As we head towards the one month marker I feel compelled to share my latest escapades in Kenya.
On the work front things are still taking
their own time – not quite the corporate pace I’m used to but I am trying to be
patient! Garret and I are chomping at the bit to really get started, but
getting all our stakeholders aligned is critical so watch this space...
Socially last weekend was not quite as flair as the previous
one. No jet-setting around Kenya to watch polo. That said it was an
action-packed weekend in Nairobi complete with more animal encounters and
excessive exertion under the Kenya sun (which magically shone for the one day
where I was scheduled to run a half marathon – typical).
So Saturday kicked off with a trip to the David Sheldrick
Elephant and Rhino orphanage. Cue super cute photos of young elephants, and
elbow-battles with the other tourists desperate to get their perfect shot.
Joking aside the orphanage is amazing – every elephant and rhino has a tragic
story behind their orphan status (poaching, injury, human intervention) yet
they all get rescued and brought to Nairobi with the aim to rehabilitate them
as they heal and grown up. The elephants are awesome...all running into the ‘arena’
to be bottle-fed by the keepers before playtime. They love a good game of footie and, like humans, there are definitely
some naughty ones!! Trying to lift your skirt with their trunks, or slamming
into the back of each other so one falls down...only these are huge elephants
so the repercussions if they fall your way are a somewhat higher! Anyway, pretty
awesome..if slightly touristy.
Then it was off to a local entertainment park...off the
tourist trail (thank goodness), but host to parties of Kenya school kids,
church groups and local families touring the crocodile farm complete with an
Africa-shaped boating lake, some rickety fairground rides, a giraffe and a few
ostriches. Random random Mamba village!
Still, it gave me the opportunity to
kiss another animal (spot the recurring theme) and I also cycled around Africa (the lake)
on a floating bike – 10 mins total, no passport required. Not bad for a day in
Nairobi...although we’re rapidly running out of local weekend activities.
Sunday was a completely different adventure. Coerced by a
friendly American and fellow althlete, Angela, who I met in our apartment gym I entered
the Sotokoto Nairobi half-marathon 3 days before the event. Not exactly ideal
preparation! It is true that I have half-marathon experience, but since
arriving in Nairobi I have run once...for 25mins... owing to security issues
and general lack of opportunity (running next
to a congested, polluted road for miles dodging litter, ditches and pedestrians
is hardly an attractive prospect).
 |
| Our small running team post-event! |
That said I am not
one to refuse a challenge so I entered for a mere $10, collected my luminous
yellow shirt (which only seemed to come
in tent-size) and I accompanied members of the USA Impala Running team to the event (The
Impalas are usually based in San Francisco, but several had flown in from
Tanzania, Mombasa and Kisumu especially for the event!! ...which tells you
something about the calibre of the team I was running with...or rather behind).
Built like whippets rather than a St Bernard (that’s me) they put in some
exceptional performances given the high altitude running and crazy heat. One of
them completed it in 1.28, and has a PB of 1.18...crazily impressive running!
In all honesty I was
just glad to take part and to finish in a respectable 1.48. In true African style it
started 1.5hrs late..and was therefore at least 10 degrees hotter, so I drank
about 2 litres of water en route, threw a further 2 litres over my head and was
grateful to cross the finishing line with only minor sunburn (ridiculous calf
tanline which is too horrific to post a picture of). I can honestly say
that I beat some local Kenyans, (some
whom weren’t wearing shoes) and many of whom dropped out - yes really! My prize is that I am
walking around like a geriatric today and am the proud owner of a giant neon
yellow t-shirt! Good experience overall, but one which I would warn against
undertaking lightly!
Hope that all is well in the UK...and if you have any
feedback about my blog, or any news then please get in touch. xxx
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