Most of you see Cheptegei struggle with English words at every end of his runs. The journalists run from all corners of the world just to get a bit of the story. Trust me, you’ll never get the actual story. He’ll never “tell” it to you. Period.
I am going to advocate for interviewing sportsmen only during the actual run, sprint or marathon. The real story can only be told well during the time it’s happening.
Marathons, running or long-distance jogs are not about the destination. They’re not about how it feels at the end of the activity.
It’s more about what happened during the actual run. I am saying this from an experiecne- done it point of view. Sportsmen can’t tell the real story after it’s done. It’s more real and relatable ONLY during the activity.
Every once in a while, I feel I should recorded my jogging, running or cycling activity but again, I just don’t do it. Simply because it’s more rewarding to adhere to the pain, the stretch through thick and thin and fight against yourself, mind, body and forget all the pleasures of this world.
But again, after the event, I feel that I should have recorded the whole experience. I should have recorded me talking to myself, telling myself to keep going, to push harder, to put one leg in front of the another and to not focus on the destination but only keep going.
There is no better way I can write, tell or put this but only a recorded audio/visual clip that will make you listen and feel my struggle. The struggle of pushing and talking to myself. This is more relatable and rewarding to both you the listener and I the doer.
Ultimately, there are no words. I can’t even find the best words to write this but get to know one thing, sportsmen/sportswomen are underrated. The worst and best battles are not those fought at the war front. They’re those you go out and fight against yourself. To make yourself even better.
Cheptegei is the best person to point to regarding this. He went out and rubbished all the previous two world records. He has yet added another one for himself and his country Uganda. He is very underrated. He is the ultimate pacesetter, record-breaker, undertaker, the beast. He is the greatest Uganda has ever had.
Cheptegei, I celebrate you among millions of others in Uganda and beyond.
Anyway, today I did this 15km morning run to celebrate you and your victory and to remember the statement you made at the end, you said, “I wanted to make people know that the track is still exciting and wanted to give it my all.” That’s it.
Also read: Why i want to hike Mt Rwenzori this November 2020!
As I get myself ready for my #HamzaToTheSummit trek on Mt. Rwenzori, today I had planned to do a morning 15km hike but instead, I decided to celebrate Cheptegei’s victory and appreciate his message to all sportsmen out there. That there is still more hope on the track.
Little did I know that I would end up jogging 16km. The best I’ve done in the last 11years or so. That brings me back to the fact that we can all be better and great. It’s all about focus and putting one foot infront of the other. Whether you’re a doctor, a soldier or even a developer.
On several occasions, while running, your body will ask why you’re going that hard on it and your mind will tell you to give up somehow. But I’ve come to appreciate the spirit – the push that keeps telling you that you can even go further. Just focus on the steps. Keep in motion, go, keep going.
Those are the words sportsmen keep telling themselves as they fight their body, mind and soul on the track. There is no better words to put them just like I mentioned earlier. A recorded clip with an in-body mic on the athlete can tell the full story.
With 40 days left to go for my trek on Mt. Rwenzori, which is the highest mountain in Uganda at a height of 5109 meters above sea level, this is yet another achievement for me. Being able to jog a total of 16 kilometers.
Remember, hiking or trekking a mountain is not about physical fitness, it is a mind game. It is the urge to not give up even in the worst conditions. It is about the discipline to listen to your body and know when to push and when not to and that resolve to focus on the steps you make forward rather than the destination.
I’ve not done 16km because I’m an experienced runner, no. I only focused on putting my leg forward and listening to my body. Then I found myself home.
Ultimately, go out and challenge yourself. Go do a 1km hike, jog or skip a rope. You’ll thank me later.
Yours truly.
#HamzaToTheSummit #ReuseablePads
