on their group of experts for the Olympics!
Follow him on Twitter
p.s. This review was made possible due to my pal, Ashwin Bala, who lent me his copy of the book.
# The term "wild" is not used loosely here. A helicopter tries to get lions off the course of the Lewa Marathon, as if the difficulty of racing against Kenyans wasn't enough!
Labels: Book Review, Kenyan Running, Running
posted by D at
7/26/2012 03:43:00 AM
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