Liz Mokamba

I did not start running because I love running. I did it because some guy knocked on my hostel door with a weighing machine, convinced me to check my weight, height and BMI. He then proceeded to tell me I am overweight and I should start exercising.

Over the next four years in campus, I did some runs (seasonal), I jumped rope (a few times) and I almost bought weight loss products (I could, I just didn’t have that kind of money) At the time, I never knew how far I ran, or how many skips I did on jump rope. All I cared was that if and when someone would comment about my body, I would defensively say “I usually run and jump rope. This is just my body type”

The first time I recorded a run was in 2020. Few months after Covid hit and I had just come back to Nairobi to report to work. It was a 5km run on a perfect, straight out and back route along the Northern Bypass. I would once a month extend to 10km and once a year do a slow AF Half Marathon at Stan Chart. For close to three years, I inconsistently did my 40-50 minute 5k runs and annual 3hr+ half marathons, until I fell into the trap of a running community.

Even then, I never really thought a running community will change how and why I ran. But then, some kind of magic happened. Turns out I only needed a trigger. And for me that came in form of a threat. Kilimanjaro Marathon 2024 was upcoming. It was my very first time hearing about this marathon and due to peer pressure I signed up for it. One thing though, the website said that only the first 5,500 finishers of the half marathon shall be awarded medals. Why did they have to threaten me like that??

January 2024 I only had one mission. To loose enough weight and be decently faster than before so as to be top 5,500 finishers at Kili Half and come back home with a medal. There was no way I would be packing my bags and travel 300km to Moshi using my own money and not come back with a medal. That was the driving force for my January and February 2024 runs. I started running more and intermittent fasting. I had no goal weight or goal pace but I just wanted to be able to sustain a long run. I stated doing 10km morning runs up from 5km and I would do 15, 20km weekend runs. I was still slow, but it started to not hurt when I am done.

I was happy with my 2.58 half in Kili, and I was ranked around 3500^th which was another realization to me that many recreational runners are actually slow AF. To be fair, I still thought 3 hours for a half is too much time and I knew I would like to improve that to a decent time. I however knew that for it to happen I need my body to get used to long runs and not the usual 5ks.

I kicked it up a notch after Kili as I was super motivated. I saw my body respond to running, I was getting lighter and a tad bit faster day by day. I would pull a 10k PR on a random Wednesday, totally unplanned and that is when I realized I might gave found what will save me. It is no doubt running was my first ever primary choice of workout but I didn’t know how to maximize its benefits until I joined a running community.

At Ubuntu Fitness Club, I learnt how to push just a little bit harder, go just a little bit further every day, to rest when needed and to push my limits once in a while.

I completely rid myself of 5km morning runs, almost got disgusted if I had to do a 5k. I realized that a 10km morning run often leaves me feeling fulfilled. I however realized that those 5Ks are the reason I am enjoying the 10Ks and started incorporating them recently for those rushed mornings or for speed work. Ubuntu long weekend runs my favorite. I grew enough to do a couple of half marathons in a month and other than the time I took to finish, I stopped fearing them. I moved to 30km, then 50km, then 42km and recently, I hit 70kms.

Yes, 70 kilometers. Was it brutal? Oh Hell Yes. It left me absolutely shattered. But with an average pace of 9.00/km it also left me fully satisfied and motivated. I understood how far I have come and knew there is still room for improvement.

When I stated running it was because I was uncomfortable in my body. Today I run because I want to run for my physical health, mental health and spiritual nourishment. I worship through the open meandering roads on weekends, muddy questionable trails through people’s villages, chilly mountain ascents and long lone unplugged walks. And once in a while when I go to the extreme, it is purely to feed my soul.

#ForUbuntu #ToUbuntu #ByUbuntu

With Love, Liz

Photo Credits: Ness Pixels