Eliud Kiptanui, winner of 2017 ScotiaBank Ottowa Marathon, photo by Justin Lagat
Justin Lagat, NIcholas Bor, Eliud Kiptanuie, photo courtesy of Kenyan Athlete
Our friend from Kenya, Justin Lagat ventured to Canada once again to race, and did much better than his first attempt. In part of his adventure, Justin learnt something about elite athletes and the community of runners. They admire each other. Here’s his story.
A marathon fan once told me that a high number of marathon runners, after finishing a race, do not care much to know the name of the runner who won the marathon. I respect the fan’s opinion. However, I think I got a new perspective this weekend on this as to why that may appear so and why it could not be as it appears.
It could be true that many marathon runners approaching the finish line minutes, or hours, later, after the victory ceremony is done, may not know the name of the winner, but it doesn’t mean they do not want to know. Perhaps all they want at that time in the world is just but something to eat and the quickest way to get back to their homes to rest.
I did not plan to walk around the city of Ottawa with the newly crowned champion, but it just happened in a way that no one may believe as it was too coincidental, but I will tell it anyway. It seems that everything happens for a reason.
At around 4PM, I got bored of being alone in my hotel room at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel, a hotel that was part of the sponsors of the race and hosted elite runners, and so decided to come out and see if I could find some company. I was just in time to stop Nicholas Bor, who also had nowhere in particular to go, just as he was about to enter the lift. Eliud Kiptanui also came out of his room, found us standing and asked if there was anywhere interesting we were heading to, and so the three of us decided to go out of the hotel and walk around the city.
Earlier on, after the marathon, we (Kenyan athletes and one coach; Joseph Jeromei) had finished having a luncheon with Kenya’s high commission to Canada staff, including the High Commissioner himself, and most athletes went to their rooms to rest.
