Nike And The Kenyan Marathon Runners In The Quest To Finish A Marathon In Under 2 Hours

As a Kenyan, there is one topic that always inspires patriotic enthusiasm at times when I feel my country is doing lots that I am not proud of - our running prowess. This is something so dear to us as Kenyans - the fact that we are recognized on the global stage for something so positive. Good news is hard to come by these days. 

The article focuses on a Nike quest to get legendary marathon runners to finish a full marathon in under two hours. The world record for a marathon is currently held by a Kenyan runner - Dennis Kimetto - and stands at two hours, two minutes, and 57 seconds.

This article is amusing, interesting and quite eye-opening. The writer, who describes himself as an "outsized mzungu", joins training sessions with Olympians in high altitude Kenyan highlands as they attempt to create a new marathon record of under two hours. 

Running, similar to many other sports, is a metaphor for life. The same endurance, perseverance, discipline, spirit and hard work that is needed to excel in any sport is exactly what we need in our everyday life. A few years back, I read Haruki Murakami's What I talk about when I talk about running. I still think of it as a philosophical read rather than one on actually running. 

"It was during this period that I reflected upon the happy fact that I was not dead," the writer notes during one of the training sessions with the athletes.  

For more context, read through the full three articles - it promises to be an exciting read. Who knows? It might inspire you to break your own record.