Discovering the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth
“Running with the Kenyans” by Adharanand Finn is a captivating inquiry into the heart of Kenyan long-distance running. Finn, a journalist and an amateur runner himself, embarks on a journey to uncover the secrets behind the exceptional success of Kenyan runners. What makes this book truly engaging is not just the insights into athletic excellence but the personal narrative that runs alongside the quest.
In this book you will find Finn relocating his family to the small town of Iten, often dubbed the “home of champions,” where he immerses himself in the life and culture of Kenyan runners. Through his vivid descriptions, you are transported to the high-altitude training grounds and local races. You begin to understand the rigorous training regimens, the cultural factors, and even the genetic discussions that surround the phenomenon of Kenyan dominance in distance running. Finn will introduce you to a host of memorable characters, from world-class champions to hopeful young runners, each with their own unique stories and motivations.
This book is not just for running enthusiasts; it is a broader commentary on the pursuit of excellence, the importance of community, and the resilience of the human being. Finn’s personal growth – his struggles, triumphs, and the friendships he forms – adds a very relatable dimension to the story. By the end, you feel a part of his journey, inspired to chase your own passions with the same fervor and commitment.
Following is a short excerpt from “Running with the Kenyans”:
The will to succeed not only motivates Kenyans to become athletes, but it helps them when they are racing. When the crunch comes in a race and your body is shouting at you to slow down, it is the drive to win that pushes you on. I once complained jokingly to Brother Colm’s assistant, Ian, that when I ran with a group of Kenyans, whenever we’d get to a hill, they would all speed up, while my natural inclination was to slow down.
Ian smiled at me. “That’s because they want it more than you,” he said. “When they see a hill, they see it as an opportunity. An opportunity to train harder, to work harder.”
When people in the Rift Valley decide to become athletes, they don’t fit their training in around a job or college course, as we might in the West; they dedicate themselves to it completely. A daily diet of run, eat, sleep, run. In Iten alone, there are around one thousand full-time athletes living like this – in a town with a population of just four thousand people. Every morning the lanes are full of people on the move, like commuters in any other city, but all of them in running clothes, flying uphill, training, training, training.
Brother Colm once remarked to me, as we stood watching a team of his athletes charging repeatedly up the long hill leading to St. Patrick’s school, that, “This is the bit people miss when they look for the Kenyan secret.”
“Running with the Kenyans” is a testament to the power of curiosity and the lengths one can go to understand greatness. Finn’s engaging storytelling and genuine appreciation for the subject make this book a delightful read for anyone, whether you are a seasoned runner or simply someone who enjoys a well-told tale of adventure and discovery.
