This archive report was first published on 8 December 2019.
How tasty termites ended my marathon ¶
On November 30, 2019, I embarked on the Kakamega Forest Marathon, a 21km run that I thought would be a breeze. However, little did I know that my participation would be cut short due to an unexpected reason - tasty termites.
My brother Pius and his wife Rumona, who were also participating in the marathon, were dressed to impress. Rumona had transformed into a new person, wearing a tight blue running blumah, a yellow tight running T-shirt, new pink shoes, and multicoloured socks. Pius, on the other hand, had a yellow Urban Swara T-shirt, tight black shorts, an expensive watch, and new shoes.
As we boarded the buses to the marathon venue, I thought I would have a moment with Rumona, but I was wrong. She was with Pius throughout, and they would occasionally hold hands. We were then separated into groups based on our races, with Fiolina going to the 5km team and me going to the 21km team.
However, things took a turn for the worse when we were told to board several buses, which drove us to another venue. Pius sat with Rumona and held her hand throughout the journey. When we arrived at the venue, we found thin and tall runners stretching and running around. If I were a weak person, I would have been intimidated by them.
A loud gunshot interrupted my thoughts, and like everyone else, I fled for safety. Only to realize that everyone was running towards the same direction. The race had started. I quickly followed them, but soon found myself struggling to keep up. The views were majestic, but the scorching sun and my aching head made it difficult for me to enjoy the scenery.
After running for what seemed like 50kms, we started climbing up under the scorching sun. I pushed on, knowing the marathon would end soon. Pius and Rumona overtook me, and I asked him how far we had run. He replied, “Bado mbali sana. It’s 3.2kms.” That statement discouraged me, and I started giving up. Many runners overtook me, and I couldn’t run anymore. I started walking, and that’s when I saw the termites.
One of the women selling things at the market caught my attention - Tsiswa, which are termites. I had never eaten anything as delicious as termites, both raw and fried. I bought some and ate them, and that’s when I felt like my body needed them. Unfortunately, that was her last stack, but one boy said he could get me more from home. I sat down to wait for him, but after about 20 minutes, I tried to stand to continue with the marathon. I was sure that having rested enough, I would overtake some people.
However, I could not lift my leg let alone walk. My muscles were aching, and I did not need a calculator to know that my marathon was over. I boarded a boda-boda, which took me to the finish line. I took three packets of milk, water, and juice. On checking my phone, I had several missed calls from Pius and Fiolina. I managed to locate Fiolina, who told me Pius had left together with Rumona.
Fiolina and I took a boda-boda to Khayega, and then a matatu back home. When we arrived, Fiolina helped me to walk to the house. Like Rumona and Pius, we were holding hands, although for a different reason - Fiolina was supporting me as I walked. This body has not been mine since last Saturday. Luckily, that was the first and last marathon I will ever participate in. Ever!
