L. MathekaMan runs Nairobi Marathon barefoot to raise education funds for orphans
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 30.10.22. | 18:39
The 42km men's race was won by Elias Chelimo in 02:10.22
He might have finished the classic distance at the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon in 4 hours 40 minutes, but Craig Oulton is no ordinary runner.
The time was posted in bare-foot conditions and I, who witnessed the 55-year-old cross the finish line at Uhuru Gardens, had never seen such big, blood-filled blisters.
His is a road less traveled, a path that many dare not tread. He has, in his illustrious long-distance running career, managed to run 36 marathons to raise funds in support of the less fortunate in the country.
"It was a tough marathon. The main challenge was that as the dag broke and the sun came out the tarmac got hotter and I had to find a better way of dealing with the heat.
Reaching the finish line at Standard Chartered is a big motivation now to move to even bigger events that will bring more attention to the Sports 4 Change," offered Oulton in an interview at the finish line.
Sports for Change is a Kenyan charity that sponsors education for orphans and other bright deserving students. It started fiftheen years ago, according to Oulton and has so far sponsored over 100 students and more than 500 through mentorship and other programs.
Oulton, on his part, has raced widely in Kenya, taking part in the Lewa, Standard Chartered, this being his first while barefoot, Maasai Mara marathons and many more.
He has also competed in South Africa in an ultra marathon race covering 55km as well as a 92 km Comrades Marathon in the same country.
"I do not run all these marathons barefoot but I have done a good number of them like this. Anything I can do to bring more money that will help support the communities we work with," he continued, adding that all the money the charity receives is from Kenyans.
His advice to anyone looking to attempt the seemingly impossible challenge of barefoot running is to start slow.
"Start with a kilometre then add about 500m after each successful attempt. It takes at least three years for one to train for a full marathon," he advices.
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