Leanness is often mistaken as a sign of being fit and healthy. Many dream of having a lean body, but they don't know that even with a lean body, you may still be unfit and unhealthy.
One individual who experienced this is Amos Rono, a content strategist, who was forced back to the racing track after being diagnosed with high cholesterol in 2018.
Speaking to Nairobileo.co.ke, Rono divulged that sometime in 2018, he started experiencing fatigue and having issues with his body, prompting him to seek medical assistance; it was then that he was diagnosed with high cholesterol.
"Around 2017/18, I was diagnosed with high cholesterol and high protein intake. My doctors told me the cheapest way to sort the issue out was by engaging in physical fitness," he said.
Since he had previously been an athlete, he saw it fit to return to the sport to improve his health.
Initially, Rono participated in short races, mainly 800m and 1500m, but following the doctor's recommendation, he decided to participate in longer races. He started with 5km, which later transformed into 10km and 15km before eventually metamorphosing into long-distance running.
Getting back on track was a daunting task. Rono said he had several thoughts of quitting but decided to hang on, especially after meeting guys engaged in athletics as a recreational activity.
"Because I used to run back in the day, I said you know what, let me try it again. I started with 5km, it used to be so tough, then got into 10km and 12km, and over the weekend I'd challenge myself to do 15km...It was tough because I had not been introduced to physiotherapy and supplements, but the positive is I started getting my body back and becoming healthy," he divulged.
Rono the Marathoner
With support from a group of recreational runners, Rono got into marathons, his first being the 2019 First Lady half marathon.
In 2021, he made his full marathon debut at the Kilimanjaro and Standard Chartered Marathons, which he completed in 3:05 and 3:01, respectively.
"Kili marathon, I did it in three hours and five minutes, I got discouraged. I went for my first Stan Chart, I did it in three hours and one minute, then my second Stan Chart I did it in two hours 51 minutes. I shed a good ten minutes," Rono shared.
He later participated in the Dubai and Boston marathons, clocking impressive times of (2:38) and (2:43) respectively. It is worth noting that one must have achieved a set time to participate in renowned international marathons.
Locally, Rono holds his fastest local marathon at the Nairobi International Marathon, having clocked 2:44:18 on 8 September 2024.
Having 'conquered' marathons and determined to go further, Rono explored ultra running, where he took part in races beyond 42km. He outlined an incident in which he ran 100km around the Nairobi Metropolitan area in 9 hours for a charity course.
"I met a group of people and running with them became very easy, then I discovered marathons, where I can run for various reasons such as charity. I have done 100 km of charity in one day where we raised about 1.5 million shillings. I ran from Ngong to Kajiado and back. I did it in nine hours," he narrated.
He acknowledges that a lot goes into preparing for marathons, as they push your body to extreme limits and require you to be in the best physical condition.
According to him, one needs at least six months of preparation to participate in a marathon. One also needs to ensure one eats a balanced diet, gets sufficient rest, and is in the best mental condition.
Marathon Costs
Preparing for and participating in marathons is expensive. According to Rono, to participate in a marathon, one needs the right gear, proper preparation, diet, and physiotherapy, all of which require money.
Further, he noted that participating in international marathons is even more expensive, as one has to incur transport, visa, accommodation, and registration costs.
According to Rono, the budget for an international marathon ranges from Ksh120,000, depending on the country hosting the race. Although marathons are expensive, Rono says investing in them is better than paying for treatment.
"Marathons are expensive, but you can't compare that to the cost of seeking treatment once you are taken ill," he said.
Cocktails Runs With Rono
Cognisant of the expenses associated with marathons and the need to share his journey and experience with other Kenyans, Rono came up with the idea of having an event dubbed 'Cocktails Runs with Rono,' where he meets professionals and engages them in discussions about fitness, career, and how the two merge.
"Earlier in the year I said as I prepare for my 40th birthday, I needed a platform to share my journey and tell my story for the last 20 years, that's how I started Cocktail Runs with Rono," he said.
So far, the event has had two sessions, with the third scheduled for 2 November 2024. Edward Oonge, the managing partner at Were and Oonge Advocates, Lorna Nyatome, a physiotherapist and wellness curator, and Joseph Bonyo, a journalist, will be critical guests at the event.
The third edition of Cocktail Runs with Rono will be held at Baraza Media Lab. The event runs from 2 to 5 p.m., during which attendees engage in meaningful conversations on career and fitness matters, network, and enjoy some bites.
"It brings in professionals who are struggling with fitness and trying to balance fitness and their professional lives. We aim to engage mid to senior-level individuals or business owners," he divulged.
Giving a brief overview of the previous sessions and what to expect in the upcoming events, Rono said, "The past two sessions have been me primarily, but successive sessions will have more interesting people."
He also noted that the team is considering having boot camps, incorporating celebrity guests into the events, and having a meet-and-greet session.
Tickets for the 2 November 2024 event go for Ksh 3,000 and can be accessed here.
