The idea to hold a Peace Race came during the Kenyan clashes. The athletes of Kenya came together and held the first major sporting event to promote peace since the riots.
Shoe4Africa has been present in Kenya since 1995. The idea of holding a peace race was deemed dangerous and stupid, yet for the people of the area it was needed--furthermore the athletes had always pushed for peace, and now was time to act.
Just under 600 primary school girls would be running in the day's fun run. It was a sell out, we only printed 500 bibs as we wanted to keep the event controllable, then Chris Cheboiboch's school wanted to come, and also some from Paul Koech's school.
Moses Kiptanui, Olympic Silver, three times a world champion, and a great Shoe4Africa Ambassador was the grand marshall. He corralled the peace march
The gathering for the peace march that would go through Iten town -- Douglas Wakiihuri and Luke Kibet at the front - a Kikuyu and a Kalenjin tribesman, showing that despite reports the athletes are the ones promoting peace in Kenya.
Rose Tata, first ever African lady to run inthe world champs, behind in red trousers... still a Kenyan record holder, came up from Nairobi to support the event.
So many athletes responded to this call of hope, all were united in saying it was a must to be there. Douglas had escaped Iten on dec 27th, the fact that he was here parading through town was almost unbelievable -- Kikuyus had been chased with knifes, shot at with bows and arrows, their houses burnt to the ground
The salaba academy, a school run by Chris Cheboiboch, the fastest ever runner up at NYC with 2:08:17-- One of the seven school present. The kids chanting peace songs.
We took the town by surprise as we did virtually no pre-race publicity due to obvious security issues,but the list of athletes who attended was really a show stopper.
There is Cheboiboch who readily availed himself tyo help, donating his vehicle, driver and more for the set up.
The winner of the race ran 'unattached' and led from the gun, she is a challenge for the future.
Moses again
Former world record holder Yobes Ondieki stood on the finishing line with many other elites handing out running shoes to all finishers, what a reward -- getting your first pair of running shoes from a superstar!
Making the girls very happy
World 800m champion Janet Jepkosgei came straight from her morning training over an hour away with coach Claudio Berardelli
Visited the neighboring schools to invite them to the day and explain the format
and stayed up till 2am pinning on numbers -- thanks Dorcas K, Dorcas C, Jebiwott and Rose!
Lornah Kiplagat's sister Anne finishing off some extras the next morning.
Before the race we sorted through 800 pairs of shoes to give out. We placed all the shoes in giant bags
The list of athletes who turned up was like the Olympics!!
Martin Lel, a Shoe4Africa Ambassador
Olympic Bronze, wins at London, Chicago, Tokyo, and NYC Marathons... one of the greatest of all time -- Joyce Chepchumba
Leppin, thanks to the S4A sponsor, without whom this event would not have been possible.
Lornah talking to Rose. The Simba has been a big part of S4A's success.
Paul Koech's school that he and his wife run, arrived.
Peter, who is helping team Kimbia
practicing a peace song
Ben Maiyo tries on a wrong sized T shirt
A line up of some of the invited athletes!
So many world championship and Olympic medals gathered together
Two steeplechasers -- Kenneth Kandie, pace maker to Shaheen, talks to Olympic Champ Ezekiel Kemboi
The finishing line set up
Councellor Julius Kiprop, our field captain leads the runners in order of finish; each one with a pair of shoes.
Paskalin Kosgei, on the day she was the swiftest.
Looking ordinary? A talented bunch!
A blind Olympian.
Elite athletes handing out shoes, with the Zayed race director Pius -- The Zayed race is the richest event in running with $300,000 cash first prize!
Yobes "26:58" Ondieki -- a great help on a busy morning.
Lornah handing out shoes
Florence who read the day's prayer. Moses in the cool colors.
Paskalin tries on for size.
It's a fit! Watch out for this 14-yr old!!
The Kerio MP made a speech.
World Junior Steeplechase bronze Durca Mana
A corridor of shoes!
Dorcas sorting them out!
The boxes from donors
of hundreds of shoes
Another of the schools
Pieter Starbucks Mafia, chief photographer
set up
Olympic Champ Matthew Birir reads the Friday newspaper that had a press story on the race.
My fave pic of Kemboi, let's hope he retains his title in Beijing!
Kenya's first ever Olympic medalist, Wilson Kiprugut, and the first ever Kenyan to run in the Olympics, Nyandika Maiyoro were the official starters
Captain Paul Koech, also a world champ, talks to the other celebrity Italian coach, Renato Canova
Boston winner 2004
Katui Kipkemboi, a silver medallist in the Asian games, and a 7:30 3000m runner
Sylvia Kibet, straight off the plane from finishing fourth in the world indoors, a position she got also in Osaka... hoping for a medal in beijing!
Rebbie Koech, one of Brother Colm's proteges
Sleepy Sylvia -- has always been a big supporter of our events.
Paskalin Kosgei
Wakiihuri & Kibet hold the tape
Yobes, and Timothy Cherigat Boston winner, rip open another bag of shoes.
Commonwealth Games 98 Champ, Japheth Kimutai -- the first man to end Wilson Kipketer's long winning streak.
The only man ever to run a sub 8-minute 2-mile, the incomparable Daniel Komen. John Yuda, three world championship silvers, sits behind.
Cheboiboch & Renato
Amos Biwott, Olympic Steeplechase Gold in 1968
Second place Chelimo Ng'etich of Kiptingo School.
This girl won a computer for her school, and finished second overall but was the first from a registered school.
Olympic Silver, Benjamin Kogo
Janet in the stands, the only time you'll find the 'Eldoret Express' not moving.
Kogo
Olympic bronze and commonwealth games champion Mike Boit.
Tata
The great Moses Tanui, world champ on the track and on the roads, was a world record holder, won the 100th Boston...
Ran a 2:07:26 debut marathon... Kimutai Kosgei
Matthew Birir
kefah Kerero
Amos
Benjamin
Janet and Olympic Bronze medallist Joyce Chepchumba
with Sylvia
and Cheboiboch
Precious Jeruto, a schoolgirl we sponsor.
Durca
Yobes
We gave sodas and bread to all finishers
The post race meal
Hosea Rotich, no one has ever ran a faster marathon on Kenyan soil than this man.
Joyce
Monicah Kiplagat, Lornah's sister
Lornah
The Simba
Commonwealth Bronze John Litei, and James Kosgei, third row
The newspaper called it a yellow snake through Iten!
Wakiihuri sings a song at the finish
Kimutai Kosgei, Moses Tanui, and Rose Tata
Janet!
Simba power!
Douglas Wakihuri sings...
More Legends
Fatwell Kimaiyo, African Champ in his day
