Some hypothesis has been postulated concerning Kenyan athletes and their competitiveness in distance running. Some conclusion suggests genetic predispositions, others have pointed to anatomical advantage, others have adduced the talent to Climate and terrain. There also those who have correlated their success to certain push factors for instance poverty. In this writing, I wish not to refute or counter these assumptions, but to secure another area of possibility. There is a body of knowledge that has been tested over the years and passed from generation to generation concerning running and training. I presume it didn’t begin in the 1960s, but it is in this time frame that most African nations gain independence and were accepted to squarely compete with the world. Over this period, they have invested in the evidence-based running- what works best is passed to the next generation.
This body of knowledge – the derivatives of the term ‘master Tactician’ often used to refer to Kipchoge is vital in any training platoon. It is the understanding that training and competition have esoteric characteristics and most of the times they are not fungible- the input doesn’t always translate to the outcome. First, I will comment on training and secondly, I discuss the parts of a race as understood by the athletes. I was one of them and therefore I deserve a page to share my understanding. In every organized training camp or group, there are four different types of runners: Spoiler, Novice, experienced and Expert. The spoiler is the ‘mad’ man in every market, everyone knows he is there, and he doesn’t follow any rules and never gets anywhere. In any competition, he tries out in any event and always takes the first lead at the start for camera purposes.
Secondly, is the novice athlete who is very serious about his or her career and has some talent but does not have any experience in training. He is the most obedient athlete who follows every rule and adheres to the schedule and timelines. He never leads until he is commanded by the experienced to take the lead. The experienced group is the majority and they have a duty to emphasize the coaching plan. The experts are part of the experience group; however, they have engaged in the highest level of competition for instance Olympics or city Marathons and they have posted remarkable times. They are the resource pool to the group and are often in the middle of the pact, and strictly follow the workout.
The rules of the game are to stick to the plan, the clock and never to engage meaningless talk. Over time, they train themselves to be able to connect running to the soul, the mind and spirit. They will be able to understand the pace and distance without looking at the watch or being told. They will run 400 M repeats- twenty times at 68 seconds without necessarily looking at their watches. They also emphasize certain behaviors common among competitors and the appropriate response i.e. should anyone dashing out be chased? They must learn to deal with some kind of “Prisoners Dilemma” as it pertains to running. Should we trust each other and assist one another for the Gold, or should I go for the gold personally?
Thirdly, in any serious training group, the purpose is always geared towards the prize in any given race. To get the prize, it implies an understanding of race dynamics. First, is to peruse through the media for information on all the upcoming races in the world and to prepare in accordance. What is important is the attendance and who is the competitor in a race. Once they have that in place, they begin to work on the three parts of the race: take off, altitude and landing. Take off involves putting yourself in the proper place in the race, it is often very fast and in some rare cases slower. The key here is to be able to see your competitors and to avoid being locked behind the herd or at worst chasing after the spoilers. Secondly, is the altitude-the race settles at a certain pace for a longer period. Many at this stage succumb to natural selection if you cannot endure the pace or you have used a lot of energy unnecessarily you pay the price. Suspicion is so high that any simple ejection triggers a response, one must be careful about the remaining distance and the pace and whether it is sustainable.
Finally, is to land- it isn’t about slowing down- it is running for your money. At this time there is no winner, whoever is left with anything goes for the prize. Careless moves often lead to misery and subsequent falls and the water is spilled at the doorstep.
In summary, Kenyan athletes have certain evidence-based practices that they have incorporated into their training ethics. Most of these practices have not been captured in the big screen and I have taken the initiative to point out other key areas worth investigating.
N/B: I had not much to offer to the Kenyan Athletics, Even though I graduated with a distinction from Chemai-Sewage Academy of Running.
Mshamba Abroad 