By Titus Murithi
An octogenarian Kenyan athlete who is the second oldest marathoner in the world is set and very ready to compete in the forthcoming Meru County marathon on 29th September 2013.
83 year old Mzee John Ruengo Gituchi is a veteran marathoner who has competed in other Kenyan marathons including the famous Lewa marathon; The Standard Chartered Nairobi marathon and Nyeri half marathon.
The world’s oldest marathoner is Fauja Singh, a Briton centenarian, 102, who started running at 89 years to keep away stress caused by deaths of his wife and son.
Gituchi says he started running in 1948 while in class three and since then he has been running. He once represented Kenya in commonwealth games in Australia in 1964 and become number three in 42 km marathon which was by then known as 26 miles.
Asked if any of his parents was an athlete Mzee Gituchi says that his mother could run very fast and in case his father wanted to beat her she could bolt away very fast and leave him behind.
“My mother used to run very fast and in case my father wanted to punish her she could run away very fast and leave him behind. I think that I inherited her genes and that is why I can also run long distances and very fast. Also my 50 year old son James Njogu and my granddaughter (Njogu’s daughter) are good runners,” said Gituchi.
Gituchi has won the entire Lewa marathon in his age category as from when it started up to date. He says he competes against other elderly people of his age from countries like Germany, Australia and Canada among others.
“I have been participating in the Lewa marathon since when it started in 2000 and every year i am the winner in my age category. I compete against my age mates from countries like Germany, Australia and Canada among others. Some of my competitors are younger than me but I beat them,” added Gituchi.
The Kenyan octogenarian marathoner further said that he’ll keep running just like Fauja Singh, a Briton centenarian, who is the oldest marathoner in the world and who participated in BMW Frankfurt marathon in Germany at the age of 101 in 2012.
“The Kalasinga from the UK is the oldest marathoner in the world and I am the second in the world. I would like to be running like him. He participated in 2012 marathon in Germany at 101 years,” said Mzee Gituchi.
Joshua Kiragu, one of the Meru County marathon organizers said that they are privileged to have the octogenarian participate in the marathon as he will be an inspiration to the young children, youths, middle aged, the elderly and all those who will be participating in the marathon.
“We are greatly honored and privileged to have Mzee Gituchi participating in this marathon. He’ll be an inspiration to the young children, youths, middle aged, elderly and all those who’ll be running that day.
We respect him very much for three very important things in him. First for his age, second for his enthusiasm to continue running despite his advanced age and third for being the second oldest marathoner in the world,” said Kiragu as he lauded the octogenarian marathoner.
Mzee Gituchi further said that for him to keep fit for running and maintaining his energy he takes camel meat and its soup coupled with protein food and vegetables like carrots and cabbages. He then takes fruits. He abjures beer and advises runners never to use it while running.
“To maintain my energy for running and keeping fit through out I eat camel meat and drink its soup very often. Camels eat a variety of bush trees and shrubs and their meat and soup is therefore nutritious for athletes. I also eat protein foods, vegetables like cabbages and carrots and eat a lot of fruits.
I don’t take beer as it drains away your blood and I advise youthful runners not to take beer while engaging in athletics,” further said Mzee Gituchi
ENDS…