The revolution will not be televised - yet!
The uphill podium at Keswick
Well we are not sure if last weekend’s Commonwealths were filmed, but there is certainly a revolution afoot. The east Africans have dabbled in mountain running over the last few years, and have always attacked this big Nigerian race...
Geoffrey Kusuro
However, in the last two weeks Ugandan, Eritrean and Kenyan athletes have taken World and Commonwealth titles and medals, in relatively easy fashion. Notably it also seems that they are testing the water, no flocks of African athletes at the head of the races, but those that have traveled are top quality, and there to win.
Their racing in road and track has generally followed the money, and has meant that more and more athletes have emerged as they realise that some of the prize money on offer around the globe will help feed their families for years to come, help build infrastructures, schools etc. – why not I say. But mountain running? The prize money on offer is generally way below anything that can be seen at some of the World’s top marathons, and winning the aforementioned titles brings prestige rather than silver.
Wilson Chemweno - one of many?
Could this therefore be the start of a concerted African entry into mountain running? If so, will it also herald the start of greater prize money and profile for the sport? Television for the World and Skyrunning series?
Also, the Africans could be potentially better at mountain and fell running than road running:
1. They live at altitude, a distinct advantage
2. Most of their training is on trails and in forests. (It was reputed that Haile Gebrselassie did ONE tarmac run prior to his Berlin Marathon world record in 2008. All of his training was done in the hills and forests of Ethiopia)
It’s not so much of a revolution, as yet, it’s more a few placards saying “We are coming!”. The British, Europeans, Antipodeans and Americans had better be ready!!
Pamela Bundotich
