On August 1st we held our Deaf & Disability Shoe4Africa race. 200 kids with disabilities came together and ran a race. It was so sweet, yet sad to see the antiquated equipment they used with old wheel chairs, wooden walking canes, no prosthetics etc. Following the race we gave them Mosquito nets for completing the event, and raffled off 60-pairs of new running shoes. Following refreshments we then had sack races and the Olympic Marathon Champion, Matthew Birir, gave a speech about Malaria Awareness whilst Lillian Limo did the honors with sign language. All in all a most unforgettable event!

Cont... An interesting visit in Kibera was also to where ex-prisoners are growing organic vegs in a small garden inside the slum! They are using sacks to put soil in then plant the seeds to save space (as nobody has space!) Following which when we looked around, filmed and took photos, Beth noticed a sign, "No Photos!" I told her that is put up for the foreigners, not us! But I remember an article in the Guardian was it that was talking about this place, and sure enough it had no photos!

Anyway in Eldama we hooked up with the Mayor of the town who was a former marathon runner to look around and go and meet all the officials. Of course hooking up with the Mayor is an excellent way to get in every door I needed to and see all the right people, plus get a great tour of the medical facilities etc.

Matthew, who won the Olympic Gold over the steeplechase, and I had a great morning run over the most idyllic terrain you can dream of, it was fantastic.

We went for a walk through the bush to the huts off the beaten track looking for an illegal brewing place where the village elders were getting drunk. Along the way I came across the house of Jane Ekimat who won a silver back in the 1990-times in the World Cross country champs and as recently as 2006 won the HK Marathon. I spent an hour chatting with her, or two.

Back in Eldoret I had a meeting with the Hospital so I asked Matthew to meet me at Moses Tanui�s restaurant. When I got there Moses was seated with Matthew, and the first thing he said to me was why did I not call him about the shoe4africa race? It had been in the press. Good to know Moses has volunteered to help at all upcoming future events!

I wanted to meet Martin so I called and he said he would come and meet us, he did and we ended up talking till late. Martin was kind enough to drive me to the bus stop as all the taxis had disappeared for the night, and when we got there and there was no bus leaving for a while he insisted he drive me 20-miles home in the exact wrong distance to him. I tried to protest as I knew he had early morning training but he insisted, this is Martin and his character. One of the nicest men you will ever meet.

Talking athletes I came down from Eldoret to Nairobi with Claudio, Robert Cheruiyot, Benjamin (who won Rome), and Duncan Kibet (28-secs from the marathon world record). Robert has a great sense of humor, and I really really hope he can Duncan (in September) can win in Berlin.

I am going up to Robert�s house tomorrow as he�ll be in Nairobi till he goes to Berlin in ten days. Kenya is getting worked up for the World Champs, every day in the news there are headlines predicting Gold.

We walked all around and up the other side (where Emily found a little stray puppy in the garbage she wanted to keep). Then past the home of the former president of Kenya who alarmingly lives so close by but never lifted a finger to help the people of Kibera. We went to the house of Cantar who is a Nubian tribe member. The Nubian people were the original settlers here in Kibera back in 1920. We drank soda there and met Toby the dog (named after moi a time ago). Then we walked to the medical clinic in the middle of Kibera where we left David to have some real hands on practice.

Then Beth and Emily came with me and we walked to the Fruitful Women group. This bunch of ladies meet in a shack whilst tending a baby day care center for 22 children and running a school for 12 kids. They make cards and jewelry from the trash in the slum. So we got Emily to make a greeting card from recycled paper. Maureen, Alice and Lucy from the S4A soccer team came along too. We went in the sweetest of classrooms where 10 year old Eunice was teaching a class of6 to 8 year olds. She was amazing and it was shocking to see a girl of that age really be teaching a class (I have it on video).

Then we scooped up David from the clinic and all went to Java for a late lunch. The Kiberians were telling their stories. Lucy was a family of nine. Then her parents both died within three months. Her elder brother took control of the family. Sadly he was beaten to death in Kibera by a mob. He was walking with a criminal and the mob justice group came and beat them both to death. Then two more brothers died leaving her to look after the remainder, and a niece.

Then we went to the community sports field where Emily joined in with the women to play soccer and do their evening practice. It was quiet a long day. And also a total immersion into the life of Kibera. When they left I went to buy milk and food for the team and we sat on the infield talking with the team and also with Josephine the captain trying to think of work they can do that would be self sustaining.

The next day very early in the morning armed with 81kgs of luggage I went to airport and we all flew to Eldoret. Arriving in Eldoret Barnaba came to meet us and drove us into town. I had heard of a new good coffee shop and wanted to check it out for breakfast. It is called the Red Bean Caf� and on the same street as Sizzlers. We had a funny breakfast with the waiter telling us all choices were there then when ordering came about less and less became available. Then we went to the moi Referral hospital to begin a tour of the place and show the true Kenyan healthcare system. This is a beacon in East African health. Easily the best place we would visit.

After a tour we met up with Lornah Simba who came in to meet us. Then after a show of patients that boggled the mind (really really sad as it appeared they had been neglected for years) we left the hospital to go to the running camp. After a late lunch we went for a walk through the village of Iten to the Edge of the Rift Valley. A stunningly beautiful rural setting with breath taking views. There were some little goats playing so Lornah sat in some cow dung till one of the baby goats walked up to her. It was a long walk and it took us up to dinner.

The next day I went for a run down in the valley. Sublime as always. By pure chance I bumped into John Litei a friend of mine who comes from Maasai and won the bronze in the last commonwealth games 800. Then we drove back to Eldoret where David was lined up to do some surgery at the hospital. Emily and Beth wanted to go back to the children ward. Especially to see baby Griffin an abandoned child. There is a playroom where all the abandoned kids go and we went there for an hour. I sat with the kids who were hospitalized but could move to a play space. I had two phones so we played games phoning each other up, then singing songs and reading a book about Curious George. When David was finished we drove to Chris Cheboiboch�s school. It was the day before they were to stop the school for the summer so there was a ceremony taking place. In the hospital the kids had sung Jambo Jambo Kenya and Beth had really liked the song. So in the middle of the speeches (when I got bored) I sent a note to Chris (the school director) who was sitting next to the guest of honor and asked if the school could instead sing Jambo Jambo Kenya. So we had a surreal singsong with the school and parents joining in standing out in a rural field in the middle of nowhere all singing. Before leaving I said hello to Precious Boit, a girl we sponsor at the school.

Then we drove past the camp where Monicah insisted we stop for some cinnamon pancakes before heading down in the valley to a mud hut house down in the escarpment to show a typical country living place. Then we went down further to the tambach medical center to look around their facilities. Facilities with No equipment!

Then we drove down to the base of the Rift Valley where it is super hot and you go into Baringo. We left the car and walked to a rock formation place where crocodiles live. We spotted two crocodiles....

Then we went to a small roadside cafe that had nothing but coca-cola, before driving up to a wonderful tour of the Iten Hospital; a most encouraging look around, lacking much but trying really hard. back home before we went to Chris Cheboiboch's house for dinner, then followed by a late night stroll under the great African Sky, a visit to an Iten pub to have a look at an authentic drinking spot before to bed.

The next morning after breakfast I went with the family to Eldoret airport, not before stopping on the way at the Refugee Camp (IDP) at the showground. How very sad to see people STILL there since December 2007!! Living in white canvas tents. They were shivering in the morning cold but so happy and inviting - the African spirit. They who have nothing give so much. Really nice people.

There was a two hour delay and a merging of two planes to one but luckily Douglas ensured there was no issues, so I waved bye-bye to some wonderful people as they flew off to the Serengeti.

For myself I drove back and near the showground we stopped to say hello to Rose Jeru. In 1993 Rose was hit by a car, really badly. She has been virtually bed ridden since, from the age of 18 to what 32? For the help of BASIC physiotherapy she would have been walking, but none was available as she had little means. When the car was pulling into the drive way a woman came running to me with her child. The kid was with big infected swollen ears (as you read below) Much more to come! Including a Shoe4Africa race, running gossip etc... which Kenyan Olympian female has married another woman? I was shocked.

The plane was delayed for a couple of hours so we sat and talked until they flew off to Tanzania.

Driving back Barnaba, who lives in Iten, asked me if we could stop and greet a lady he knows. In 1993 she was struck by a car and has been bed ridden since. So we stopped made the turn and whilst I was waiting for him to open the gate and tell the family we were there a lady came running. She was from the IDP. She showed me her child, the ears were fully swollen.

"I have no money, my child is sick, I remember you from your race you did when you came to help our children. I will walk to the hospital, but please can you give me $2, for the medicine for this infection?"

It is moments like this that kill me, she was dressed in rags, owning one set of clothes, had been sitting on the road for two hours on the off chance that she could wave me down when I was returning from the airport, I would have never seen her as many people wave, but for the fact that we were stopping to see this other sick person. Then, she did not ask for a single cent for herself. No money for the 6-mile trip to the hospital, or the return, even for food. Of course I gave her all I could so hopefully now the child is fully fixed, it kills me when people only ask for the bare minimum for some one else when they themselve are suffering.

Then inside I visit Rose Jeru who is one of the many forgotten people also, "If I had had physical therapy when I was 18-yrs back in 1993 they say I would have been able to walk. But no, she was neglected, the wound worsened in 2006 and she had to have further surgery and a hip replacement. The neighbors pooled together to make the money as they are all poor rural farmers... And now at aged 32 she lies in bed trying each day to put weight on her legs... Life is Kenya is this; all the time! This afternoon I begin preparations for my Shoe4Africa next event, tomorrow! The Deaf School. Right now I am on the phone getting my friend Matthew Birir, an Olympic Champion, to come and be the official starter... But let me go back a couple of days, to the first day when David and his family arrived, back to Kibera... To be continued...

Last night Ana, who we call 'red worm' (Songok) was telling me that white people dance to the words of a song, whereas black people dance to the beat - well those were her words. When I tried to complain House-fly "Inzi" (Faith) pushed me off the sofa. The only person on my side?

Martin Lel called up today, one of my fave friends here in Kenya - he is of course training up for his Fall marathon! I am going up to his district soon. BTW - do you want to sponsor a child to go to school? It is only about $220 per year, ONLY and then you can make huge change forever into some one's life - think about this;
THE next time you go out to dinner as a group say, "Let's instead go to a cheap place. have fun, and change people's lives and their world by instead giving the money for education INSTEAD of just food...

Umi managed to count up to 50 AND do the alphabet in English (her second language), and she is ONLY four! So I took her on an shopping spree at the supermarket - all she wanted was chocolate, here is about a third of what she ended up filling the trolley with!

Then there was a host of coaches and agents, like my good friend Claudio Berardelli, Jeroen from Iten (thx for the tea and chapo), Valentjin & Michel from Holland, James T. from Oz, Gianni from Italy, of course Brother Colm the legend was there, Warm-ups and all the Athletics Kenya team. Federico from Team Rosa, many agents, Hussein M. All the friends from the press � John from Pamoja FM, Makori from the Nation, Idris from the Nation media. So many many more. It was a wonderful meet with great running of course and good friends. Janeth pipping Pamela in a close close finish, Paul K in the steeplechase, Asbel and his domination, and the same for David Rudisha.

Sammy Wanjiru is here, worried maybe there will not be enough pace makers capable to hold a high pace in Chicago, let us hope they have a stacked field. Isaac Macharia gets his second (third?) degree on Wednesday before jetting down to Bogota the next morning for a race. Sally Barsosio wants to debut in the marathon. Robert Cheruiyot is in great form for Berlin. The sure gold in Berlin? Me thinks Brimin, Asbel, David Rudisha for the men.

Walk into Kibera at the Olympic Stage and take a right turn, and after about five minutes you come to Mama Tunza's.

Ten years ago Mama Tunza, who was rural and poor, was walking past a compost heap when she saw an abandoned baby. She took the baby home and asked the people of the area to look for the Mother. Instead of another mother another baby appeared.. then 302 more children arrived!

Today they live in what can be called a house on stilts, you walk up a step ladder to the second floor and watch how the whole structure bends with the shifting weight.

Each day they live hand to mouth. There is sickness, illness, whatever, but it all moves along. Yesterday they had ran out of food, what do they do? Luckily a couple of visitors provided for the budget for the next few days, but what after that?

The orphans home will live on, that is for sure, because this is the story of the last decade. You leave this building really weighing up the values of live. Way and then way beyond.

The rickety stairs!

Just before our run; we had 15 starters and four coaches, with all but Maureen finishing! She gave up after 400-meters!

We were doing exercises afterwards and the stretches killed me more than the run did! Mind you one section we ran through a narrow section in the slum and that was super tough too, a real ankle breaker. I was really, really impressed though how they worked so hard, and pushed like little champs!

Great to see that The devil came on Horseback has been nominated for three emmy's - it is a really fabulous documentary.

Today the soccer team have challenged me to run with them, they think I can't run, and even worse the American volunteer workers from CFK charity have all placed cash bets on the women beating them! Tusk, tusk, we'll see! When I walk in Kibera all the kids call out "Edge, edge!" as I seem to have the same hair style as a famous wrestler.

Tony brought me some suncream - must try to use it, although there is no sun here right now.

Last night I went to dinner, had six chapos, at a lady who takes a business and spends 18-months building it from scratch to making a profit - the last one made 1.4 million US dollars in that initial 18-months! She had also made a vegetarian curry/coconut thing which was very nice of her.

This week end it is athletics here, I also heard there is a half marathon race too from Jael the sax player. But the athletics is selecting the team for Berlin, should be cool running!

Today I am going to meet Tony for breakfast. It is Salim's birthday so as I surprise I was going to take him for breakfast in town at the hospital where Tony is staying, then ta-ran-ta-raa (as Salim is a "Nerd" fan, he tells me that is a famous feature film, and an ER fan)... well it was all on plan till Salim called and wanted to meet earlier than planned, so it lost the surprise element but we will still do it.

I ended up jogging with the Kenyan National team yesterday, by pure mistake, one of those surreal moments... I was running in the bush, daydreaming about trying to remember everything I had to bring up at an upcoming meeting in an office where Hilary Clinton will be having a meeting next month when a bunch of athletes crossed my path, nearly all in the Kenya national uniforms... well there you go, so we ran a few laps of the cross country loop together. it was at a really odd time of the day too, 12:00-noon.

The nurses were super happy with the Stethoscopes, and then after climbing on the rooftop to film from an uncaptured angle I went with Cantar and Salim to check out St Gertrude's Children's Hospital - Kenya's only children's hospital. Here are my field notes:
St Gertrude's, Nairobi (200 patients per day)
St Gertrude's children's hospital, built in the late nineteen-forties this private hospital is the only pediatric hospital in the Sub Sahara according to the staff, and certainly Kenya's only pediatric hospital. Funded of late by KLM and Safaricom the large, air, and spacious complex sits in one of Nairobi's most exclusive neighborhoods. There is an outreach program although it is limited to the city of Kenya's capital.
The staff questioned, although unable to answer in any official capacity, seemed very excited upon hearing about the Shoe4Africa Hospital project seeing the possibility of a partnership and alleviating the obvious overload, "During the clashes (January 2008) we received children with burn wounds from the Rift Valley, obviously for them to have been treated locally would have been far more cost effective."

It was a really nice day, Kenny Kenya rediscovered his football skills (these days he coaches only), anyway, we partied till late then walked 100-miles (or so it seemed) back to Kibera.

I also went to Mama Fatuma's with Salim, over in the east side of Nairobi. Great to see all the kids there having fun as they always seem to be doing. Salim and I had a meeting just before in the Stanley and we are pushing away to get a lot done here!

Starbucks and Simba have now gone up to Iten, so, being carless, I took the bike to the repair shop to get the tyres pumped up - the guy was very inventive as he did not have the correct valve size by cutting a tube; Kenyans are superb at this kind of stuff.

Walking back we met a Professor of Anthropology from Carolina walking along with three Maasai men... speaking of which in the local field all the Maasai are camped with their cows - how to survive in a city centre!

An interview with Pamela Jelimo, she is very relieved to have won last night in Belgium, the country where her manager is from, "I did not want to be known as a one hit wonder so I worked really hard..." Train Hard, Win...

Tomorrow I am going to the clinic, I want to give away a big pile of stethoscopes, with big thanks going to Chris & Mark Bilsky. The clinic is an amazing place, industry extreme! And also to do some interviewing for my video blogging.

I had a great trip over, meeting two really nice people - Lydia from London, and Pasadora from Geneva... suffered a bit of jetlag here only because I did not really sleep and fly, and then when I arrived I was up late talking to Lornah. Great to be back, am yet to run a single step! I come to the world's best running ground and stop running! Three days. Aiyah!

Thirdly I am off to Nairobi, via London Calling!

All fine until today when I was transporting the shoes the second leg of the journey home and one parked car driver opened his car door on me.

There was no way I could swerve, and I went bang into the door, then boom onto the road. Shoes everywhere and I was SO lucky no cars hit me when I catapulted from his door into the road as this was 57th ST, and quite busy in terms of traffic! So I am lying there in the road (oh yeah I also had a rucksack with other junk on my back) and the guy jumps out of the car, "So sorry I did not see you." Okay, that was good to hear. He goes scooping up shoes that are spread all over the road, as all my bags are ripped open. My knuckles have swollen up to the size of golf balls with the impact of eating tarmac and I am bleeding. The guy is freaking out, I am telling him it is fine, he's saying he has to call an ambulance as I'm covered in blood on my hands and shirt. Yeah right like I need an ambulance bill on top of all this?

Plus, as always, I was in a hurry. The guy, who was a building superintendent and really nice, goes rushing off to try and find me replacement bags, but to cut a long story short the next mile I was fumbling down the road with ripped bags, shoes falling out, blood all over my shirt, scooting along with my bike, unable to press on the brakes, and again wondering, is this the kind of karma you get for doing charity work? All was going fine before that! I was having a stellar day.

Earlier that day I was at Starbucks at 6 to meet a friend of Paola's for running training advice, Tina is training for a 5km, then I picked up a call from Nairobi, then I went to Columbus C. to meet Sarah Jones who is on the marathon team for a long run in Central Park. Then I whipped uptown to shower & breakfast before spinning on a dime back to midtown for a meeting with ID-PR about promoting Tony for his film (Motherhood with Uma) and also promoting Shoe4Africa's marathon team, then we had brunch at a Greek place on Seventh. Shortly after I went to the New York Times building to meet Charles... so the day was rolling well.

I had a million things more to do, and will until Wednesday when I fly to La Afrique.. to real Kenyan coffee, sun, and hopefully some peace!

The roads are softer in Eldoret, Kenya (watch me regret saying this)!

So any road Mr G is thinking of running the marathon, it would be his thirtieth, quite a feat. He was asking if I would coach him for NYC - this year I have a team running Shoe4Africa; we have our training on Wednesday nights in Central Park starting AUG 19th and also if you have been hit by the recession and want free marathon training you can tag along too!
Check out our team.

My own training for the marathon; I have now gone back to single digit mile runs since my super impressive leap into the double figures. I am letting my body relax back at the 40-minute runs, and I am keeping the terrain "easy" with no hills or anything. I continue to practice carbo loading by digesting Effes beer and cinnamon raisin bagels (not the important intake of raisins for anti-oxidants) and am enjoying the thought that soon I will be running on the equator with those fast Africans. Being able to hold 8-mins 35-seconds per mile pace for 8-miles, at this early early stage makes me feel that I will be able to do it on the day, never worry.

It is nice when you hold a race and a nice person wins it! Meskerem is one of the nicest athletes you can meet, and a super talented runner. Mr. G got this one right with the finishing line smile (he was only dressed up as he was off to his Mum's birthday race post race), and Mr Met was fab as he always is! The Hope & Possibility 2009.

So my MARATHON fund raising is doing okay. Plugging away - I did some more training the other day as I suddenly remembered I have the Chubby Challenge in Central Park on September the 12th. I am facing the Chubster over a 4-miler.

More good Shoe4Africa meetings, I trundle on - I had a meeting with Michael Trainer who has been traveling the world working with NGO's for the past year... it is defo picking up momentum, I can feel it, and we have not even started the campaign as yet...

Talking of which DO NOT buy any underwear, UNTIL, the SHOE4AFRICA line comes out!! I kid you not, soon to be released and watch this space! PLUS the T shirt has been designed and is getting near production. Exciting stuff.

I reached the hour mark feeling quite perky, but then went fast downhill. I actually held out for 1:35, not bad, but a long long way from the 3:45 I am aiming to be on my feet in November for. Thanks to IVAR, KYOMI, and the Russian Rocket for sponsoring me!!

Next up I went to Saint Ambroes or however you spell it on Mad & 78th. Great coffee, good omelette, awful toast. I needed to borrow a cellphone to try and call Mary who was waiting in another cafe up the road but unfortunately I was surrounded by hopeless Euro's who unlike our American counterparts don't have phones! Mary had arranged the place but I knew she had gone to our usual meeting spot... C'est la vie, she turned up soon after... Then I skiddadled downtown, narrowly missing the said pigeon who wasa making a recession like dive for crumb on Second Avenue, but thanks to some zippy disc braking the little critter was saved (can't say the same for Vicky's squirrel). I met Global for bagels at Ess-a-bagel where we had our usual grumpy banter with the wait staff (emphasis on the wait) before zipping back uptown to meet Karl at the Expresso bar on 91st and third (one block away from that terrible coffee shop (chop) Corrida. Karl is from Austria and used to work at the Hilton... then back home before back down town to meet Kerri at FIT and we walked through midtown till we came to Punta on Ninth Ave at 38th is it? A great little restaurant with a happy staff, good beer, we had tortellini stuffed with monkfish & crabmeat in a ginger cream sauce... the bread was so so, and the cheesecake to be honest was a let down as I thought I was eating lemon merangue or something....

WELL - big news, for me only, is I am running the NYC marathon this year. To raise funds for the Hospital! Please consider sponsoring me...[click] I promise you I do not want to run, nor do I wish to do the training, but I feel compelled to as we are asking others to do so raise funds! So, if you could, I hate asking, please give me a shove... it is going to be tough as my last lone run was a long time ago - maybe a two hour run in Kenya with the Simba. Talking of which I heard from Simba n Starbucks today, they are in Belgium, or were. I will be seeing them in Kenya in a couple of weeks!

The nice and friendly family of Pamela Jelimo.

The incredibly early Long Training Run is coming this weekend, as I am running the marathon I have entered BUT because it is so early I am onl;y going to do one loop, six miles.

Ronaldo, who joined the famed club following his record transfer from Manchester United, appeared before the capacity crowd at Santiago Bernabeu wearing the same No. 9 jersey worn by Real Madrid great Alfredo di Stefano.

"I've achieved one of my dreams," a beaming Ronaldo said before leading fans in a cry of "Viva Madrid!' "I want this to begin as quickly as possible so that I can show what I can do." Real Madrid had been chasing the world player of the year since 2006. He agreed to a six-year contract in a record $131 million transfer.

I had thought I was winning as they tired on the 'poline and then I jumped up and down next to them to keep them moving, Kelly then did some garden games, but alas and alack, although Poppy is 7 and Wallis is 8 they had stamina to outdo a mule when it came to being the last ones to leave the party. I also fell off a ladder, went a few times down the super slide, went in the house of mirrors and the haunted house, lost the kentucky derby... went about four times on the bumper cars...

Luckily the next day was Wimbledon Sunday and after watching the women (Fave Venus losing to my second fave Serena) we had a peaceful day watching the men's finals. Tony had made an apple pie, so we had pie and beer (well I had a beer anyway) and watched what must have been the longest men's final, in terms of games, for an age... funnily enough I was at Tony's house last year at this time watching a less happy Roger Fed (whom I met once down on 28th ST).

Talking of which Ronaldo's big day is on Monday when he is introduced as the new Real Madrid star. Also the S4A T shirt has been invented, oops I mean designed by the Rodarte sisters, I saw it on an iphone!

Fast forward twenty years a little girl in a wheelchair completing her first five miler. She gets to the last hill, she can't get up the hill, she ushes away help, tries again, doesn't manage, she gets out of the chair, and with a prosthetic leg she hops up the hill to cross the line.

Amazing fast running as Ethiopians swept the first male and female (my friend Meskerem winning the females), and Richard Whitehead a double ABOVE the knee amputee running 28:36!!

Please come & join us on Sunday in Central Park - beginning at 8:00-am, sign up at the Road Runners, or from 7-8 on race day. Tavern on the Green.

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In the evening I went to the South Bronx, an area of NYC that I don't venture to much, shown by the fact I got lost and ended up walking for about 30-minutes in the wrong direction... Well I did come to where I was going, which was a small school giving out a graduation certificate award night to a group of women of the South Bronx who have typically left school without a high school diploma then decided to go back and study, then get that certificate. Part of the GRACE OUTREACH program. And what fantastic work they do, how inspiring to sit in the audience with a group of relatives watching their grown up kids go up on stage for graduation. A very special night, and it really is thanks to these small foundations who look for these niches that make these special things happen.

NYC (WORLD) LEGEND MICHAEL OLIJADE

Catherine The Great Ndereba.

Sign up for the Hope & Possibility, come and support the Achilles! A great Org - here's a pic from last year's free kids race. So if you have a kid bring them along!

In the evening I went with Mary to George & Shay Hirsch's Summer Solstice - great to see Amby Burfoot again, one of my inspirations, also Chris & Mark Bilsky, who were the first contributers for S4A (way way before we were a 501 c3), met some great magazine, illustrator people and the more.... and had a great late chat with George & Shay of course!

Other news, the Hope and Possibility race... and Ashanti might come, apparently it is now down to her mom, who calls herself the Momanager....

One of the World's brightest stars of the 800m, David Rudisha; The Flying Masai

I heard Chubbs has relocated, apparently for the Early Bird Buffet diner at the foot of his new building. Talking of which a plug for the world's best coffee; Zoegas, the green packet stuff, and with the apple cranberry tea bread from Kyomi's Agata on First at 79th, speaking of which, Good luck to her as she is going to do Grandma's on Saturday. So odd, we are nearly past half a year and the weather feels like October. R2 was telling me that Obama's new Carbon reduction plan falls short by 36% of the absolute must. We are all dead, that is for sure.

Superb 10,000m running: 1. Meselech Melkamu ETHIOPIA 29:53,80 PR 2. Florence Kiplagat KENYA 30:11,53 PR and 4. Sylvia Sleepy Kibet KENYA 30:47,20 PR and 6. Hilda Airlines Kibet NETHERLANDS 30:51,92 PR with the men: 1. Ali Abdosh ETHIOPIA 27:09,40 2. Mathew Kisorio KENYA 27:15,44 & 7. Joseph Marco TANZANIA 27:42,75

A fantastic race at Utrecht where they also collected 1700 EUROS for Shoe4Africa! Thanks! Marco is a Shoe4Africa runner!!

Rita Jeptoo, the Boston winner from 2006, was it, is expecting a child this August.

A great weekend to be sure. If I die I will never say I did not die trying... All my days now are centered trying, even if I am crawling along. The latest concept is how to get 1.5 million people to support THE team.

By the team I mean the Marathon team.. click on shoe4africa for more. But I need to think viral because the big players are not playing. What did I learn when I was 13-years old and playing a banjo at Christmas on the streets? Don't go to the rich neighborhoods for money, go to the people, 'Our' people... they are the ones that give. I was reminded of this when I was in Kenya and people were giving all they had, all, yet their worldly possessions were as slender as a gazelle's legs. So why, against all grains, am I changing plans?

I was discussing as much with Tecks as we went for an eight mile run (AND she agreed to run on the Shoe4Africa Marathon team!!) when a guy who we passed tried to keep up with us. We slowed and began chatting. He told us about running, how he came from Delaware, and how he run the NYC Marathon. After his stories he asked, "Have you run the NYC marathon?" So I replied, "This woman has won the NYC marathon, twice." He nearly had a heart attack, the sadness was the running enthusiast of the family - his wife, was having this day off. He said to me, "You must be a fast runner too..." I said, No, I am Tecks bodyguard which gave her a laugh.

After the run I went to see Jim Paps with Tony about the S4A song idea. Jim did the Obama campaign music and we have our campaign. Kindly Tony brought sushi for us to chomp.

Then I went for lunch at Sarabeth's with Tecks where we chatted about what has happened over the last 15-yrs.

Talking about Impossible; Thank you to Sarah Jones for also being on the Shoe4Africa Team. I ran with her on Sunday with Ros and know she will fly to the finish line. We are going to have so much fun.

ARE YOUR running around 3:45 pace? Please join us!

And of course the weekend would not be complete without eating bagels with Global in the East Village, sitting on a rooftop, and seeing the city... The cityah!

Tegla 'tecks' Loroupe, in 1989.

We hear from StuGlue - he set his records! Congrats to him, he tells us "Don't even bother lookign at the lap counter when you are running 30k on the track."

Amos Biwott started the ball rolling back in 1968 and since then Kenya has never lost an Olympic Steeplechase event at the Games they attended. Biwott was at a Shoe4Africa event, and also at that event was Matthew Birir who won in 1992 and Ezekiel Kemboi champion of 2004. We have other steeplechasers as great ambassadors like Julius Korir Gold medal, Moses Kiptanui silver medal, Ben Jipcho Silver medal, William Mutwol bronze medal, Benjamin Kogo Silver medal.

$406,515.17 for the wall of fame. Tremendous amount of dollars. Today, at Via Quadranno, we had a meeting with zappos. I had regular coffee (nice) a croissant with chocolate inside 9very croissantie what can one say?) and the fruit bowl, nice but small sized. Being 10am it was not too noisy either as that place gets packed at lunch time.

06/08
For the first time in about 100-yrs I missed the mini. It was down to the missing of a cup of coffee. Funny because Tegla emailed me to meet and I knew she was not coming for the mini and of course the phone number she gave me did not have a voicemail set up...

Anyway, really funny that Rose Kosgei won because I can tell you a hundred stories on Rose, and what happened to her back to the 1990's. but... Of course the event really missed the Simba-Power.

The Shoe4Africa info gathering evening was superb - imagine, never in my dreams could I imagine something like that this little charity, Shoe4Africa, has a party and then walking through the door is Billie Jean King, then there is a sublime heart rendering performance by Morley, and a knockout Actress like Sarah Jones who has so much talent coming and being more than involved... and of course Tony, one of America's best loved actors... sometimes I just so thankful for the swing of life for this cause!

In short Paul Nicholls was a few miles up the road from being a Gentleman, and to those who knew him I am sure they'll be running miles for him - TEAM CONTINUUM.

Great squad: London, UK - The UK's fastest ever female marathon runners Paula Radcliffe (Bedford & County) and Mara Yamauchi (Harrow AC/Second Wind AC) going to Berlin WC... we hear a top Kenyan female is pregnant & wii miss Berlin but....

06/03
Wow, life gets busy, can't believe it, I seem to be working each day from 6Am till late late, past midnight and beyond. All things converging at once. All things that are supposed to be working not. So many angles and everyone saying can you just do this right now. I think I should paln for a day of tottal breakdown... a relief was good coffee at St Ambroise on Madison & 78t's... A French type place that has a blend of Euro originals and stand ins to give that out of Manhattan Cosmo place that suits all on West End of nowhere. The coffee shop (sic) on 90th & Lex, Aiy! It is called Corrado and has a nice sit down outdoor place but really what they are selling as coffee has to be the upper East Side's absolute worst knat's drivel ever tasted... Whilst I am griping, can the Ess-A-Bagel cafes turn the air conditioning down? It was like sitting in an ice box.

Last night it was back to PT212 for a power meeting of nothing, but the food was sublime as always - 9/10, check it out, on 24th ST.

Talking specifics, Alem Kahsay was an elite EThiopian runner, growing up and learning the methods that today give the top Ethiopian runners all their world records & Olympic medals. He is a good friend to ALL the top Ethiopians. Anyway, he has his running class starting at 6:30pm on JULY 7th in Central Park for ALL runners of any standard - learn from the absolute top. Scroll down for his telephone number.

I heard a story he first told me in the town car when I was asking him why he was so philanthropic. A third person had just reeled off a huge list of charities that Al supported and said to me, "Tell him about Shoe4Africa, tell him." Well I had just spent the day with people pestering him for donations, and him pestering people on the street to lose weight and keep moving (I kid you not), and this was obviously a man overburdened with obligations. Luckily the question had fallen upon his dud ear, so I was able to switch the conversation with my question, paraphrasing he continued, "I was coming back from Chicago in the 1930's and in the morning when waking I discovered I had left my wallet behind, so I asked the night porter to loan me $2 promising to pay him back when I returned to New York."
Well upon returning Al had the suit cleaned before he remembered his promise, "And I have been paying for that $2 ever since." Well that may have been the trigger but this man was born with goodness in his bones. He reminded me a lot of Sir Roger Bannister, scientific, inquisitive and uber-intelligence, ultra relatable and a people's person. You forgot what age he was, or should I say it did not matter in the slightest as he was ageless. I remember in a board meeting him leaning over and telling me a story about Fred Lebow that captured everything you ever could think about when you thought Fred, in one sentence. I remember also Bernie Cooper opening a NYRR Board Meeting with, "Well it is Al Gordon's birthday, he's 102, and we thought about a celebration cake for him or something but apparently he is out in Montana looking for dinosaur fossils." He was always doing doing doing. "Keep Moving" was his oft heard motto. He would walk everywhere, he told a story of how his father had told him about the invention of the motorcar, and how it was not necessary a healthy thing.

Not only was Al's eyesight eagle sharp past his 100-years but so was his memory. He was a celebrity and people would come up, "Mr. Gordon, my grandfather attended so and so with you in March 1921." And often he would correct them, "That was 1922, and the month was April." Shockingly sharp.

As is well documented he would walk to work past his 100-years, but a delightful story was told by one of the people who worked with him, "Al arrived in the elevator and was walking with the newspaper covering his face, coming in to work at 104-years old," So I said Mr. Gordon what are you doing? To which he responded "I did not want you to see me come to work late." It was 30 minutes past nine a.m. The truth of the matter is if I had had a tape recorder I could have related two hours of the most warming wonderful stories. It was an honor to know this man albeit that I did in such a small short capacity. A man who ran his first marathon aged 82 and an art lover who had the most beautiful paintings on his walls. Like the tiger.

As I left the service and everyone was standing on the steps, pondering, looking, watching, I thought, wow if Al had been here he would have been the only one marching off down the road, no destination too far to go. Born on the 21st like the lucky people, in the seventh month, even luckier, and made 107 - amazing! He deserved 100 more.

Just got an email from Ivar who was hopping aboard Cristiano Ronaldo's private jet from Porto headed for Rome yesterday - watch the champions league & drink soccerade.

Cristiano Ronaldo, FIFA player of the year. And a director of Soccerade!

On that subject great to see Mo Farah getting the British record for the distance too. Alem was talking about Merga, the fastest on the roads this year for the distance. "He comes from West of Addis and he is crazy. You don't hear that about Ethiopians, but this man is crazy. Nobody can train with him!"

Meanwhile R2 was doing intervals and drawing a line in the dirt, I was "Jeez R2 I am using a dress watch to time you!" And it was flippin cold in the park too. It looked warm from the curtains.

The big money race was a great one as LA Marathon jumps back into the headlines with Wesley Korir of Kenya walking away with $188,000; great news for him and a most deserving Run, the run of the day.

On that note all will be run-ING to work next Wednesday, including Deena Kastor and Lornah Kiplagat as the National Runday takes place across America... just in case you did not notice National Bikeday was May 14th I think and if you want to read about a fab charity that is doing absolutely amazing things look up Biketown.

Salina Kosgei, Boston Marathon Champion 2009

So the latest thing is Starbucks on the next street got blown up! Whatever next? If it is not a crane falling down I have a Starbucks being blown up. It appears to be a dangerous neighborhood.

The service is really good there too, a nice place.

One of the most under-rated marathon runners of all time. She holds the course record at New York & Boston. She lives in Nairobi... and she flew!

A productive day yesterday; it was running in the morning, did about 300-emails that I had ignored over the weekend, then went to have a meeting with the person who is making the medals for the finishers of the H&P 5-miler in June. Then I had an Achilles meeting. Then I whipped down-down town to meet Global for lunch to talk about the video 'virtual tv' coaching stuff. Bagels at Ess-a-Bagel next to where Wendy 17 used to live. Then I zipped up to the little Italian Coffee shop on East 73rd to meet Mary and talk about the fund raiser on June the 7th (no cheesecake so I had a bowl of fruit!)

Then it was back to deal with more emails, paperwork etc, more web stuff, neglecting about 20-more impending things (like shopping for food) before going to Geisha for dinner with Shmuel & Anat my friends who spend half the year in Tel Aviv and half the year in NYC. For the last year they have had their whole apartment renovated and the place is stunning. The food at Geisha was great; yellowfin tuna tartare for a starter, the red snapper, and pear bread pudding dessert... followed by a plate of Sashimi with some really excellent Makeral that tasted so fresh you were looking for water. We were actually drinking the cabernet that was good too...

Pauline Korikwang, junior world xc champion from 2006 & now a Jasari Senior

Speaking of which Kenya names its World Champs Marathon team, �2009 Boston marathon winner Salina Koskei was named in the team alongside Catherine Ndereba, Helena Kiprop, Martha Komu, Rita Jeproo, Risper Kimaiyo Jemeli, Irene Limika and Edith Masai.

Robert 'Mwafrika' Cheruiyot, who missed out this year's Boston marathon due to injury, will lead compatriots Martin Lel, world champion Like Kibet, Benjamin Kiptoo, Abel Kirui, Emmanuel Mutai and Daniel Rono.�

Great to see, looks like a fab squad.

What about Gebrselassie? Well he is going for the World Record in Berlin, and what that means is that no big names as usual will be lined up (although there may be another James Kwambai type runner of course). Sammy Wanjiru will not be in Berlin, at either venue. Running that is.

And coffee I needed as for a mind boggling 24 hours I worked near non stop on the new shoe4africa web site. That is coming very soon.

UA Downtown Steps from the finish line on the Water Front 2 World Financial Center (next to Southwest NY) 212-267-2247

Today was a meeting with a Doctor who has built hospitals in Nepal and India, a great source of knowledge, and another step in the learning process. Again, another total Shoe4Africa day as we had a power meeting in the evening with George Hirsch, Michael Broom, and Jess Hansen moving forward on our fund raiser event etc.

The first piece of good news; Shoe4Africa Women's team lifted its first trophy in the Packard Finals this past weekend! Winning on a penalty shoot out! I was there when they won the Semi's!

Life in NYC; we went for a run, a loop of the park, then we looked through all the S4A footage of video in an effort to get this zipster clipage we are compiling (I think I was driving Tony nuts as both the director and I want our orders second... long story). That took all morning, then we went to lunch to meet a lady from the Grace Foundation. It was a good job I ate cheesecake for breakfast as these people never eat desserts and I did not want to be the only one at the table. In the afternoon we painted the names of the First Grade on a chest that will be auction for the Steiner school this Friday... then I was sending photos for the clip from my computer which literally took three hours, followed by sending out Save the Date emails... and this is my life! It seems there are not enough hours in the day!

Good Morning Kenya!

To be a great athlete run a 2:05 marathon, and then there are the marathon runners who run 2:05 and are the greatest of people - Martin Lel. What Martin has done for his community goes beyond the belief. He lives with humility and is the kindness soul you can hope to meet.

Speaking of which The Chubbs has double or quits the $1000 bet to a race in September! And that whilst handing me a check for $1150 for an event we had following the race! Another Gentleman of the Sport, Sir Chubbs!

Superb news; Sarah Jones, Tony winner, Morely (singer songwriter), Billie Jean King are a few of the confirmed names for our next fund raiser!

Coaching the Flyers last night, Julie who ran her first race in many many years, came second in NJ! we had some new athletes who seemed rather amused at my prolonged workout - many forced smiles!

Thanks to John Church for buying FOUR copies of More Fire! Continuing to get some really nice comments on that. Thanks also to Jon Rankin for his nice words.

Computer, the S4A mascot!

Half way through May, can't believe it! This year is racing along.

One Love. One World. One Respect. One Kind.

The President & Nobel Prize Winner; FW deKlerk, his wife, Tony and I at dinner.

More Fire--"By the way I just finished your book and found it to be fantastic! Years ago I was impressed by a runner who kicked my ass in the Bix 7 and I got his autograph Joseph Nzau. Thank you for writing a book alot of unaccomplished runner's can appreciate and only dream of becoming. I will continue to help in any way I can. ~Larry~"

And from Nicole G, "Toby, I just finished reading More Fire (it took me a while to get finished while still in school!!!) I just wanted to say what a phenomenal read it was. I loved the tone and positivity of it. I looked forward to reading a page or two per night. It gave me exactly the motivation I needed for my workout the next morning. There was also a very uplifting message in this book. I got the sense that what these people have is a very special attitude towards running and life in general. I have had a hard couple of months and this book has really helped me see things from a more healthy perspective. So thank you!!! I hope you'll write another one J Take care, Nicole." What a nice email, thanks!

A great school project of a mural in Colorado, thanks to teacher Mary Powell!

At Martin Lel's house. Martin, I and the driver get ready to tour the course.