Why I must finish the London Marathon

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta (centre) jogs in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County on March 21, 2014 as she prepares for the London Marathon. PHOTO: Jared Nyataya / NATION 

In Summary

• Besides seeking to address the plight of our mothers and children, I’m also inspired by the global success stories of our sportsmen and women who continue to conquer the world.
• I have no time targets as my main target is to finish the race for the sake of the future of our mothers and children.

 

By Margaret Kenyatta
More by this Author

We are almost into the last 10 days of our countdown to the London Marathon and I thank God that my training has so far been flawless.

This does not to mean that preparing to complete the 42 kilometres in London has been easy. It has been extremely tough, but I will not give up hope in my campaign, through the ‘Beyond Zero’ charity, to offer a better future to our mothers and children.

My main motivation is the plight of these mothers and children. Research has shown that 5,500 women die every year due to pregnancy and its complications. In addition, 108,000 children die every year before their fifth birthday.

This is a situation that calls for concerted efforts by all since most of these deaths could be prevented through affordable interventions that are readily available.

There is simply no good reason why thousands of women and babies should die in childbirth today. This is unacceptable.

I never knew I would come this far and it is unbelievable, at my age, that I’m actually ready to complete my first marathon.

Besides seeking to address the plight of our mothers and children, I’m also inspired by the global success stories of our sportsmen and women who continue to conquer the world.

As I continued my training in Sagana last weekend, I was spurred on by the Kenyan victories at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen, where our athletes, some of them mothers, swept almost all the medals on offer.

Congratulations to Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor and Gladys Cherono for winning the individual gold medals in the men’s and women’s races in the Danish capital.

RESILIENT AND DETERMINED

Cherono, a 30-year-old mother, led an amazing Kenyan sweep of the first five places in the women’s race. The other finishers in the top slots were Mary Wacera, Sally Chepyego, Lucy Kabuu and Mercy Jerotich.

These athletes mirror the resilience and determination of Kenya’s hard-working women who give their best to afford their children healthy, happy lives and futures. It is these efforts that we must replicate.

Marathon running is a very Kenyan thing. We are the undisputed kings and queens of distance running, and this was proven, yet again, in Copenhagen.

It is these global triumphs that took me out of my comfort zone and into an activity that has got Kenya and the world paying attention. It is a good way of bringing people together, and thus promote national cohesion and unity among them.

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to train with the world’s best, including world record holders in the marathon and half marathon, Wilson Kipsang and Florence Kiplagat respectively.

Both will be competing in the London Marathon on April 13, and while I will most certainly never manage to keep up with them on the streets of London, their achievement will spur me on.

I have no time targets as my main target is to finish the race for the sake of the future of our mothers and children. And being from Kenya, a nation of marathon runners, I must finish the London Marathon!

Mrs Kenyatta is Kenya’s First Lady. Those wishing to support her ‘Beyond Zero’ charity can do so through The First Lady’s Half Marathon Trust, Equity Bank, Supreme Banking Centre at Equity Centre, Upper Hill, account number 0810262000200. Donations can also be sent through Safaricom Paybill number 500050.