MTN organises 300km relay

By Daniel Edyegu

For the first time since the launch of the MTN marathon in 2004, the telecom company this year orgnaised a relay from Kapchorwa town to Kampala, a distance of 300km.

The three-part relay is part of the preparatory activities in the run up to the main MTN marathon on Sunday.

The relay was flagged off at Kapahorwa Boma grounds at 9am Monday morning. A total of 20 Athletes participated.

Daan Oxener, the director From Coach to Coach, a partner organisation that organised the relay explained that the telecom firm wanted to hold a unique event this year and asked them "to come up with something different in the run up to the marathon."

"This relay is not a competition. It's meant as a sign of working together. I know the participating athletes are really fast and may like to test their strength. That's fine. But we are going to run at an easy pace from here to Kampala in three days," Oxener explained.

 Athletes take part in the relay. PHOTOS: Daniel Edyegu

The twenty athletes did the relay in turns for a stretch of 10km per turn. Two athletes would jog leisurely for the stretch of 10km at a regulated pace of 4 minutes per kilometer, while the rest of the athletes moved ahead in the van. At the end of the of 10km, two more athletes would move out of the van, warmed for a while and took over the baton while the other two athletes who were running entered the van.

During the first 20km stretch from Boma grounds in Kapchorwa, all the people interested in participating in the relay were allowed to jog with the athletes. As such, numerous participants took part in this first 20km phase.

Solomon Kiprotich, an athletics coach explained that this was meant to allow local persons enjoy the event.

"The idea is that from Kapchorwa town through the subsequent five sub counties, all lie within Kapchorwa district. Then we join Bulambuli district thereafter. So we need local people to part of this event to enjoy," Kiprotich observed.

The athletes will make the first stopover at Budaka town. On Tuesday morning, they will race until Jinja town where they will make the second stopover for the night and proceed up to Vision Group offices in Kampala on Wednesday.

For purposes of safety along the highway, one police pickup kept at the tail of the convoy while the other kept at the head squealing sirens to clear the way. An ambulance belonging to City Ambulance drove behind the athletes for any emergency. Excited residents poured along the highway to cheer the athletes as they jogged along. Some bold excited residents playfully joined the athletes on relay for a while and broke away.

The stretch of the highway under repair from Sironko town to Namunsi junction was the most tiring, as it was rugged and dusty.

Joshua Kibet, an athlete who took part in the race said that it was both exciting and an opportunity to practice.

"It's good for gaining experience. Such temporary (leisurely) relays help an athlete to build endurance and speed," Kibet said.

Vincent Chebet, a 10km marathoner said the relay was too easy.

"In fact I completed the stretch and felt like running additional distance. It was fun," Chebet said.