Kapchorwa town came to a standstill before progressing to its knees.

All eyes were on a little-known James Chemonges, a 55-year-old who ran close to 50 kilometers in just under three hours.

Chemonges traversed three districts in the process turning into a cult of sorts while wearing ordinary worn-out white trainers.

“We were blown away and delighted to see this distinguished performance of the highest level by such an old man,” the national athletics coach Benjamin Njia told New Vision.

Action as it unfolded                                                                                                 
In the morning, the aged Chemonges opted to start the 42-kilometer marathon from Sironko district down in the lowlands of the neighbouring Bugisu sub-region.

Chemonges carried shoulder-high by excited residents

When the whistle went off for the marathon to start, the father-of-eight geared up at an admirable pace, cruising his way to the dismay of spectators.

Amidst a deafening thunder of cheers, Chemonges wheeled past Sironko and Bulambuli towards the rugged hilly Kapchorwa terrain.

Kapchorwa sits at an elevation of 2,345 meters above sea level making it difficult for runners while climbing rather than slopping.

But not for Chemonges, he stood up tall storming the hills like a possessed beast.

“The low lands (Sironko and Bulambuli) were enjoyable for me. My paces kept getting better and better but the hills were tricky and draining physically and mentally,” Chemonges admitted.”

Chemonges basks in glory

Nonetheless, Chemonges went from good to better upwards towards Kapchorwa town proving the adage that ‘age is just a number.

“While I know age is just a number, there was something like a muscle-pull at about 36km into the race that felt a bit different. Put bluntly, it felt to me that I had all reasons to give up at that point but I chose to soldier on,” Chemonges recounted the downhill side of his milestone marathon.

Seeing his father alone and frightened on the road, 18-year-old Geoffrey Cherop jumped into the race to help his old man with pacesetting – less than 10 kilometers to run.

“Not planned at all but his decision came in handy because I needed someone to lead my pace at that point,” Chemonges confessed.

Together, they enduringly ran up the hills and on the steep slopes, the duo tactfully recovered.   

The sporting town of Kapchorwa was craving to see its first elderly competitive marathoner. Communities of both established athletes led by national marathon record holder Felix Malewa and coach Njia and town dwellers were there in full force.

Chemonges waves to his fans

Standing in bubbles and staggered manner across a stretch of 800 meters towards the finish line, they sung and cheered in delight.

At 10:15 am, the exhausted but determined Chemonges emerged from the hilly tarmacked Mbale-Kapchorwa highway to be greeted by “an unbelievable” crowd.

Among those in the crowd was his lovely wife Lucy Chelangat.

“I felt nervous watching him but then again it was remarkable and unbelievable seeing him complete this very difficult marathon,” Chelangat said of her husband.

It was the marathon that turned into a sprint.

Even the strongest cynics had to smile at the 500-meter final stretch that defined the making of history: the marathon distance was completed in under three hours.

Chemonges had brushed aside his youthful pacemaker Cherop. The peasant-turned-runner pointed to and waved at adoring incredible supporters, as he galloped towards athletic immortality, at least by Ugandan standards.

It culminated in a charming and irresistible eye-catching home straight act.