The next day I discovered a great new café up in Harlem. I was to meet George Hirsch, a man I am honored to know for over fifteen years now. It was in a café called Avrita and I was looking for the place asking people on the street and I bumped into Pierre the Pusher (massage therapist) and his uncle. Anyway I finally found the place; I only coffeed so I can’t give a food review, but I must add that the ambiance was spot on, a great place, 110th ST west.

In the evening I went to a new place with Susan; Channai – an Indian vegetarian restaurant on First Avenue. I can’t remember the names of the dishes as they were the chef’s recommendations, but I do remember chick peas and tofu were the two themes. They did not have my fave Indian beer (5000), but they had Kingfisher. But back to the food; the dished were really good and tasty, and along with the lemon rice (super) it was a really tasteful meal… more should I say flavorful.

One of Tom Sachs’ whales, being built by Aimee (in the pic).. and on Wednesday night she is running on the track, probably wishing she was with the whales… now a Shoe4Africa runner! Last night was the opening of five sculptures in NYC, and of course Aimee helped make those too.

I went to see George Hirsch today who is a man I have felt lucky to know since the 1990's, in his new apartment... wow, what drop dead views -- he is on the 16th FL of a building that overlooks Central Park from a new angle, and I have never seen a nicer view. When I was in his apartment I was thinking 'hm, perhaps it would be nice to won this... I think I have to start learning how to play the lottery.'

Everyone knows who this is!

The real Express, Janet Jepkosgei, World Champ 800m – the Eldoret Express, you don’t get a cooler nickname than that… well, it is on par with The Simba. Speaking of which I would love to see Janet run a 5k on the roads.

Awesome 10,00m runs in America – Buster Motram winning one of them, easily, and the other to Shalane Flanagan Nike 30:34.49A 2 Kim Smith Reebok 30:35.54A 3 Sally Kipyego Texas Tech 31:25.45A 4 Sabrina Mockenhaupt Koeln Marathon 31:27.05A

Sally might get a spot on the Kenyan team for this, although I believe it is 31:25:00 for Kenya, but no-one is flying to a great time as yet from Kenya. Good to see Mocke in there for fourth.

I have a great feeling about Sleepy plucking a medal in Beijing, here’s hoping!!

As they say the reservoir rose up and hit me. Anyway, I was at a meeting (ho ho) for the hospital building project with my crack team R2, Rick, Susan, and Tony (who had just done the five boros, and well done to John Hanc who stormed on the 6th boro of LI to a half marathon year’s best of 1:28!!), and anyway I walked in in sunglasses to try and hid my bruises, but it just so happened that a healer from Ireland, Joe, was there, so (with Susan’s help too) I did get patched up, enough to find my Thai food on the table and locate the beer bottle that is.

But anyway, the exciting news is the hospital squad is the best, I could not ask for a better team, and this thing is going to happen!

Meanwhile on the phone to Kenya, talking to Chris Cheboiboch who told me his marathon plans, and say the rains that are hammering Nairobi have not hammered Iten as yet.

Hilda Airlines pounding the roads in Kenya, training hard – fastest time this year for the 10k! 31:01.

IN fact that was the night I went to the Picasso apartment, but moving on from that—I started with the Paulotano Salad that has a tremendous presentation – the tomatoes are on a bed of toasted cheese, and still on their vine, I think roasted in olive oil… well there was a tad too much lettuce, and like Joyce Cheppy~Chumba I never touch the stuff. For the main course I had a shrimp stew that was served in a big cast iron roasting pot that tasted delicious and had strawberries swimming in there with god knows what else but some rela flavor popping out the pan. Slightly disappointing was the “recommended” dessert – yeah I must have been a sucker, some pineapple bland thing with coconut ice cream and a sauce. I was persuaded to drink the “local” Brahma beer that tasted nothing more than I imagine fizzy Budweiser to taste like.. but all in all great – this place has atmosphere like few other places on the Upper East Side Lex & West. The staff are outstanding, the taste is really there, and it is a knock-out joint, what can I say? Thumbs up!

If you visit the Shoe4Africa web site you’ll notice a new red tab on the nav bar. It is the hospital idea I have been talking about, and I am still a couple of months away from being ready for the launch. This boy was inside the church, trapped inside, and pinned to the back of the church by arrows. When the fire raged, and the roofs fell he crawled through the fire on his hands and knees to escape the madness, below the eyesight of the mob. This photo was taken ten weeks after it happened, he is still in hospital. After he escaped from the church he ran a few kilometers, on those burned feet, to the road where he managed to flag down a bicycle. He sat on the back of the bike as the cyclist took him to the hospital.

Working hard; Chris from the Flyers with her new mizuno’s “feel like springs under my feet” Rick whose goal is Falmouth, Ron who had his head down, Joya out on a wave, ChuckyChina who was just not in his sandbagger’s gear this night, Commander Kevin looking like he is ready to start the work needed, excellent session by Abs – outdid himself! Trackman Dave managed to get the spirit, and AmexChris got the mechanics, Tamar continues to work towards killing a session, Thingeymajig did okay, John the closer did just that, John from SRZ arrived at the close, bill was showing his Boston fatigue… but all in all a good work out on a cold cold night.

“From Dialogue to Action” Fighting words huh? At breakfast (without the muffins) we had our second meeting - R2 bringing in American marketing, Susan with professional fund raising, Kevin bringing in European marketing, Rick with the legal, Tony with a host of talents, and I was there to make sure no one drank too much coffee. The action part came in the evening, when after coaching the Flyers (and receiving a loaf of bread–thanks Lloyd!) I zipped down to Carnegie Hall for ‘An evening of Music at Carnegie Hall.’ The Schneider family built a children’s hospital in Israel, (250 beds – is this fate or what??) and were hosting a concert with the American Symphony Orchestra conducted by emmy winner Glen Roven. Arriving late, I ran in with my loaf of bread, up the stairs to the box office and listened to some delightful music, especially an amazing violinist Hagai Shaham. Cameron the model was up in the box, along with Jeanine when I got there – good job as they lock the boxes once you are in them!

Tony was a reader, and he came out and read his piece, very nice before the intermission (told ya I had a great team) so of course at “half time” the Schneiders’ came up to thank him for being a part of it so I got the opportunity to ask them if they had a handbook on how to build a hospital. Sadly they thought I was joking (not about the hospital, but the handbook). We also met the Israeli Ambassador. After the intermission (they promised us there would be desserts at the after party as Cameron discovered there was no real food) Glenn Close did a reading, about a rabbit. She spoke a sentence, then there was a long musical interlude, then another sentence, and very dramatic music—especially at the beginning when the rabbit had yet to do anything dramatic. But we had a good time watching the orchestra, and they were very well oiled. In the aftermath party Susan said all the right answers (another expert) whilst I tried to explain how collecting shoes turned into bricks, as Bailey told me about his great new 12:35-pr for the Rez, and I found out Jeanine, whose birthday it is today, is allergic (like Susan) to Kiwi (the fruit). And Cheryl, who is Tony’s Tennis business partner who has a company with split personalities called Grand Central on Broadway made the astute observation that I was definitely not needed; the first bulls-eye of the evening. However, by this time I was sampling the beer, and wondering if this was the normal what was the light whilst pretending I was a mystery food inspector sampling each type of dessert that was the A-Z of foods covered in chocolate.. which was quite the theme as when I started pulling hunks off my loaf of bread, thanks Lloyd, I discovered that it was a chocolate loaf from one of my fave shops (that is also Kyomi’s faves) Agata & Valentina on First @ 72nd.

So there you go, day two – today is what to say to the Russian General Consul.

Marko Joseph -- Shoe4Africa, Tanzania.

Speaking of which I was in a restaurant downtown last night, a big place but of the owner was moaning, “I hate Monday nights” as they often do. So we start talking and she says that she is simply waiting for her daughter to finish school before she sells up and moves. Moves to Amsterdam. She has two places here in NYC but wants a small home cooking place in Amsterdam just to go to ‘relax to’ and enjoy Europe (She is European). So, As I went home later that night, walking inside the rain I was thinking about what now seems like a million years ago, when I lived on Prins hendriksgatte in Amsterdam. When I ran away from home at the age of 15 and ended up in the center of one of the fun-nest cities in Europe. Not really sure that I could go back and live there again but if there was ever a city to pass the times then Amsterdam has to be. Mind you they say these days it is quite industrial, as for me and my memories of Fat City, The Milky Way, The Future Café, etc etc, I find that hard to believe. Tangled up in raindrops.

Shoe4Africa Motor news!! Alvaro Parente wins on GP2 debut in Barcelona.

We went to the afterparty and I am thinking I have been here before… and low and behold it was held at the old original Two Boots that Smokin’ J used to work at when he could run, before he got fat & sucked on Marlboros. Nowadays it is some vegetarian East Village place. Anyway kudos to Judd, he did a great job with the film! And gave us great seats too.

“World cross country and 10,000 metres champion Tirunesh Dibaba is also in the Ethiopian team for the championships that start on Wednesday at the National Stadium in Addis Ababa. “ This is fine for Ethiopia, and natural of course because they are the hosts, but I guess early enough on for other African countries to not have the program interrupt the Olympic calendar – it reminds me of a couple of years ago when the Kenyans were told to run the Champs, then the districts to qualify for the nationals, then the nationals, then the nationals, then the trials –and for someone running the 10,000 that would be a grueling number of laps. In fact the Tusker meet, in Nairobi, for May 11th has been postponed… “Most top runners want to save their energy for the Olympics. If they run at high altitude they will need a lot of time to recover. We want to spare them that agony,” (Isaiah) Kiplagat said. (He’s the Boss of AK).

Jamaica Kibet slices up last night’s Ugali for breakfast in Eldo.

Want to see a race with the most sub 2:09’s ever? Simple, get Kenya to adopt the Olympic trails format the US uses, then bring the trials to a low altitude venue and watch! In Vienna there were nine Kenyans & one Ethiopian in the top ten.

The Queen of American Running.

The Queen of Boston.

Second place is definitely winning at the Olympic trials! Magdalena.

Sometimes the pains of running are just to much to handle – Mary Akor giving her all at Boston.

A Surge and a Kick Decide Men's and Women's Races The story of Boston!

Back from Boston—As usual I had a ball, more photos to come, but here are a few from the days there. I can't believe how fast this year is rattling on! I went into Central Park last night and it looked like the summer that will be here tomorrow. Alem shouts out, "Ethiopia rules Boston!" And you know what, it was a touch of the changing of the guards as only one Kenyan man made the top five. Good news from Nairobi, I think it has just been confirmed Robert, Sammy, and Martin for Beijing! In other stunning news, watch out at the Barcelona GP this weekend -- The Shoe4Africa logo makes its mark in motor racing! We are branching out.

More photos tomorrow.

Watching the race itself is always fun, and what races they turned out to be; Robert really stormed the event, and the women's race was a street fight. Tune is very sweet and it was great to see how excited Fatuma Roba was when the two met after the finish line.

Rita was very disappointed, and kept her head up -- in the press conference she spoke in English and they had a guy translate, but he kept on getting all the words wrong, she said 'happy' he said 'not happy' and some of the stuff that he "translated" and I use that word as a joke... continuing with Cheruiyot, strange as Robert speaks perfect English and he was really butchering what Robert was really saying -- Federico Rosa, the manager of Robert, was standing next to me and we were amazed, 1) that he was doing it, and 2) he was saying so many things wrongly! These were supposed to be quotes, not surmations of what he thought he heard!

Breakfast with Fatuma Roba, she has a funny story on how she got to the Olympics! Imagine as 1996 started, the year she won, her PR was 2:39! Read more on the Runner's World Boston site with a number of other stories I did, on Cheboiboch, Kwambai, Saina, Chemjor, William Kiplagat(did you know Lornah gave him his first training schedule?), Askale who is a really sweet Ethiopian lady... and more... then onto the press thingey I met Lorraine Moller, Boston Billy who tells me I am too young to stop competing -- he's loving it, Amby Burfoot who is competing tomorrow, Talked to Abderhamine who has snagged the last Olympic spot on his country's team after Jarib & Goumri, talking to Federico Rosa about Kenya, Valentjin about Ethiopia, then Shawn about them both, Always a lot of news here. More talking, less coffee drinking Greg M, Mary Queen of the NYRR is here and 'da' team including Krafty Krebs who is running on Monday, Joan Benoit who was telling the story of when she won in 1984, "My mother said, "I hope this is the end of it (running career)"... It was an emotional day for Joanie who said she is very happy now to have discovered that giving back is the big part of the sport that has given her so much. I met Jim from NYAC who runs for CPTC, goodness Boston is the closest community of runners there is. An a text from Starbucks, "Straight from the High Altitude Training Centre we are having the Shoe4Africa Boston party!' Ah, and there is a good group of Iten runners here. I went strolling with Magdaline, she wanted something with Boston written on as a memory of coming here, but liked nothing and did not want to spend $20 on something junky. We walked along the last mile of the course so she could plan her tactic, it was nice in the Sun.

04/18
So now I know the scoop, I can tell you that the winners of the Boston Marathon are Robert Cheruiyot and Jelena Props of the Boston Marathon... If the rumors of invincibility are true.

Robert Cheruiyot walks by and they have him dressed up in a T shirt saying Boston is better than NYC.

In the day time, at the press things, I met Jonathan from Running Times who gave me a couple of their magazines as I had things in them -- With the picture of Martin Lel a did-you-know, the poster that is posted on the wall of his shop is of Elijah Lagat, a former winner of Boston!

Anyway I happened to see the great story by Brendan Reilly about Japanese running, what a fab article, and I bumped into him too, he is really happy at how the article turned out of course, "I'm retiring now!"

Also met Tom Ratcliffe who is a manager that certainly gives back and supports "Roots Kenya."

I met the Russian Rocket with his slue of Russians, and talked with Jelena and her husband Aleks who is a nifty runner, they were talking about why they are missing the Olympics this year, and also the stress of life on the road.

Chatted with Federico Rosa on travel and $50, and those sorts of things.
Earlier on in the day I met the NYRR crew, with Queen Mary looking like she is an athlete and not a race director. I also saw the new front cover of Liz Robbins book that is all about the New York Marathon; that will be a spiffy must read to be released in October (in time for Chicago we hear).

Talked with Rita about her form, life and the way things go, she is looking very ready and has the eye of the leopard. "45 km in 2:51 with final 5k in 17'28", another time 6 times couples of 3000m in 10'02" > 10'15", rec. 200m in 1'25" average, 1000m in 3'10" > 3'16", with rec. 400m in 2'30" / 3' between every couples (this means 6 x 3k + 6 x 1k = 24km of tests, and 6 x 200m + 5 x 400m = 3.2 km of recovery) on track."

lidiya is looking good, and she is a quiet one so you never know with her what her form is like... The women's field is pretty open this year. No idea what the weather is going to be like. Deena sounds very confident for the Sunday run, I am quite out of the loop for that one.

Talking to Rachid, who has gone from a volunteer at the marathon, to now being a manager of three runners in the race including two 2:08 runners. I asked him if it was taking up his time, "Yeah, full time now, and a lot of traveling (that is what kills you)." So I asked if he has given up the catering business, "Yes, well unless anyone calls."

Moses Tanui is a legend -- he ran a 56-sec last lap in the 10,000m world championships 1993 trying to retain his title with one shoe! For lap after lap Haile Gebrselassie had clipped the heel of Moses, till finally he pulled the entire shoe from Moses. I think that has to be a world record for a world championship last lap with one shoe off... when many said his career was over he pulled a 2:06:16 from the bag, 15-yrs after he first appeared on the scene... and how he won a medal at the East African 1500m championships is the story for me -- read about it in More Fire! I used to stay in his garden for a while and train with him, for the preps he was doing before he won the 100th Boston in 1996; drank lots of tea, heard lots of great stories.

Speaking of England... Got an invite to go to the South of France today, to stay in a house of a dead Lord. The house is supposed to be drop dead beautiuful and near a beach... I certainly feel like I need a holiday!

NEW YORK, NY (April 14) � Chinese megastar Liu Xiang and world-champion sprinters---Veronica Campbell-Brown and Lauryn Williams � whose photo finish at 100 meters provided one of the most-dramatic moments of the 2007 World Championships � will be among the headliners at the Reebok Grand Prix on May 31, organizers announced today. On the heels of a sell-out last year, 1,500 seats are being added to Icahn Stadium to meet the expected demand in this Olympic year.

What a weekend for running �meanwhile, up in a sleepy part of CT, in a house nearly 280 years old set in 20-acres of peacefulness, planting spinach and pansies, sitting in a Jacuzzi, drinking a beer, playing football, eating salmon and drinking red wine, visiting the country starbucks, going for a run in a forest, taking down the primitive form of double glazing, and watching a first cut of an unreleased movie� and I did run up a big hill. The country life, who�d have thunkit?

Martin Lel has all but wrapped up the world majors $500,000 in the first race of the year! With 75-points, and Goumri way behind with 40-points, it is all but money in the bank! the women is looking a bit more open, but Gete is a clear fave to repeat.

Meanwhile over in Kenya, starting again��Riots also broke out in Kisumu, in western Kenya, where witnesses said hundreds of angry opposition supporters blocked the road to the airport and stoned cars.� That�s why I travel on a motorbike!

Yup, in about three weeks I am back over there � like a yo-yo this year. I know the airports so well.

With Goumri and Hall just behind there is becoming a certain group that is looking like the men's marathon in Beijing will be perhaps the strongest ever line up, as there is no way Lel & Wanjiru can not be selected now... you think that notion strange? Well back in 2004 this same scenario happened to Felix Limo & Evans Rutto. Robert Cheruiyot will now have to do something special, and also Rotterdam has not been run as yet, plus Mr Consistent Sammy K, the elder, ran 2:07 last month, and Moses A ran 2:06 last week!

MARTIN LEL!!! 2:05:15 London Marathon winner. Sublime, superb, and just what everyone in Nandi wanted.

Also, just one month to go till the Martin Lel Shoe4Africa race.

---

Now Fred used to be the street sitter of the running community. The half brother of Mike Kapiai, who was a standout for the first Fila team, "If Mike stops making money, then let me try hard training..." he would joke. Mike got injured, Fred ran 2:06. Fred's house is in the better area of Eldoret, a runner scoots by the car taking the inner lane, I glance across and look eye to eye with Felix.

Now Felix is something special, a humble man, and one who will ask you not to say too much about him. One who realized his 27:04 10,000m speed was never going to be enough to mak it on the track, "If you aren't hitting 26's why bother?"

We park the car and alight, I see the dark dot of Felix disappear into the distance. One man is chatty, and that's the man they call Jamaica. Now Jamaica is the new kid on the block, but he already has some major wins on the US roads under his belt, not yet a marathon...(to be continued)

04/11
Cristiano Ronaldo plays soccer (click on the picture and see how). The skills of this guy are sublime. Being touted as the world�s best player. Of the world�s biggest game. I am actually thinking about going to the world cup in South Africa 2010, it should be immense, and Nelson Mandela is getting behind the event to take it to a higher level. have some great connections over there too.

Lornah's Mum! Does this make her the Mama Simba? Back in 2006 she won the age group award for the Shoe4Africa race!!

One of the cutest kids in Kenya.

Lest we not forget, the big, big race this weekend!! I have some faves here too that I hope perform well. We heard, via email, the scoop today -- sounds great, don't want any jinx's so I'll shut up now.

The Limb of a Simba.

She has won the world cross, world champs on the roads, the last time in a world record, and has about a third of the top twenty times over the 10k on the roads, is virtually unbeatable in her series of signature records � and her only �failing� is a 2:22 marathon� we all know she can run much faster than that. And in fact when we were running this very morning discussing the training I really think her next marathon after the Olympics will be her breakthrough of the 2:20 barrier. We run along the roads, we talk about The little Simba, who back in 1987 went to the district championships in Kenya won the 1500m, won the 5000m, ate a lunch of maize and beans before running the 10,000m and throwing up.

But what differentiates the Simba from so many others? Why has she had such a long and powerful career? �People talk shit about me, they say drugs like any athlete who runs, but I don�t care, I know it is hard work, and my hard work. I have always proved this, and consistently. It is the same when I help people, when I ask one thing of them and they don�t help back... like people who have been living in my camp for years, one day they go and then never give back. They see me and say nice things, but behind my back I hear things. I know just by being me good things will continue to happen, and when I finish my running, maybe in 2012, I will just have fun, like I am doing now.� Good luck the Simba, who runs on Saturday in Istanbul! Go Simba.

It was a trip of a beginning; I went to the church where as many as 50 women and children were burnt alive at Kiambaa village, a few kilometers outside of Eldoret town. The church, basically a mud and wooden hut, was burnt to the ground, only debris remained -- like a burned children's shoe, and a tinged headscarf. It was the first time in history, I think, that a church where women and children had sought sanctuary was set alight with blatant intent of cruel murder.

Standing in this field in the middle of the Kenyan countryside a Kikuyu man came over and started talking; one of the very few Kikuyu's who remains in the area, "They (the locals) have chased us all away. People spit at me for staying, but after burning our church I don't think they'll harm me. They have moved their cattle to graze on my lands, and all our homes were burnt to the ground, but I don't think I am in danger now."
He pointed to a woman who had walked to the area, "She was inside the church when it happened." So I go over to talk to the lady, who looks in her mid twenties and impoverished.

"The mob came screaming and yelling, with weapons. They drove us into the church, we were only women and children, one woman was in a wheelchair. When we were inside the church they drove us back with bows and arrows to the rear of the building. Then they piled mattresses up in front of the door and the windows to block us in. Someone poured petrol (gasoline) onto the mattresses and set them alight." Then smoke and confusion, and death raged. The woman managed to fight her way out of the church. She then realized that her child was inside, her three year old daughter. Grabbing a blanket to wrap around her head she ran back in. The church was very small and she found her daughter, nobody stopped her from running in. However as she tried to get out then she had problems, but through desperation managed to wrestle her way out, her dress in tatters from people clinging on to the cloth.

Once outside the blazing structure the mob grabbed her child from her, and threw the infant back in the blaze, to her death.

The woman was trying to make sense of this occasion, and she was asking God for a purpose. Looking at the lady you could easily surmise she was not a political activist, and probably had not even voted in the Kenyan elections -- blamed as the catalyst for this outbreak. And what about her three year old daughter.

As we stood another lady kept her distance, but stood watching us. "Her husband is currently under arrest for being one of the mob. She hates us." The Kikuyu man said. The daughterless child told me know she lives in a tent on a camping site, lucky to get one meal a day from the refugee center. Owning nothing but the raggedy clothes she stood in.

That afternoon, at Moses Tanui's cafe, Pieter & Lornah suggested we build the Shoe4Africa children's hospital in Eldoret.

So, the following day I went to see the institution (Moi Referral Hospital) that is looking to build a Children's hospital in its expansive grounds. There is an Ampath AIDS building, and several of the large facilities are American funded by Pepfar or Melinda & Bill Gates. They have the blueprints and a $15 million dollar budget for this building. I saw each bed where currently two mothers and two children are stuck in the women's ward as a children's hospital is lacking. I saw one bed with five bodies, "There was an abandoned child dropped here when Koffi Annan was in town, so we call him Kofi, we'll look after him," said a woman lying on her slither of a bed.

By coincidence, when the Kiambaa church burnt, on New Year's Day, the front page of the newspaper had featured a grandmother with arms aloft screaming. I had saved this newspaper. Standing in the hospital was this woman, Elizabeth Wangui. her grandchild had been inside the church too. On his hands and knees he had crawled through the flames below the eyes of the madmen to safety. Outside the church he had ran to the road with toasted ankles. A bicyclist had stopped and given him a ride to the hospital where he still remained after ten weeks. The grandmother told how she had been back to visit their home, "We have nothing, they burned our home and even pulled the corrugated iron off the roof -- the only thing that was not burnt. After this hospital I don't know where we will go, probably to the refugee camp." She again asked, "What is the meaning of this madness?"

The meaning was maybe the spark that made me think, think that the $15-million hospital was not impossible, make me think that it was also the biggest impact I could make to help the healing process� as I began to think, I thought of the network of people I know who can help me make this happen� it then became like a no-brainer.

On that note, sitting around drinking coffee all morning, drinking coffee and toasting Eli�s healthy loaf, when Jeanine walks in to the Kitchen (Tony�s wife who built Stila amongst other things), �I have just earned $3000 this morning. What have you guys done?� Urm, drank all your coffee and eaten all your bread � that�s all we ever do.

Buy it soon -- More Fire, the book about Kenyan running. And remember if you buy this book then every penny is going toward the latest and greatest new Shoe4Africa project to be announced this summer... but by far the most ambitious one we have ever done, and costing $15-million I need to sell an awful lot of books! So, please buy generously -- y'know as SaladGirl always used to say, "I like to read things in the dentist chair."

And at a 10k road race in Holland showing he is in top shape for the track this summer: Moses Masai (Kenya) 27:22 2 Micah Kogo (Kenya) 27:29 3 Joseph Ebuya (Kenya) 27:33 � Moses can be seen a few times in the train hard win easy youtube � on the track, then in the race, then the last runner seen jogging on the track where you can just see what a fantastic form this runner has � a big guy, but one who floats along the ground, not runs onto the ground.

I had the greatest luck after the workout, after a bit of bad luck that is; I was whizzing round a corner on my bike, and my keys that I balanced on the brake lever stem fell off, and disappeared down a drain! Unfortunately the drain was in the middle of one of the three lanes on first avenue. Well, when the lights were red I peered down the drain and thought I could see my keys.. then I wiggled the grate and realized it was liftable! At that moment Rich and Vickster came down the road, so we quickly lifted the grate whilst a passerby stood in front of us to alert traffic. When the grate was open I swooped down the drain and when I was down there Rich was shouting, "Toby, Toby, there's a bus coming!" I was inches away, so I swooped and grabbed the keys, zipped out, but luckliy the bus switched lanes! All on a NYC evening -- and thanks to Vickster & Rich of course!

The biggest problem of the night was trying to see if there was any difference in Cotton Lloyd's movements when he alternated between buttkicks and high knees.

Anyway the kid nearly jumped out of his bed at the hospital when we pushed the bike into his ward, he was speechless � poor thing has zero possessions, imagine, even the corrugated iron roof of his grandma�s hut where he lived before the clashes was stolen!

Super late it was an in and out zapper as Joyce had been calling asking (quite rightly) Where are you?? We picked Joyce at the bus shelter on the Uganda road about ten minutes out of town and drove to her new farm. It is in a village where Moses Tanui comes from, and where Salina Kosgei has a most beautiful house. Joyce moved here to avoid the troubles during the clashes as before she was in Nakuru and wanted to be out of town. To find this place you have to be a detective, or be traveling with Joyce. She likes the place and will stay here.

Earlier I had been talking to Claudio Berardelli about displacement in the clashes. I had invited him to come to Iten when he was in Eldoret, then Iten exploded and in fact when I had been phoning him people had been shooting, �Perhaps better not come here.� So Claudio had pulled a fridge across his front door (that was a wedding present to a runner who is yet to install electric in his home) and waited till a police escort had driven him to the airport. Claudio is the resident coach for Dr. Rosa�s team, now that the Doctor himself is very rarely in Kenya.

Joyce�s farm is amazing; she has done a really good job, and gave me a tour including a well that she found � they had dug all over for water with no success when Joyce had picked a spot, �Try here� and she was right on the money� water. She has about 24-acres at least here, and this is just a slither of the property she owns in Kenya, a most successful lady. Anyway, as far as running is concerned she is making a comeback and will be looking for a half in May � I suggested Goteborg in Sweden, and she pointed to two trophies on the mantelpiece, those are from winning Goteborg�. Funnily enough I remember the second time. She was together in the hotel room with crazy Grace Chebet, and I wonder what has happened to her, we used to call her the Window runner for stories concerning certain nocturnal habits.

It got late at Joyce�s and she suggested staying over, but I wanted to get back to Iten as it was Mark�s birthday party and it was Chapos and cake for supper. I hate traveling by road in Kenya in the dark � there are no street lights, huge potholes, then a car dazzles you (as they invariably only have a hi beam) and before you know it there, in the pitch black, is a tractor with no lights on the road traveling at 5-miles an hour in front of you! Stopping at the butchers was Nicolas Kemboi � the guy that nearly beat Geb the other year in the 10,000m running a 26;30�

March 17th, ran with The Simba today, it was really nice and again we chatted about a mountain of things, and then some. A long breakfast, with Jeroen coming round to drop off his pictures from the race which were very impressive, then to Eldoret with Simba dn the Starbucks in their new Prado. In Eldoret I went to lunch with the first Kenyan lady to run the distance in the Olympics, Tecla Chemabwai�of course she was coming to the race on Saturday, but then had to go to the hospital, so I took her lunch at the Sirikwa hotel where she told me some wonderful stories about the old days, and some plans for the new ones. I went to visit Mary in the shoe shop, and tried to sell boot polish to a few customers, to no avail � people who laugh and go out of the store, so then I tried buying shoes for customers instead, one got very confused, picked up the shoes and ran out of the store very fast.

Then, as it was Hilda�s birthday, I went shopping or a present, I could not think of really what I wanted to get her, so in the end I decided on some Kalenjin music, so when she was far from home (over in Holland) she could listen to this to remember the goodness of the Rift Valley, also something to do with a bible and a lady. Then, I got round to meeting Simba n Starbucks at Moses Tanui�s caf� where we ordered about fifty cups of coffee and had the poor waitress running up and down, down and up like a 400m runner. Silas the butcher arrived, more running! Then it was back to Iten. I was just walking out the house to drive to Hilda�s place to sing her happy birthday when I spied her coming from the gym, so I took her back on the motorbike, with the guitar, drove through Iten, to the gates of her house, where the next door neighbor had just killed a porcupine with a panga!

Coconut the photographer�s picture cutting off the top of my head.

So, as we stood around the dead porcupine, on the ledge of the Rift Valley, with the Sun going down, I sung happy birthday whilst strumming on the guitar. On verse number three the neighbors finally caught onto the catchy �Happy Birthday� part of the song. Timothy then started asking if I could get him this and that, so I kicked the bike to a start revving the engine at 8000rpm and quickly set off over the hills and far away. Also because I had a special guest arriving for the evening who I had invited, the SRC (National Security Commissioner) who has in a short time become a good friend of mine.

Thanks so much: Nicole who was up there when we arrived at 9AM, I went up with Tony, Esmee & Bailey, his two kids, and Lyric & Liam, two friends. Then Amy, Jamie, Abs, Joya, Erin & Chris, Cameron (on Vogue) & Anamayaa his girlfriend (a super nice Spanish model), and Sizulu came along, their friend Mark, and Dena and her German friend, and also R2 came up, and PonyTail Ted and his son John. A huge thanks to West Farms storage, who have been absolutely great & cargo ventures too for their superb support.

5000 pairs packed for Kibera! 5000 more to go!

Later that night, I was watching a film at Tony�s house, and as he is a member of the Academy he gets every single film sent to him, it was like being in Blockbuster,and the film was a reflective one, and I could not help but think about the random acts of kindness.. people like Amy, Dena, her friend, Nicole� people I have never met before but they made their way up to the Bronx, in the middle of nowhere to help out.

I also had a good talk with Jack & Grete Waitz � we plan to be doing some good things later this year, stay tuned as they say. Then I went to work � work giving out water to the runners at an aid station manned by the Flyers (namely Pat the Piper & Deb), we had a fun time giving out water to the runners.

Kudos to Steph racealot Hodge who won the race!

You want the stark reality of Kenya running? Do you think Moses with 2:06 stands a chance to run in the Olympics? I know it was Hosea�s goal.

It is a distance of twenty miles, starting at 1990 meters altitude, and finishing at 2400m. The road is bumpy, even if you are to drive, bumpier if you follow the up and down path that runs, for the most part, by the road (tarmaced in most places). The first ten K blew by, as did the second�

Needless to say I was half staggering when I came to Iten. I remember ending at Brother Colm�s garden. I had missed lunch, so I wandered over to the cook�s room at the school and got a big plate of maize and beans; it was the most satisfying meal one could imagine. Strange though I was not super thirsty. Unfortunately Douglas still wants to do the run� I put that down to his Japanese training roots, where he grew up thinking 50km before breakfast was normal, �And no, I did not drink water�� And that as breakfast.

Wow, the day after the race was like a tidal wave had passed by. It was a big breakfast, then I drove into town to buy some newspapers � we were on the back page and then a big section in the sports pages. I had wanted the front page but due to the violence that had outbroke in Mt Elgon that was out of the question. Kenya was fighting again. I got a text from abroad wanting to know if things were okay. I replied that Kenya was peaceful, that the fighting was only in the Western region. Well, we were in the Western region, but Mount Elgon is about three hours drive to the West from Iten. It seems the Government is trying to bomb the areas where they thought the troublemakers were from � however from the footage they were doing a bad job as women and children were running from burning buildings. The newspaper cover had a soldier with a gun and the words, �A crisis, a country at war.� And here was me hoping for A country at peace.

On the way back from town I popped in to see Rita (I was going to see her parents this weekend, but some things came up). After that, morning coffee that rolled into a meeting with Katwa, and Starbucks, for the formation of a company here we are registering. Then it was to the airport to drop off Sylvia and Katwa. In the airport we met William Rutto, who was flying to Nairobi, so I told him to save the date of December 06th for the Kibera project. Then, back in Iten, I talked to the Simba for quite a while about certain things, including how money affects people and their lives�you get some vivid examples in this town.

In the late afternoon hours I went in to Iten, and around the Eldoret road to look at the houses that had been burned during the clashes. It was strange to remember that only a few weeks ago how at night the sky was lit up with fires and how the air was tinged with smoke. Then I went to see Rebby who is having breathing problems when she runs. Sally Chepyego, who ran on the national xc team in 2006 came by, she now has a baby. In the evening it was Chapati�s with Douglas, Simba, and Starbucks. Francis came round with some footage from the race.

The NEW BOOK, coming out this Summer. The book on Kenyan running � 100% of all the money from the book is going to Shoe4Africa, 100%. It was the intention for me to write this book a while ago to make money so I could afford to run Shoe4Africa, but what the heck, I decided last year to make this a fund raiser! That way I don�t have to run the Chicago Marathon! So, in advance, please buy ten copies each! you know what, in ten years they'll be saying "More Fire, that's a well known Kenyan phrase." Like is oft said now for Train Hard, Win Easy. Y'know, prior to the book coming out in 1997 Train Hard Win Easy diod not exist... so, give it More Fire! Runnign hard? More Fire. Intervals? More Fire. So you think you are racing, then... More Fire!

To describe the day, the schools singing and dancing, hugging each other, laughing, shouting Amani Kenya (Peace in Kenya). To see the old international athletes come and hug each other, some of which had not seen each other since the 1960�s, to see the current athletes coming in� wow. We gathered all the international athletes in a group with Douglas Wakiihuri and Luke Kibet at the front, two world champions in the marathon, the Kikuyu tribe and the Kalenjin tribe holding the Kenyan flag, all the others standing behind with a twig of the Cyprus tree � the sign of peace.. then walking through the town with all the school children singing walking following. I mean only a few weeks before this, this concept would have been labeled ludicrous absurd. The kids, on their own initiative, started chanting �Shoe 4 Africa, Run for peace, shoe 4 Africa, run for peace��

You must remember that the tension, the clashes had deeply affected all � one girl who was walking with me had hidden in the bush for two days whilst fighting and burning had gone on in her home. One of the world champion athletes at the front had a father killed. It was truly a day to celebrate peace. Coming onto the field we lined the school children up. Moses Kiptanui gave them instructions. Chris Cheboiboch and Timothy Cherigat ran fifty meters ahead to act as a �lead vehicle� and 600 young runners stormed off. Paskalin Kosgei took first place, and as she was running �unattached� then the second place finisher, Chelimo Ng�etich, 12, of Kiptingo Primary school, won the jackpot prize of a new Windows Vista computer, with Gladys Cherop, 12, in third from Kamariny Primary winning $200 worth of school text books. All three girls won sports watches, and a afuther prize was given to the fourth placed girl, $140 worth of school books. All 600 finishers, teachers, and more, received running shoes, an exercise book, and a pencil.

Following he race was the presentation where the elite athletes handed out the prizes to the young stars. The elite athletes had also been standing on the side of the finishers funnel giving out the shoes� can you imagine a young 8-year old remembering that World record holders Lornah, Moses Tanui, Moses Kiptanui, or Yobes Ondieki for example, gave them their first pair of shoes??? Holding the finishers tape had been Douglas and Luke.

Then after the athletes introductions, I asked Douglas to sing Jambo Kenya, and after he sang a song in the Kalenjin tongue that he had written which the kids though really funny and brought smiles to their faces. Afterwards we gave sodas and half a loaf of bread to all participants. It was a superb day. I am not really sure how to best sum it up, maybe the ears in peoples eyes, maybe the trembling lips when people came up to say something, or perhaps hours later; I drove into town to give a T Shirt to Irene Kwambai who had not gotten one in the afternoon. She lives down the St Patrick�s road and as I parked the bike a man came up to me. He is always drunk, shoeless, and never has any money. I was sure, having seen the giving out of over 700-pairs of shoes and over 1,200 T shirts he was going to ask for something, especially as I had a new T shirt in my hand. Instead he came up and said, �Thank you for putting on this race, it is what we need.� And walked away, perfect.

Good job I am still not exercising very much (I worked out I have average a minute a day for the past 21-days) but I did pop by the gym mainly to drop some stuff off for Rose, chatted to Francis and Jeroen.

Arriving exhausted back at the camp my work was not done, I had more stuff to do, but instead I went over to Rita’s for tea. Imagine, some people do this kind of stuff for a living.

My second run, a little longer, not far – still ok, very beautiful running, then after breakfast (when my motorcycle disappeared for repairs) I went to see Katui for tea, Christopher Kandie dropped by too and I heard that Shaheen is determined to run in the world cross this year (did not happen). Then, when my motorcycle returned I went to see Rebbie Koech at St Patrick’s school, she is a top road racer with much success in Europe. Following which I went to see if Sleepy Sylvia was home yet – reaching her house I found that she was still on the road back from the World Championships in Valencia, but Mary Jepchumba (who is living with Sleepy) invited me in for a soda. Thereafter I realized the m/cycle had not been mended properly (a flat), so I drove carefully (getting practiced) to Chris Cheboiboch’s house as I had had a plan for lunch with him. After lunch with Chris we drove out to his school where I talked to the teachers and the pupils. Then also went to the District Commissioner for the Keiyo region to introduce myself and make sure I had permission of the race, I also sent someone to talk to the Education Officer—all going to plan. When I returned Pieter and Lornah had returned in their brand new Toyota Prado top of the line zoom-mobile. So we had tea and chatted about stories left right and center. I talked with Paul Koech about his team that he will bring from his school, poor Paul lost a father in the clashes. He is a Captain in the Kenyan Army, the highest ranked runner here – he is just back from Darfur. He won the world half in 60:00 back in 1999, and a couple of years ago ran 2:07 for second at Chicago.

One of the nicest things with doing this peace race was uniting old friends - Maiyoro and Yobes Ondieki.

Then my first official guest for the race came – Imagine, the FIRST ever Kenyan to run internationally, the only Kenyan to represent Kenya at the 1956 Olympic Games Nyandika Maiyoro! The newest Shoe4Africa Ambassador! He came also with Kefah Kerero, who holds the Urban Athletics marathon record, a time of 2:13. Maiyoro arrived in Iten wearing a blazer from the 1954 British Empire Games, a cap from the same era and carrying a small leather suitcase he’d bought on his first International trip to London n 1952. A wonderful character who is becoming a Shoe4Africa Ambassador. He told me the best prize he ever won as an athlete was a goat, “And they were very cheap back in those days.” The usual prize was a blanket. Back in 1960, barefoot, he ran 13:51 for the 5000m. he told me some great stories from his pioneer days, and I taped an interview with him – he also was the coach for Naftali Temu. I phoned another S4A Ambassador, Ezekiel Kemboi Olympic Champion, and he will be there! I gave out a few T shirts, two to my friend who will put one up on her wall at home as they are so nice looking. Tomorrow I have to go and pick up my motorcycle at the garage, I will do it after the morning run – imagine I am going with the Simba! Gosh, I hope the pace is low.

The run with the Simba as fine, no problems, and the whole day was taken by setting up the race, talking again to all the people one has to when putting on an event. Visiting a few people, and setting up the field. Sylvia arrived from Nairobi and I spent most of the day with her, buzzing around on the bike, really helped. When we were coming back for the last time someone flagged me down and it was Matthew Birir, so I went back to a café with him and Sylvia and talked business.

Then I took a trip to go and see Rita, and sat with her for a while talking about stories about life.

I got a call to say Wilson Kiprugut, Kenya’s first ever Olympic medalist had arrived, so I went to meet him. Great news, when I was in Kericho I was campaigning to get the town’s stadium named after Wilson. I went to see the district chiefs, the mayor, etc etc… and now I hear it is going to be done. Rose Tata also arrived.

After breakfast talking to Rita before I set off for Iten center I met Paul Kimugul who is one the top half marathon runners, in fact tomorrow he goes to Rome, a city where he has run one of 60-minutes halves. He asks me for my sunglasses, “Can it be Sunglasses4Africa?” I also meet Mrisha from Tanzania – we talk about all the joint friends we have other there, she is also running a lot of races in Sweden, so we talk about that place... ah, the memories, I can’t believe I was running in Scandinavian races back in 1990! My best years, running wise.
In the social spirit I pop by to say hi to the Kimbia guys. Here I met another Tanzanian friend of mine I have not seen in a long while, John Yuda. John tells me his wife is training well for the World Cross and phones up Max back in Arusha (who organizes the S4A races there), so I get to talk with Max, who has just had a visit from the minister of education at his school. Ben Maiyo is there and I ask him is it true that he is top shape now, and ready for Rotterdam, he denies and laughs, but he looks in shape. Baba is saying he wants to promote running in Meru, “They can all run there but they don’t know running.”
Next up I drive off in the direction of the camp, but decide to stop by Hilda’s. On the way I am zooming along the road on my motorcycle when there is a big clank and the bike stops; the chain has jammed itself in the drivewheel, luckily I pull the clutch in and never worry I don’t fall off. I sit with Hilda in the living room, “Imagine, the house is falling to pieces, look at the window, it has gone!” We laugh about the fact that now she is Dutch but still uses her Kenyan ID card to gain entrance to places where being a Kenyan pays. She will run a 10,000 on April 12th so we talk track – it is the qualifier for the Olympic Dutch team and the Simba will be her pace maker. Hilda likes the freedom of a Dutch passport when it comes to customs, I can tell you from traveling for many years with Kenyans that for a Westerner it takes 1/20th of the time to get into any country. Imagine even for this recent $300,000 half Marathon Salina Kosgei was not allowed a visa… but Hilda, now Dutch, Hakuna Matata.

Rodgers Rop, training for Rotterdam.

After lunch to Eldoret to work!! First buying exercise books, 120 pages, and 560 of them, then getting 560 pencils, then getting 200 worth of scratch cards to give out. Coca-cola for 720 bottles, and lots more. When we were loading the T shirts onto the roof of the truck I pulled out one T shirt to have a look at the quality, holding it up the very first lady who walked along the road came up and asked if she could buy one. Then, as the last box was hauled up I heard someone shout ‘Shoe4Africa’ behind me, and it was Moses Tanui! Back from Nairobi. After talking to Moses for a wile I went to have a coffee with the other Moses, Kiptanui, and chat about certain things; like the new Kenyan Athletics Welfare Association, and its goals and initiatives.

When back in Iten I went to see Rita Jeptoo for tea. Funny story, riding the motorbike earlier that day and the police were stopping the traffic outside the police station. I however continued along the road, but pulled over onto the wrong side of the road. The commander in chief put up his arm to stop me and I shouted out, “Can’t stop, no brakes!” So he looked at me and yelled out, “Okay, keep on going.”

In the evening, after I met and chatted with Renato Canova, then later back at the camp we pinned the numbers on the T shirts, and ironed on transfers – Thank you – Rose, Jebiwott, Dorcas and Pineapple who stayed up till 01:50-AM!!

And reported in Kenya-- Euro Senior athletics officials will hold a crisis meeting after this weekend’s world cross country championships to address the decline of cross country running throughout Europe. Amazing Germany and other countries don’t field a team! Yet they do for the European XC Champs! Sad that countries are now dodging the greatest running spectacular for a lesser one.

Christopher Cheboiboch

After breakfast I went to see Brother Colm and have a chatted with him about the state of the world. Then I went to Gianni Camp and met Jeroen, before driving down to the track where Peter Tanui was coaching the Kimbia group – Baba, Cheboiboch, James Kosgei, and Timothy Cherigat – all waiting for Boston. They were running 6 x 1-mile with a slow 600m recovery. Cheboiboch was by far the strongest (4:45) with Baba not looking so smooth (5:12). Never worry, being a Kenyan means in two weeks he might be flying. Tomorrow is a 35km long run, “But easy easy.”

Then I popped up to the Gym where I met John Litei who is training for the African Champs selection in the 800m. Chris Cheboiboch came round and we drove to Eldoret – otherwise known as the King town of athletics. I wanted to go to the Klique to see a friend I am forever missing by one second – Rodgers Rop. It was good to see him again, and just in time as he is leaving tomorrow for Korea. Watch out for him in Rotterdam, and of course another athlete who is training here and in great shape – Ben Maiyo. Then, as Klique is central Eldoret, I decided to drop by Moses Tanui’s house to see if I can get him to come to the race as I am on a roll with recruiting right now. I found only Thomas Kiptanui, better perhaps known as father to Moses. Moses is in Nairobi, so we got him on the phone, and asked him to come – he is coming. Next stop Noah Ngeny, cover of Train Hard Win Easy, Olympic legend, he is also in Nairobi and till Monday, so I told him he has to come back early, and he will try. We got back in the car (phoning Felix Limo who is training for London and will also try) and then drove past Eldoret’s town hall where Joyce Chepchumba happened to be sitting in a public park with her new son, Ryan. So I went and sat with Joyce who happens to be one of the world’s greatest ever marathon runners, nobody has more Sub 2:27’s than her, plus major wins at Chicago, London, Tokyo, and New York. Of course now Joyce has to come, she also invited me to go and stay with her at her home – I used to travel around a bit with Joyce in the mid-nineties, and I can tell you no-one dances like Joyce at a post race party. We tried calling Tegla, but Tegla is in Dubai right now. As we lay in the Sun Mafia, Cheromei came by – Cheromei used to be a top runner in the nineties and he had just returned from coaching his younger sister, Lydia, the world’s youngest ever junior XC champion over a 20km run.

As I mentioned earlier in the blog the older runners are coming again – We have Sally Barsosio now getting back in shape, Joyce is training now and will soon be back, and now Lydia… and Lornah and Catherine still carrying the flag.

Then we drove to Chris’s school to check on a few things before he dropped me back in Iten, at a friend’s house, and off I went. This is Kenya normal.

Back with Joyce Chepchumba, a lady who I have more stories with than I can related… needless to say when I was cropping this picture I searched Joyce in the computer and came up so many pictures from different stages of the last umpteen years I fely ancient(!)

What else did I do in Washington? Not sure, but Kenya?
Kenya Continued—It really does feel like home being back in Kenya. I went across for breakfast after spending last night talking to Rose & Pineapple until late. Like I have never been away, even the dog ate one of my running shoes in the night. So I spent the morning unpacking, and sorting things out. Feels funny to be here and not running. I have to go and pick up my motorcycle from the Petrol Station and I tried to check my emails, but I have way too many to wade through – when it takes about 7-8 minutes per email you lose the incentive! Kenya is still on the 28.8 modems with Atari like computers up in the Rift Valley.

After lunch I went to see my good friend Katui, a man who ahs remained the same; before being an international athlete and afterwards, or should I say during as he has just returned from the military games where he finished second behind Albert (who runs for Qatar and has a 26-min 10k, pretty damn snappy). Also I met Kenneth Kandie who pace makes for Shaheen who still continues to be injured, going on two years now. Katui also has done pace making and in fact when Paul Koech ran 7:56 Katui took him though 2k in 5:17, imagine—many runners would be happy to have run 2k on the flat nevermind over hurdles. I talked to Moses Kiptanui about Saturday, and got an email from the other Paul Koech, the one who was the world champion in the ½-marathon, and for a long time had the #2 time in the 10,000m 26:36 who is coming to the peace race and bringing some children from his school.

I met someone I have not seen for a long time, Christopher Kandie (no relation to Kenneth). In fact the last time I was with Christopher he had this young runner staying in his house who was an ‘up and coming athlete’ and sure enough today he has made it, but back to Christopher, he pace maked Paula Radcliffe to her marvelous 2:15. He is training for a Spring marathon, probably Bonn in Germany.

We then went to town and drank tea at the Hotel and talked with Pius, the race director of the Abu Dhabi $300,000 first prize half marathon. I drank about fifteen cups of tea today, and was eating an egg when I looked out of the window to discover that it was getting dark – very important because I had to go and pick up my motorcycle and it has no lights, and as Iten ha no street lamps driving in the dark could be a disaster, nevermind the fact it does not have brakes.

03/30
Rest in peace: Louise "Pinkie" Clark -- just heard about it, my thoughts go out to her family. Died too young poor thing, very sad news.

Funnily enough I was in starbucks that morning in Penn Station eating a cinnamon scone & drinking a naomi when I read the sign, "Our Promise, your drink should be perfect each time. if not, let us know and we'll make it again." I read this when I was eating the scone... hm, enough (not) said.

The group run, and guess who jumped on the motorcycle! Sleepy Sylvia, Hilda Airlines, and Irene Kwambai in there!

The next day, after fighting with one hundred and one mosquitoes in the hot night, and let�s hope non had malaria as I never eat malaria medicine, Douglas and I went to the track to watch a track meet. The KCC first track meet of the year at Nyayo Stadium. Arriving there we met Boniface Merande � a name from the past who was one of the top Kenyan XC runners in the 1980�s, and ran at the Olympics in 1988 in the marathon (see photo below), �I�m doing nothing, living in Nairobi and getting fat!� My twin!

Then I bumped into Paul Tergat�s first Nairobi coach, the famed Willy Komen, who was there officiating. Komen used to be the coach at Ngong when I lived there. Also who came running over, in a cowboy hat no less, than Rose Tata, who still holds the Kenyan 400H record, & reminded us of it. We sat trackside with Sylvia on the steeplechase barrier and watched the track meet. For the men�s 800 Asbel Kiprop, the world junior XC Champ won with an amazing come from behind kick. It was a fun morning!

Later that day I spoke to Martin Lel on the phone, he�d been training well and was going to fly to Holland in a couple of days, so we arranged to hook up in Eldoret, and also Ben Limo, Martin Keino, and a few others. Then it was to the airport. Douglas dropped me right at the Jetlink stage so I could fly up to Eldoret �thanks to Jetlink they really, really cut the price for my excess baggage, as you are only allowed 5kgs per person on these small planes. Never worry that I had over 50-kgs! And, great timing, Chris Cheboiboch called and said he�d drive to the Eldoret airport to bring me home to Iten! Sweet landing. Ah, life was working out good.
With Chris we drove back to his house for dinner, he is looking in tremendous shape for Boston � very thin. He�d just down a 37km run in 2:05, with the next runner from his group being 6-min back. I spoke to Kimutai on the phone, and also to Katui who is training hard for the World Cross later this month. We discussed the lawsuit that the athletes have now brought against the ICG for stating that they were funding the riots � stupid accusations.

03/27

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United.

Talking of which -- Go Hilda Jepchumba Airlines. Now running for Holland, making her international debut, at the World Cross!

The reigning champion, The Simba, has retired from cross country. That has to be the most classy entrance to cross country, and exit, in the history of the sport... In 2006 The Simba went to Japan, when there she was asked by Benita Johnson if she was there just to spectate(!)

The Simba ran, and finished second behind Tirunesh Dibaba, "I made a mistake, I did not push hard enough in the early stages." Nevertheless she won the silver medal.
It was the first time the majority of the world had ever seen the Simba on the cross country circuit. In fact, it was only practice; the reason the Simba entered in Japan is she wanted to get some "experience" over cross country, "I wanted to win the world cross country, in the home of cross country running, in Kenya. I was in Japan only for looking"

After Kenya had absolutely dominated cross country running like no other country could ever hope to emulate over the past couple of decades, the idea of a championships finally in Kenya was too much for athletes born in that country to handle; a legend would be made who placed first in Mombasa...

On a day in March 2007 The Simba made the world's best look pedestrian as she did what only Grete Waitz had managed in the event's history --- destroy an international field. The last time international star Burka of Ethiopia met the Simba she wagged her finger, "You, you killed us!" She laughed. And, indeed on a certain day in March 2007, it was true. Moments after crossing the line The Simba announced that she would never again compete at the world cross country championships proving her status as not only simply the best, but simply unique.

Day one, the 7th, it was to Kibera, but first I had to wait for Sylvia, who is my Kibera on the ground project manager. Then we set off for Kibera. However I also had to meet my friend Geoffrey who lives in Kibera but was in Nairobi� finally everything came together and we walked through the largest slum in Africa. Very sad to see were the places where a home had been and was now burned down. The mood, although buoyant again, was not as buzzing as it had been in December. Nevertheless it has done a great job of putting itself back together. I went to see where the church had been that was torched � nothing remained. Next door had been a nursery � nothing remained, only a square slab of concrete to where the building had been erected.

Then it was to Kibera Primary School, which is the proposed site of the Kibera Project. The school was full this time, not empty as it had been in December and thousands of little kids milled around screaming and yelling as we went in to the admin office. After looking through the documents, and learning the step by steps the headmistress returned so I went to introduce myself to her, helpful as that the school knew about Shoe4Africa.

Next up it was to town, and we were going to take the bus, but as we were running late I suggested instead we took a taxi. Of course the price was increased by 33% as I was there� but what can you do.

The taxi barely managed to start the engine, and we were lucky all doors closed. It was the least of the three decrepit taxi�s we�d take that day, but it looked as if it had been the bouncers car in the roller-derby for the pat thirty years � my head barely fit in the vehicle. When we came to town the driver got nervous as he did not have any papers, insurance, or permits to be driving the thing, but as it was a miracle we�d actually go there, and barely missed being si