Tanser.Org

Please donate HERE Thanks so much!

Reaching the stars of the world's tallest free standing mountain is just the beginning... We hope to then break ground for the hospital! We are running not for ourselves, but for a whole nation of children!

We have ten (now three) more spots for the marathon - thanks! Wanna run the ING New York City Marathon, be on our super team??? Email ASAP -- our first thirty sold like hot cakes!

07/23
Up in the Nandi Hills now and out of Nairobi. Will miss the crew there but am looking forward to checking in on the Rift Valley. Number One stop is to see the progress of the school. Noah Bor (a 2:08 marathon runner who is now becoming a coach) is meeting me at the airport. Noah wants to be a coach now and we are looking to start a little kids running club at the school as it is Runner-Perfect for location, altitude, dirt trails... and so so many great runners have come from this district too.
The Internet connection tends to be worse the farther you travel from Nairobi hence if I go missing...
07/22
Last night I was walking home and the street has no lamp posts. The plan was go to my apartment, drop off all valuables, then go to Salim's drop him off, then I come home (I can run faster). Anyway a car started following us, luckily we were close to my apartment, it stopped directly opposite (by good luck) so we walked inside. After about five minutes it drove off. I left all my valuables then walked Salim home. No worries on the way home. Twenty minutes later the car returned and kidnapped a man 20-yards down the road at gun point, they then took him to an ATM machine and forced him to take out all his cash. They robbed him of all valuables, then left him stranded... wow, close!

In May when I was here I had trouble with a group of about 15 who tried to get my mobile phone... this is Nairobi! The key? Don't walk around at night!

On Friday I am meeting Sally Barsosio, Kenya's first ever track world champion and a great friend for a long time. She is training but not in the best form right now.

Also I have to go to the Not For Profit Office tomorrow, sorting out our status in Africa. Work work work - love it!

In Kibera today talking with Medina who runs all the women's groups - she is doing a lot of great new things. She may be only five foot tall but she is a tower of strength.

07/21
Thanks to Michael, it looks like the Slum radio station might be getting moving nicely!

Went running today, in typical Kenyan style three guys just came up and ran with me, we did not say a word, ran for an hour with them, then they were gone. I love running over here. The weather is great too, no humidity. I fell all the injury aches which means I am doing the miles.

Talking to Catherine Ndereba today, who is a couple of miles up on the road, she flies to America today for some road races.

Off to Kibera today to drop off some food and pick up a bead or too...
Lots of pressure here for the Athletes to perform in next week's African Champs, meanwhile Mercy Cherono, from Kericho, just won the World Juniors 3000, becoming the first ever to defend a junior title in the distance events - kool beans.
07/20
KENYA! Long time for an update, but that is because I have been super busy with a million things. Back to Kibera, walking around trying to give a lady a bag of flour from a year ago when I promised. Running with Lornah-- we did a couple of runs including a two hour long run which is the furthest she has ran for two years, then of course eating and drinking coffee with Starbucks. In Kibs we met the Siafu when we first walked in... just as interesting as when we were in Mathare a few days later walking around we bumped into "Zero" -- during the clashes all the little villages were burned down in the slums, except Zero's, "I myself defended it with my AK47!"

We are everywhere, searching, doing this, doing that. I feel like I am catching up on a month's not being here...

I have some great pictures from Mathare, I just have to think of a way to upload them on bad internet... we were just talking about the big difference between Kibera and Mathare - for one Kibera is NGO central, whereas Mathare seems to have none.

On a small scale the next step is a little S4A running club in Mathare.

Ha ha, done it:

Just a girl who loved to dance.

Salim, pointing out he is in his NYC T shirt, back on his stomping ground.

The network of bridges that hold the area together - there is only one proper metal bridge constructed post 1963.. by Sammy!

A rapper who sang a song for us. In the background is Winnie, Salim's wife.

This is always the saddest site for me, a person raking through the garbage of Nairobi's poorest people...

The amazing Sammy Gitau - just google him.

This is a game that is played and you should see the speed they play at - I could hardly follow with my eyes, so I declined the gambling aspect!

A great picture of the water supply - imagine, no sewage system in this slum.

An aerial view of the space between the houses.

Each home is not more than 8-foot wide.

The brown in the water is the waste products from the illegal brew that has been dumped in the water.. with all else.

A little kid sits outside a "luxury" detached house. However the painted red cross means the house will soon be demolished.

07/15
Sometimes I am so lucky, I walk up to check in, and the lady says, "Are you Toby Tanser? I have goosebumps on my arm..." Long story, but now I am upgraded and headed for Nairobi! -- LG - Life's good!
07/14

Shoe4Africa event in Tanzania!

Le Charlot again yesterday and let me tell you when it is raining it is a bad place to talk, so loud.. those Euro-folk gobbing off. We could hardly hear any talk on our own table. I had a salad of all things and the food today was so so, the dessert wasa little better but I can't remember, or don't know the name, as I just pointed towards a dessert of a good size and went for that one. The coffee was not as good as last time.. odd huh? Good job the company was great, had a wonderful lunch and then later coffee over at Starbucks. So the morale is go there on a Sunny day, and go to Starbucks whenever, and for consistency.

Off to Kenya today, funnily enough Tony is too, but we are in different planes, (ahem, different seating class too!) It feels odd to be going there, but I am sure once I am there it'll be back to normal. Simba and Starbucks are driving down to Nairobi so I'll see them when I arrive.

LINK: Thanks to Duncan Larkin for this nice story.

07/12
Going to Washington today to go and see the President of the World Bank!

The classrooms of the new Shoe4Africa school!

More on Shelley Ann Fraser's suspension, "A slight infection had set in, Laidlaw said, and Fraser was given medication by a physician to alleviate the pain. When that didn't work, her coach gave her a painkiller before the race, a drug that Fraser failed to declare to the IAAF." - what coach coaching an OLympic/world champion gives their athlete a non prescription banned drug for toothache? Just before a meet...
Meanwhile the Flying Maasai runs 1:41:51 for the 2nd fastest ever 800m!
07/09
[pic left Rodney Cutler my good buddy and I] So the launch of Sea to the Stars got picked up all over the place, I spent two hours today on the phone about that... then the school, then the projects, blah blah -- I curse myself for adding more work but all good.

Another Good thing is my body is kind've hanging in -- I did a big bump -- 37-miles in two days, sadly less than I need to do in one day in November, BUT 33-more miles than I was doing on an average last week... today I did 10-miles in the morning at 56:53 then 7 in the evening at below 7's... all in the name of fund raising huh?

Back to the event it was great, met a lot of super nice people and realized how the 'goodness comes from involvement'...

Sad news Shelly Ann Fraser being busted as World and Olympic 100m Champion... it begs the question... is cycling the same as Track & field? Why not.. who believes in professional sport anymore? Sad people, nothing more.

Restaurant review - Tony and I went to a mexican that sits right on the corner of West Broadway and Houston... it was ok but it really was not anywhere clos to Rosa Mexicana... Stars out of ten? Don't ask.
PS: Do not ask me how many calories I am eating right now....
07/08
Yesterday I ran from Scarsdale to Central Park South-- all on the road, and I hate running on a hard surface. I went out to Marmar-something to Rodney's house, big house. Rodney had the wonderful idea that we should leave at 4:45 am. Dean & Mike came up too, and Azali dropped by. Rodders ordered Chinese food and I noticed I was eating double the amount of any one else, but half the amount I usually eat. I was embarrassed to take another serving when he was throwing the rest of the food out.. shucks, and a few Yuenling beers. Rodders went to bed around ten telling me to turn out all the lights.. hm, I should have asked where the switches were! I was hunting like a bear after hibernation for a nut.

Speaking of which it was like sleeping in Iceland as the Air Cond. was freezing, then of course the bed was too short. Took me a long time to fall asleep, when I finally went to bed, then seemingly minutes later OzRod was whistling and the TV was on. Matt came, complete with a headlamp strapped to his head (looked like a scene from Wayne's World) and we drove to meet another runner (after OzRod discovered he'd left the garage door open and a racoon had trashed his trash), Mark, and off we set... boom through Tuckahoe (Tom's town), through Yonkers, luckily it was only 84-degrees, not as hot as yesterday. Mike and Dean drove the van back, but somehow we lost them, we lost Rodney and Mark. I was telling Matt that we had to slow down as we had not settled on a finishing spot on Central Park South and my house keys were in the van....

It was a success; the kick off run for the Sea to the Stars, and boom. Then, fo a touch of insanity, I ran on the treadmill six miles int he afternoon -- just to see what it feels like to run on tired legs - Hakuna Matata!

07/06
Wow, it is so hot in NYC right now! In the nineties. Rodney (my Sea to Stars running buddy) ran in Puerto Rico, he emailed me to say he's sweating like a pig running down there -- he did 14-miles. For me? I don't have air conditioning -- I just die in my apartment! With the heat it is like running 20-miles. We are going to do 40-miles a day; for sure either him or I will die. It is a 50-50 -- running in Mombasa is tougher than anything you can imagine in NYC, and day after day through the heat.. PLUS in Voi, after 90-miles, there is now a man eating Lion on the loose! Never worry, Lions love me!

Speaking of which John came round and fixed my ceiling, I am so happy! Finally, though I only have myself to blame!

My life continues to be smiles and it is funny as 'bad' things are also happening, but they get ironed out by the amazing good things. I am really pleased with the progress of the first Shoe4Africa School!

07/05

Meet Jaffad! One of the unsung heroes of the Hope & Possibility, and a kid who I was humbled to meet.

I surely forget... I friend of mine, Masami, kindly offered to be a guide for a blind runner. Her runner asked to be at the start area two hours early, I was are you kidding me? Reality: day of the race Noorah (the blind athlete) gets up in Queens where she lives alone and walks to the subway station, boom it is closed, she has to walk home. Then she gets her guide dog, so she walk (alone) to the next subway station that is open... When she gets to the race she has to find someone who can look after her guide dog so she can race with the others.

God did I feel like an absolute idiot for knocking that two hour needed buffer. When I think of all the selfish things I "had to do" as an athlete I feel like a complete idiot when I hear stories like this...

Well my July 4th was work city. Tony kindly invited me up to his country home over the weekend and at first I accepted, then I thought who am I kidding? For the entire year of 2010 I have not been out for one night non-work related, so how can I spare a whole weekend? I was stressed by the thought of all the work that would be piling up... and I am behind - happens when you don't have anyone to help on this mission. But just when I am sitting at home, I hear all partying outside, I have been at the computer for 8-hrs working on a million things, and just back from collecting shoes from the West Side East Side dropping off photos, burning CD's of past events an email arrives from Kenya -- Pictures from the School - to be posted soon, WOW! Then every sacrifice seems worth it.
07/04
Saddest news of the week?
"MPs in Kenya have voted to boost their own salaries, making them among the world's best paid politicians.
"Under the new legislation, the Kenyan prime minister will take home over a third more than his British counterpart.
"He will also earn almost 10% more than the US president. The vote has provoked anger from the general public and the media, correspondents say." For a country whose main income is Aid money and whose citizens for the overwhelming majority live on a dollar a day this is a disgrace.
Good news? Serena Williams Champion of Wimbledon; great news, and thanks to Serena for the philanthropic work she does in Kenya!! When the press knock her they forget to mention such things right? Serena is a lifetime beyond a legend!
07/02

This has to be my favorite running picture -- why I found it was a friend was asking to see some pics of my running days, so I scanned a few 9watch out, coming soon). Like any picture it has a story -- North of Sweden, I was road racing in Sweden and am winning virtually every race I enter, by minutes. So I come to this town and ask, "Is the course marked?" Yes yes, you can not run wrong. So I am leading by a distance that I can not see the second place and I come to a turn, left or right? Nobody there, it is a T-junction with no obvious way. I take the wrong way. A journalist took this course and the next day in the paper the headline was 'An Orienteering course where the leader had no compass' -- I ran a kilometer before they alerted me, then I had to run a kilometer back to get back on course, and it was only a 10k! This kind of thing happened a lot.. back in the day... Just goes to show, sometimes it is not the best to have a big lead!

Lunch today at Josie's on the West Side - more recommended than East. If you have ran the Boston Marathon and been invited you know Betsy and Rachid -- it was these two old friends I had dinner with, talking about a race in Morocco; a street mile with trimmings.

More than that a nice run with Et in the park-- we were talking football so the miles zipped by -- Go Holland.

07/01

Kenya's answer to the Baby faced Assassin. This young lady has the potential to break the world record 10,000m

Downtown up town, bagel town central park -- yesterday I was all over the place, but flowing good. Now I live uptown I hate coming down to just go back up to later go down, but when all things go in steps it is great, adn most appreciated!
Starbucks and I are already planning the Orange Parade for Iten, Kenya, when Holland beat Brasil. Few fancy the Dutch - my whole life I've supported the underdogs! If Argentina win then I don't have to pay about 20-Kenyans 1,000-Kenyan Shillings each - that was a bet back in April. Football fever continues.. over there.

I was reading today of all his work in Africa - stage two as my new friend Major Steve MBE is getting involved! (Brits might understand the MBE - Member of the British Empire; an award given by the Queen).

Yesterday lunch at Island - one of my fave restaurants for an upper east side lunch (with Rich)-- I had the Mesculin salad followed by the penne tomato! delich.. Today it was Blaggards with Dick - the salmon, two Guinness and a Caesar. The french fries were better than the smashed potatoes (mashed), and the broccoli was good -- no dessert(!!)

So big things happening with S4A and the Sea to Stars, but these days I am waiting for the ink...

Continuing the best lifestyle, but the pay is lousey, well you can't have everything!

Apologies for the double Prince picture, but hey... shoot me, you would!

06/29

Wow, I have now come off a cloud, in fact I did it on Sunday night when I fell asleep in mid town on top of a high building! It was 11-pm and I was literally exhausted.. it all came together.

100% I am so so so happy that, as Race Director, I had the biggest EVER celebrity to come to a race in Central Park, and he was really one of the people, a totally genuine real person, every time there was an attempt forced "Press moment" he turned to the competitors! It was an honor and an absolute priveledge to be his escort for the morning!

Now I am just resting and thinking about 2011, and once again thinking Yes, I did it, and there was not a glitch. Thank you to all the wonderful English people I had the honor (no Honour) to meet during this event, not just in the park, another big step forward!

Am currently on Cloud Nine for a while, hoping not to come down!
06/25
Redefining the word busy... but it is a an honor so I am not complaining, I mean today I am meeting the Prince of Wales, I get a secret agent telephone, I am living on cloud nine, and although my hours are three hours eyelids closed it is all my own doing, and I love it.

Gosh, sometimes I look sideways and see me ten years ago. Knowing I am going to collapse and pass out any moment I am just enjoying it; the school in Kenya is going great, got some pics, and Martin Lel is excited at the speed of progress, so it must be good!

If you are emailing me and I am not coherent with my answers, sorry, I went through 266 emails (yup) in the space of 30-minutes (sorry for lack of spelling)....
6/24
My life now is 500 emails per morning, going crazy soon over (hopefully not the life). But a very relaxing evening last night -- talking to Raoul & Rebecca back from Moscow, Mickey & Amy with the stories, Jacques d'Amboise telling me stories from when he starred in Seven Brides for Seven wives or whatever it was called, and Bart Yasso - whom I love to listen to with his friend... mix in a few other good people, Yup, this is NYC!

Gripe of the day, when you get a virtual open goal, you hit the post, don't turn away and clutch your head, chase that rebounding ball -- the difference between a true blooded goal scorer and Wayne Rooney.

Great news from Jav (Shoe4Africa board) in Argentina - he emailed me to say his brother has just become the Foreign Minister; I see Shoe4Tango!

06/22
So happy to see Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia winning the Grandmas Marathon, I met her on Wednesday before the race, she is such a nice genuine, down to earth person...

Meanwhile we hear Super Physio, the undisputed best in the world, emailed to say he is in Holland for 4-0days visiting Simba n Starbucks...

Once upon a time Sleepys sponsored a race in Central Park. The first runner to cross the line would win $$, and the first one wearing pajamas would win a sleepy's coupon for $$$.... I double dipped. Funnily enough very few people chose to wear Pajamas, and I think I was certainly the only runner in the first throng... Anyway Sleepys were thrilled I was the overall winner and gave me $$$$... just goes to show, sometimes you just wanna slip out of bed!

Well yesterday was the day of releasing, finally, that I have got Prince Harry in the race where I am the race director! Just where you want it to be! Obviously a massive boon for any race director, and in the backdrops I have the McCains, Senator Kerrie, the NY State Governor, Heather Mills McCartney... he he, sublime -- thanks to them all for coming, hey, don't let me forget Mr G the weatherman my buddy who always comes out and supports, not forgetting my fave food - SUBWAY, the food that you should live on!
I get to meet prince Harry in a couple of days. Speaking of which I was really happy to see that the Princess Victoria of Sweden is marrying her personal trainer -- so nice to see, a case of real love -- Good for you Vics. I met the dear Princess a few years back in Oland, over in Sweden, but that is another story.
My counterpart, Rodney Cutler, who is running with me in November to Kilimanjaro is causing me to over train -- every time I talk to him he's doing an ironman!
06/21

I told you I had someone SUPER big coming to run the Achilles Hope and Possibility 5-miler. Well Prince Harry, the Prince of Wales is coming to Central Park on Sunday - you can run too! I also have the new York State Governor coming to run too, I have Heather Mills Mc Cartney, McCains... and more!! Has there ever been a bigger name to run in Central Park than Prince Harry??

He is hot in the press as he has just split up with his girl friend, thus, as Beyonce says.. All the Single Ladies!

Sale--Urban Athletics Wall Street Run Sale and party.
EVERYTHING in the store is 15% off, with a great selection at 50% off. Starting Today through Thursday! See you there!!

Also- Join us for refreshments and our annual post race party on thursday 6/24, 7pm.
Urban Athletics 2 World FInancial Center Steps from the finish Line 212-267-2247

SIMBA - one of the world's greatest ever road racers.

Kenyan running: I mean you gotta love it. Nobody in the country virtually knows who Samuel Kosgei is, yet he is the latest world record holder. Can you imagine that happening in Europe? "Oh look, the 25km road record is now at 1:11:50 (shockingly fast), and it is an unknown runner from Belgium," says a Belgium runner. Impossible truly is nothing in Kenya!
World Cup -- it is lookign like Argentina Vs Brasil in the final EVEN though we are yet to get out of the First round! I though the Ivory Coast played really well against Brasil but thney were just a superior team. Italy - cheated and deserve to be thrown out of the world cup as they are the master actors in every world cup. USA got robbed, but it looks like they will go through, England? I mean - Rooney & Heskey must be the worst attacking front line England has ever fielded. Wright Philips should be starting each gaem with Crouch and that guy who (likes) to shoot! OMG. Disaster. Holland lookign very solid. Speaking of which Tony jetted to Holland last night for an Inez & Vinood gallery opening... This weekend I went out to the famed Lennox Lounge in Harlem where the who is who have played in their day.. bottled stella what can you say.. the salad from Fairways over the Hudson was great...

Ran with GlobalKobal on Sunday which was nice, I am practicing my long distance - in April I was at 80-miles a month, now in June, over 70 mpw.. albeit jogging... getting ready for November!

06/18
Last night at the Gansvoort Hotel in the meat packing district, the trendy area of NYC. I noticed the women are all six foot tall down there. The music is loud loud and the atmosphere is moving. Having drinks with Ozrod who does the cosemetcis there, Yan who is a partner of the place and Chris who built the place... the way to get good service! I ahd two tuna burgers too that were great, deliscious, but my only complaint was the size - tiny! But that is one hopping place.

EArlier we had a meeting with THUY who is designing a headband fashionwear for Shoe4Africa -- hope y'all wear one. EArlier than that at Trump with Azali aka Wonder Woman who has connections beyond and will surely take Shoe4Africa to the next level, wow, I am scared to predict, but I have been waiting for an 'Azali' to come along for a long time...

It was one of those days -- Yan's story? Escpaed from Czech in 1982 with two kids under his arm, political asylum etc, comes to NYC, can't speak English, gets a job as a Janitor, now is the partner/boss of one of NYC's most hip and successful hotels... THUY escaped on a boat was met with pirates, jeez, I just sat there in awe!

The only bad news yet another puncture - I have a bike made for NYC but I live in Harlem! Driving me round the bend!
06/17

A couple of years ago I told this guy, "You will be the one to set the World record in the 800m... when he was way from the record. Today he is the world's absolute best - Running with MORE FIRE; David Rudisha.

BUY MORE FIRE HERE

Yesterday I was all over the place on my bike, like a dispatch rider. Starting the day with a meeting on West Broadway for the run from the Sea to the Stars. Feeling super confident I have decided to up the miles and run a minimum of 40-miles per day. Rodney and I are going for a 22-mile test run next week and I am dreading it. Right now my Saturday is free so I am thinking of running three x 10-miles to see what it feels like. What next? I'll be running bare foot!
06/16
PLEASE sign up for the Hope & Possibility [link] race today! We take running often for granted -- please help those who don't -- your participation gives you a 20% discount at URBAN ATHLETICS, thus the race pays for itself... Plus.. we have more!! [coming soon]

THE SHOE4AFRICA MARATHON TEAM 2009

Gosh and it is nearly here again! We'll be back like Arnold said -- this year we are wearing red.

Out n about-- food review. Too bad Starbucks n Simba have left town as they would like this one, it is Cafe Europa on 53rd ST btwn Lex & 3rd Ave. Very busy, very fresh, very moving.. don't stutter along the line, or you'll get beeped. Believe it or not I found myself eating salad - Spinach with fish, tomatoes etc, and it was really good, then chop it, spin it, zap it, bag it, you grab a piece of fruit and they kick you through the door. I was desperately looking for some supplement carbs that I could not find, and no dessert or coffee, but as a salad place this joint rocks and should be penciled in to any midtowners notebook or ipath (That is a new word for the next gadget that will lead you everywhere you want to go - invented whilst I was scrunching on an apple).

Anyway considering my meal the other day was a six pack of corona and two liters of ice cream, it was an upgrade! However I was hungry an hour later!

The new shoe4Africa web site is nearly up and the web designer was asking 'do you want a blog?' the thought of doing two is such a task, but then she asks 'is yours rss?' like I am supposed to be able to understand Spanish! Me I write in html, nothing else.
06/15
I was going to post some pics today, oops then I should, well I was going to post from the Mini, but instead I will do the S4A school as all my USB ports are currently doing something!

Flimsy reports, I am sorry - Angelo's the pasta sucked and the waiter was not really that, urm, alive, bu the pizza was good. I had sun dried tomatoes, broccoli and mushrooms -- all good except the mushrooms that were as tastless as water off a leaf.

Yesterday I ran with Simba, no idea how long we ran as we were running and chatting so the time flew by. Then we went to meet Starbucks,then went to Starbucks.. plenty we are planning as we were talking about the run from the Sea to the Stars. We make good training partners, and have been running together (Albeit only on sporadic times) for quite some time now... but we always have good conversation, and I always learn more about.

Anyway, here comes the School pics!! I am so so happy to see these, for someone who did not finish school himself it is quite exciting to be building one..

The first Shoe4Africa Primary School!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

06/14
Last night with Starbucks n Simba to La Bonne Soup on 55th ST - very nice French place, apparently recommended by the U2 guy, the drums man. The night before the Mini we went to Angelo's and the funny thing there was I was asking Simba, "What time would you be happy with at the Mini tomorrow?" She said 31:40 - and boom? She ran 31:40 -- an amazing comeback when everyone was saying "Oh she's too old, it has been too long.."
After 15-months her first classy race and is beaten only by three world champions, and look who was behind her. She is easily now back at the very world's elite and we can expect much better in September & October, you'll see!
The World Cup? How come England's million dollar strikers shoot straight at the goal keeper? Aren't you supposed to aim at an unguarded corner? The manager brings on injured players, then takes them off? Good luck -- Crouch and Gerrard should be brought up as strikers if they have any hope, and axe that keeper - forget the one mistake, he never looked great.
Yes I watched the football instead of the track meet, but I did pick up on the gossip -- funny, one person said, "We'll have to wait till Penn '11 to see Bolt again round here." I'll bet 100,000 dollars Bolt won't be at Penn next year. Glad to see Nancy Langat win -- she does not get much recognition but she was Kenya's first ever female Gold medalist in the Olympics...
06/10

Promoting AIDS Awareness thru Sports -- Tanzania & Shoe4Africa!

And more... Milcah Chemos Cheiywa-- watch out for this lady at Rome tonight in Italy -- a bomb in the Steeplechase. I met her last summer in Nairobi and she is the future for Steeplechase we think!

Le Charlot -- have not been to this place since the night I saw Judy Collins was it? Anyway; after a breakfast coffee down on West Broadway, a cool little street, it was up to Harlem, then down for Lunch at Le Charlot. So of late I have been trying to find the ultimate cup of coffee and let me tell you at this place... Superb! The Chocolate Fudge cake was so so, a little small in size and with a watery custard that could have been 7/10th thicker, or even omitted, but the main course, and I had the Grilled Swordfish was the best Swordfish I have tasted in a long long time -- succulent, fresh, and full of taste, with a fair assortment of other things on the plate (hardly noticed those as the fish was so good) along with a serving of mashed potato, I was wondering though if that did come out of a packet as it certainly did not taste 'home' mashed or smashed potatis as they called it in Swedish. The table bread was fresh n nice, all in all giving it a great rating. Even with the wind and rain coming in and blowing as we sat in the street -- it is on Madison at 69th, or on 69th at Mad.
Running wise -- Scottish Will is giving up two tickets, face value $110, for Saturday's track meet if you care to go IF you donate the money to Shoe4Africa -- what a nice chap!

Speaking of which we are making some great leaps and bounds there. I can hardly keep a step ahead. Hopefully we will have some tremendous news soon. Also a big announcement coming on Friday...!

06/09
Former #1 World Middle weight contender for the Champion of the World Michael Olajide's new workout DVD -- watch the Shoe4AFrica clip at the end!! (Thanks Masami)Another great day, beaut weather, ran in the park a few miles... thinking I only have to run a few then I hear Rodney is running Ultra mega events... I was figuring out if we ran thru the game park from Mombasa to Kilimanjaro and Lion came I could just out run him, now it looks like he'll out run me!
Lunch at Prime Grill which is a Kosher place off Madison at 49th - very nice; spicy crispy tuna starter, then I had the Salmon burger, followed by a nice chocolate fudge (could have been a bit bigger). Interesting table talk talking about 'inshallah' and how it happens, plus a story of a man who started with nothing and made $45-million from the Bronx - interesting guy! The coffee was ok but not strong enough.

Coaching the Flyers; a rum group we had, Captain Cotton Lloyd leading the charge (my fave due to the choco bar the other week), we have a few newbies like Chinasa and Miss C Cruz and Adam signed back up, a fine night, except it was Museum Mile as they closed fifth Ave and I was tryign to get down Fifth to go the Sushiya on 56th St between 5th & 6th for a dinner meeting with another very interesting guy who has done a truckload of amazing things and lives out in CA. I started with a great salad salmon & advocado, then went to two rolls - Dragon Spicy and the other was Shrimp something, and we had a bottle of Pinot Noir. All in all a great day.

06/08

The old Shoe4Africa T shirt with Nat!

Today I met the RODARTE sisters. Such nice people, and thanks so much for the upcoming Shoe4Africa T shirt -- check them out at Rodarte.net

It was a Shoe4AFrica day as first we went for a run with Jim Wilkinson, and had breakfast back at Tony's, then a long Euro lunch at Girasole with Nicole and Scott, then down to snacks with Lucy n Dave... all day, wow. Between jumping on the email and curing a few things. A lot is going on right now, in many ways. Ch-ch-ch-anges.

The Simba arrives in NYC today with Starbucks, looking forward to seeing them!! We have SO much to talk about.
Girasole - usual food crab meat salad, salmon, pieroni, coffee.. but I am thinking I now prefer the Italian we went to on the next street? A new office?
06/07

World Champion '07, Silver '09, Olympic Silver '08 Janet Jepkoskei greets a runner at the finish of her cross country race in Kenya. Shoe4Africa sponsoring the shoes given away. This was a great community event, with master's races involving the locals who just wanted to run.

Two Years Ago we launched the Hospital Project at Hotel Esja, Reykjavik. Leppin pledged $30,000 and boom we were off (in fact there were seven little pledges before that but this was the big step). Now I have $700,000 and counting towards the building of the hospital. For many charities this might not be something to write about, I mean the big charities take in millions... BUT consider this has been done without a staff, without an office, and whilst doing other projects in Kenya, funding school fees, holding races!
Emily Chebet won the Hofer Warm up race for the Mini with Edna Kiplagat in second. I HOPE Edna comes to the Mini but I did not see her name in the press release (maybe they don't think she is a big enough name??) Edna is the bomb, and won LA Marathon in March. Well one thing for sure is that the MINI will be a great race. It is getting zero news in the press due to Randall's Island fab ADIDAS GRAN PRIX.. but, The Simba Vs Linet Masai Vs Emily Chebet, and Edna? Wow, that can be a line up, and we can not forget the amazing Werkenesh who should be in the running. Can the Simba do it? Can she prove greatness beyond? This would be the most amazing comeback and it is really funny that F.Hofers race director was saying that the Simba was afraid of competition a few years ago, when Lornah refused to run there as they do not hold drug testing-- ha ha where is Asmae Leghzoui today and look at the Simba? Afraid? She is coming back after two years off to face red hot fire.
Talking red hot - Mo Fire Farah scorched a 27:28 10,000m down in Marseilles-- NOT a city known for fast distance running. Mo can go a lot faster.
Shoe4Africa, the charity runners, had our little kick off run in Central Park on Saturday -- Wams, our team captain got lost, Kara the intern was MIA, Bo, Alison, Chrissy, Tony (Anthony Edwards) and I all had a good kick off though to our marathon goal!
After I went for breakfast with my good friend GlobalKobal --w e went upper West to the old Lenny's and let me tell you (Broadway & 98th) I once gave this place plus ratings in my book about NYC BUT the Cinnamon raisins had about one raisin in each! We had some good coffee at Starbucks 95th & Broadway to make up for it -- that area is like being in a building site!
Sunday - I decided to do the Japan Race. It started at 8:00 am. At 7:20 I was fast asleep. I had woken up at 6:45 and somehow gone back to bed. I should have stayed there! I left the house at 7:35 and ran to Central Park - that was my race. However it was nice to see everyone! So many of the regular crew -- all lamenting the old days! Every time I go to CP I get asked, "When are you going to start your Wednesday Group?" This is one of many, many jobs I axed due to working for this damn hospital - I spent the remainder of Sunday working.. till I called up OzRod (who is going to run up the Mountain with me), and he'd just ran a half ironman --whoops, I am behind training, I got Cheb mami playing and went out and ran three miles extra training!
06/05
Rudisha was within a second of the World record! Aiy, so close! (see below). Bernard Lagat claimed another US record when finishing third in the men's 5000m, 12:54
Ok, Australia Vs Nigeria in the World Cup final!
06/04
I think today is a great day for the World Record to fall in the 800m, watch Bislett tonight, IF the weather is good, it is done by.. Not kaki, but David Rudisha! The head on this man is the strongest middle distance athlete I have met in a long time. His talent, for all to see, is there but for instance the thing that separates him from G. Konchellah I feel is the fire. Both have equal talent, one knows how to step into reach.
I would be really happy in the Athletics world if the IAAF were to have an official Asthma test so every athlete you hear of is tested to see if they actually do have asthma. There is a certain US athlete who is "on" asthma drugs because 'when I run fast my breathing hurts.' Wow, in my day that was called running fast. I remember training with Paula Radcliffe and thinking she was going to die because her breathing was so so terrible-- that is asthma!
My new formula of no air conditioning, and drinking copious cups of Hot chocolate in this humidity is causing me to shrink -- I am eating like a horse, but losing weight like a dying dog.
06/03
It is days like today that I think, why don't I just take out health insurance, NOT dodge the oncoming buses and taxis and build the hospital that way. I am serious. Today I cycled over 25-miles up and down, over Manhattan, down to Soho, up to Harlem, down to midtown, to NYU Medical, to Harlem, down to 38th ST... in fact more miles. In pursuit of what? Why am I trying to build a hospital in another country that has nothing to do with me, why am I working all days long, every day for this, why is every single trip I take not to see my family, not to see my euro friends, or go to the beach like normal people, but to Kenya? Why don't I get a job and be able to do the things normal people do, and get things like health care for myself!

I was thinking about this today as I am still waiting for a reply for questions I need answering from Kenya where the people I am working with take a month or more to come back with a single question answered.

Sometimes I hate this job, and what is worse I don't even get paid... How many more days of this can I take? Not many. Ok, let me look for that bus quick.

Talking to my buddy Diane Dixon today, she was chatting with Ben Johnson, who used to have a crush on her. Ben's talking about his new book that is coming out soon and I keep telling DeeDee her book would be the Killah.
Running news was Gebrselassie announcing he will try and win the ING NYC Marathon this fall. We are hoping the field will include a group that will all finish inside of 2:10. It would be great to see 2002 again (was it) when you had three men racing for low 2:08 and people like Margaret Okayo in the low 2:20's
We read that an amputee celebrates running 2:57 and claims first amputee under three hours... hm, double amputee Richard Whitehead has ran a stunning 2:45 (Rotterdam)... this guy will be coming to NYC for the Hope & Possibility on June 27th.
06/02
ON a roll - another new restaurant! This one is called Antonnuci I think, the restaurant next door to Madonna's new houses that she is molding into one. It is on the same side a couple of doors down and excellent - all the food from the Beet roasted Cheese salad to the special vegetarian pasta, to the Orange Cheesecake (with strawberries??) and the excellent coffee. Plus the beers, I have forgotten what we drunk, but they were good. This place gets a total thumbs up - on 81st ST
Good work out with the New York Flyers, and this Saturday we will have our first Shoe4Africa Marathon team run in Central Park.
Japan Day race on Sunday!
06/01
I went to a new cafe yesterday, on Amsterdam Ave with Michelle, called B. It is a Belgian place so I had fish n chips. The reason being was I wanted an Omelet which would have been fitting as that morning I had run with Monsieur Mileage, who used to make the finest NYC Omelet's back in the day. I did order Orange juice but the waitress was so slow in ordering that I changed to a Hoogarden, again moving into the Belgian mood as I dipped my french fries into the Mayo...

Yes, I was jogging along in the park when someone came whizzing by, so he dragged me along and I picked up my pace considerably to run a few miles with Stephane Bois, one of the top Master's runners in NYC. It felt like speed work, but it was enjoyable to catch up on a year or two's worth of gossip!

When I look back at all the stuff I did with Shoe4Africa the peace stuff is some of the most meaningful -- Here John Ngugi, Ben Jipcho award prizes to the girls of the refugee camp who ran the peace race. Moses Kiptanui stands on the table. I guess you had to be there -- but imagine going into a camp where 20,000 people are living in canvas tents, bringing in Olympic legends from both sides of the "war" and running together.

05/31
Bolt hysteria takes a jolt.. but it is still one heck of a great track meet June 12- �I developed a stiffness in my Achilles tendon last week and sought medical attention. After careful consultation with Dr. Hans M�ller-Wohlfahrt at his clinic in Munich, I have been advised to take a 2-3 week break as a precautionary measure to avoid risking further damage. Regrettably I will have to miss the IAAF Diamond League meeting in New York on Saturday, June 12. I am well aware of the disappointment for the fans in New York and around the world, but I hope to return to New York as soon as possible.� Usain Bolt withdrawing from the Adidas Diamond Meet. Anyway BIG CONGRTAS to the team that is putting this together, by far the highest quality event I have ever seen, running wise, in NYC - and if you are in the city on this day get to Randall's Island to see a showcase of fantastic athletics, it is like the Olympics!
Mo 'More Fire' Farah beat WORLD RECORD HOLDER Micah Kogo at the Bupa 10000m in London; 27.44 to Kogo's 27.47, Chris Thompson third in 28.15-- Chris ran 45-secs faster on the track last month for the 10,000m (this is a road race), so it will be great to see what Mo does next week at the Euro Challenge on the track, but his main focus there is just to qualify for the Euro Champs later this summer. Mo' had trained a bit with Micah earlier this year and felt that Micah's form was better, so it looks like the combo of wedding bells and a solid month has added the Fire -- Big Congrats Mo!

The beginnings of the Shoe4Africa School! The first bricks arrive!

Hengelo had a wash out meet sadly, also it is missing the big stars. Good to see Nancy Lagat win. I remember the day when young Nancy was a "good 800m runner" and now she is the reigning Olympic 1500m champ! Mr Hengelo, now retired from track running (Haile) was replaced by Kenenisa for a while, but you need that starpower in a small meet.
Talking of meets and stars -- Do not miss the Hope & Possibility this year, you'll see why, but remember it is also for the first time ever an ING New York City marathon qualifier!!
Over in Canada they offered 100,000 for the men's world record at the 10k - (Micah Kogo 27:01 of Kenya) but the men were a minute off and the winner of the sexes challenge was Dire Tune in 32-minutes.. hm.
It is Japan Day this coming weekend, I usually run this race in Central Park as it is only 4-miles, and since I have hardly had a race in a while I may just do it. I went to Central Park on Saturday and saw everyone and had a nice chat on the run.
At EAT on Madison (owned by Eli Zabar) on Friday - I went with Tony - I had a rye bread white fish sandwich and we had a couple of beers for lunch, it was nice. Always fresh good food at this place. The next day I went out and ate pizza so it was good to get something healthy. My latest fad? Hot chocolate, I am drinking gallons of it now!
It was Comrades this weekend, and it was great to see a group of Americans going over to raise funds for Orphans school fees -- Great job to Josh Cox, Michael Chitwood, and Bart Yasso.
05/27
To Sanct Ambroes -- is that how you spell it? On Mad Ave and 77th ST. I had the risotto frutti, heineken, coffee, and a dessert that was a little tart with fruit in the center -- why? Because it was the biggest dessert. The table bread is exceptionally good too. Far far better than 95% of other NYC restaurants. One reason is they do a multi grain with lots of fennel in it, and unlike many other places that shall remain nameless on the UES -- it is fresh! The risotto was great too. Thumbs up. I went with Mary D. and we yapped n yapped.
Thanks so much to all the fab people who have contributed to the fun raiser at the top of this page that is my current drive! I now have raised $15,309 woowee.. and I need Your help -- small donations make a big impact!
05/26
SIGN UP (please) for the Achilles H&P 5-miler on June 27th, I promise you this WILL be the race you want to run this summer!! Can't say anything yet - but please SAVE the date. Sign up www.nyrr.org.
Thanks so much to all the people who have donated -- I love you all for doing it, I am at $13,000 so far! Way to go, and counting. My friend Stacey criticized me putting $50,000 -- she said "C'mon, it is a hospital." So I added a zero to aggressively set the fund raising at $500,000 yikes, help me out here - make a donation and please forward to 10, no 100 friends. Together we CAN get this done. I am not doing this for me, I am doing it for a nation of Kids who have no voice and no healthcare... my each and every day is fighting for this people, and I may well go down fighting, but i will have tried my hardest, that is for sure.
So glad the summer weather is here! I had lunch with Tony today ( as we talked Hospital things). We went to Begoylu on Third Ave and 80th is it? Vegetarian platter, grilled shrimps -- the waitress knew our order! And a special shout out to Cotton Lloyd Hoo of the NY Flyers -- I have been coaching this club for a few years and one man brings me presents; my fave athlete of course, tonight he brought me a bar of Lindt Chocolate 85% dark dark -- the way I love it!
PS: JUST got this. As much as I ask people to help my causes, I also like to help others: read this one and please pass it around... wow!

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm training to run the 2010 ING NYC Marathon for the 5th time on November 7, 2010. This year's marathon holds a very special place in my heart as it falls on my mother's birthday. My mum would have turned 66 this year if she had not lost her 6 year battle to multiple myeloma in 1994 when I was 12. For this marathon, I will be returning as a member of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training where all of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I will complete this event in the memory of my mother, Blondel Romney Aruoture and in honor of all individuals who are presently battling blood cancers.

In 1994, individuals diagnosed with myeloma had a survival rate of 32.5% and today the rate has only increased to 37%. I was 6 years old and my brother was 16 when our mother was diagnosed and truthfully I don't remember her without cancer. And at this time, I simply cannot reconcile with the fact that the survival rate has only increased 4.5% over the past 16 years. I still feel the loss of my mother and my hope is that we find a cure, so no one else has to go through this.

Thus, I ask you to support me in making a donation to Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission. Please remember that no amount is too small to have a great impact once combined with everyone's collective effort. We need YOUR support!

Please use the link in this email to donate online quickly and securely plus learn more about my progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nyc10/earuoture

I hope you will visit my web site often - Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thank you in advance!

Ethelie

P.S. - I would appreciate it if you would forward this email to as many people as you can to encourage them to donate as well. Thanks again.

05/24
Lunch with Mr. G the weatherman. We went to the restaurant that has the Pavarotti booth -- Fiorello's on 63rd and Broadway. As luck would have it I was dressed in white and Mr. G all in black, we looked like one of those NYC cookies. The Maitre' recognized Mr. G so we got a nice table at a busy hour, and Mr. G continued to tell the waiter that for sure I would be causing problems later on. Hm. Well of course there was nothing on the menu that I liked... as Mr G ordered JUST six egg whites and cranberry juice. The waiter told me, Whatever you want the cook will make, he is most agreeable and besides we have not settled on our summer menu. Hearing that the pasta dishes were large, and being hungry, I went for a salmon steak and linguine with a red sauce. Goodness if they call that large... speaking of which if they call that coffee...

Of course there was no trouble from my side of the table but the good weatherman did produce the rains as he knocked his water over! he he

A big honor this weekend was meeting the grand daughter of Kenya's royal family, Jomo Kenyatta! What a nice lady, and looking to be a great contact for Shoe4Africa.
Speaking of great ladies - Leona Lewis singing Summertime, OMG, beyond the best version there has ever ever been!
I went to NYSC on Saturday - gosh, that place has gone downhill since I last went.
05/21
Last night I went to a Fashion party; super cool. Loads of wonderful people there from TV, Movies and the Media industry. I was talking to Elon and his date for most of the night, he was out till 4-am so it was nice to meet him a couple of hours later, by coincidence, on the bridle path. It was a great party and actually Shoe4Africa was part of the theme as we start to kick off this big project, that you can see above. I want to raise at least $50,000 for this, and at $12,210 I am off and flying. Please help and forward if you would be as kind. This is going to be the run of my life! Since planning I have a running buddy too - my pal OzRod! So happy he's coming; when we run through the game park I only have to outrun him, not the lion!
Older news can be found, should you wish - Click Here
 THIS WEB PAGE WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE YEAR 2000 AND HAS BEEN RUNNING EVER SINCE!

Last Minute Marathon Tips: shot with Nikon D90 from Mike Kobal on Vimeo.

"Shoe4Africa has become a powerful agent for change." Kenyan National Television Station.

PROJECT "FOOD" KENYA
RACE IN KENYA Dec 2009

RUN LIKE A KENYAN, READ MORE FIRE TO LEARN HOW!


The World's best runners, their lifestyle, the simplistic, scientific, methodology & training explained... & why one small country can does conquer the globe.