Across Africa a large number of young school children have a long journey into school every morning. From Malawi to Botswana, Namibia to Tanzania they walk. Despite the benefits of the exercise, the freedom and the often beautiful scenery it is not always popular with the children. Many have to get up and start the walk to school in the dark, early hours of the morning. Sometimes the road can be hazardous with wild animals, torrential rain and deep mud just some of the obstacles in their path. However, surprisingly enough the school run has also been a turning point in some of these children’s lives and it has created some unexpected opportunities. The school runners have on several occasions gone on to become successful runners in their adult lives.
Both Moses and Linet Masai grew up in rural western Kenya with a 6 mile walk to school every day. They started running to school rather than walking in order to save time and avoid having to get up in the early hours. This early training proved to be significant in their development as athletes whilst at school. The brother and sister both went on to become world class runners and eventually Linet went on to win the 10k at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, while her brother went on to claim a bronze medal in the men’s events.
One of the Kenyan athletes looking to win a gold medal at the London Olympics this year is Abel Kirui. He too came from rural Kenya and his initial training all started with the school run. He is now a world class distance runner and his hopes of gold are spurring on youngsters in rural communities all over Kenya. Although he remembers not wanting to go to school and endure the long distances involved he realises what opportunities it has created for him. He used to run the 2 kilometres to school and back and to return home for lunch. He now specialises in longer distances as he is now a two-time world marathon champion and one of Africa’s best medal prospects both for 2012 and beyond.
While we moan about the school run here in the UK with its traffic and parking problems there are young children all across the developing world walking or running long distances just to get the chance of a decent education and a better future for themselves. Sometimes it is even just the school run itself that leads to that better future!