Bernard Lagat outsprinted by Medhi Baala in Paris (© Getty Images)
Hello Everybody!
I am writing my diary from Kenya, where I am training and preparing for the World Championship trials. I warmed up the season with a few races in Europe before coming to Kenya. I ran in Ostrava, Lucerne, Lausanne, and Paris. I am sure that everyone has seen the results, but I will go ahead and write about how I felt in those races.
Ostrava was one of those races were I felt fine before the race – excited as a matter of fact, but when it came down to the final kick, my arms were going forward but my legs were going backwards. Hey, I am only human! I was disappointed, but didn’t have time to dwell on it too much.
After that race, my coach arrived to Germany and kept me focused on the following races. My coach and I decided that I needed an 800m race to work on my speed, so I entered that event in Lucerne. In the race we ended up going out too fast (I was too excited about running a fast time and to revenge a poor showing in Ostrava maybe) and needless to say, I had to pay for it on the backstretch when all the 800m runners were passing me! Of course I never like to lose, but I did have a killer workout.
Next, I competed in Lausanne. I enjoy running in Switzerland. It’s close enough to Germany so I can drive there and enjoy the scenery on the way. Race day was cold and wet. I figured it didn’t just rain on me, and everyone has to run through it, so there’s really no advantage or disadvantage. In that race, the 2nd pacemaker didn’t follow the 1st pacemaker, so the plans were dropped from the get go. Eventually when little Chirchir kicked, I responded a little too late and well, that’s how it finished.
After Lausanne, my coach and I took a train to Paris. I knew that I want to be back here at the end of the year, so that race was a motivator before the trials in Kenya. In Paris, Baala arranged for a fast race in his home country. I knew I didn’t want to peak now, but hold it for my return to Paris later this year. Baala ended up with a good kick and beat me to the line. Although I would have liked to win, I am not too disappointed because I feel great and know that I am prepared for Paris in August.
Now I am in Kenya and training at home. My family was surprised to see me because I had not told them I was arriving. It was nice visiting my siblings, eating ugali, and drinking tea plucked from my family’s farm. Everyone at home is doing well and I was happy to hear that another one of my brothers will be going to school in the US this fall.
I am eagerly awaiting the Kenyan trials, as there are many new faces every year. There are so many aspiring runners in Kenya, it’s best compared to baseball players in America. Kids are dropping out of high school to run, yet they don’t realize that only a few will ever make it.
Education is very important and every one must have it to fall back on. I constantly drill that into the head of my younger brothers and sisters, but it’s sad that so many children are willing to risk it all and their parents allow it to happen.
In trying to encourage education to the future of Kenya, I started a foundation this year. My foundation aims to financially assist scholar athletes in their education along with training. By doing this, I hope that many young athletes in my country will stay in school and work hard to not only graduate high school, but to go on to college.
Well, that’s it for now. The computers here are slow and I have to go for my training. Take care everyone, and hope to see you in Paris!
Ciao
Bernard Kipchirchir Lagat