My running shoe

By Phyll Nawanjaya

It's Man Crush Monday, so let me appreciate someone who has quietly been cheering from the sidelines.

After I won the Voi Ultra, Bundi J N Ngirwa of Trek sports and Adventures told me:

"I have a brand new pair of running shoes for your next race."

Now, runners know those are dangerous words. 🥹

A promise was made.

And unlike many promises in this country, this one was delivered.

The shoes arrived on the eve of Nairobi City Marathon.

The problem?

They were too beautiful.

Too clean.

Too innocent.

I looked at them and decided they deserved a few more days of peace before being introduced to the realities of Kenyan roads and my training plans. 😂

So they've been sitting on the rack while I admire them like a proud parent.

Moments like this remind me why community means so much to me.

Running may look like an individual sport, but so much of my journey has been carried by people who believed in me, encouraged me, supported me, and celebrated my wins as if they were their own.

Thank you, Bundi.

The shoes are safe.

For now. 😌

But when they finally hit the road, please don't act surprised when a new PB appears.

#phyllrunning #runningcommunity #disciplineovermotivation