Running with the Kenyans

Adharanand Finn, Running with the Kenyans (2012)

A staple of any runners library, the story told in Running with the Kenyans is perhaps pretty obvious. However, as a process of discovery there are a number of twists and turns. As the extended title suggests the mission is ‘Discovering the secrets of the fastest people on earth.’ Any casual observer of the World Athletics Championships or Olympics would probably be able to pick out the dominance of the neighboring nations of Kenya and Ethiopia in endurance events. The nations presence in and around the podium places at major championships has become common. This development is noted in the book as becoming part of a boring pattern in long distance running.

Similarly, Finn notes that while he lived in Kenya he was always aware of the presence of international athletes who travel there to improve. It is through this story that he aims to uncover what really goes into the Kenyans (among other East African nations) dominating endurance running. He takes the reader through an initial process of the commonly ascribed qualities, namely barefoot running and the mechanics it promotes. However, once he moves to Kenya this comes under scrutiny. It is this process itself which is present throughout the work. Notably that common scientific understandings of why and how Kenyans came to dominate the sport come under closer scrutiny once observed in close quarters.

Interestingly the book does not simply purport positive qualities and values. The authors experience at a local race where athletes pick their age based on whether they feel ready for the senior race is an iconic example. These structural problems have been increasingly exposed in recent years with doping scandals and while the book does not expressly address these, the environment, is presented as being susceptible to such exploitation. These external factors should also be considered in judging these successes. There may be many intrinsic and environment driven factors in the success of Kenyans in running but it would not be complete without the consideration of the impact of drugs and system exploitation.

Aside from the consideration of Kenyan success and its constituent factors, the book follows the authors journey to run the Lewa marathon in Kenya. Noted as one of the hardest marathons in the world it is a good story of self-discovery and improvement. However, with the specifics of Kenyan running, the book will likely be of more interest to those invested in sport and even more so long-distance running. However, to those outside the sport it does offer a lot of learning opportunities as well as a fun narrative of the authors journey.

The book is easy to read and as suggested at the start, is often a staple of a runners library. It has also won or been shortlisted for a number of awards. What it does well is intertwining the number of aspects it aims to address. It may not interest all readers but the number of elements to the story do expand it beyond just a book for runners.

Perhaps the nature of the book is most succinctly understood from the review in Publishers Weekly.

Part scientific study, travel memoir, and tale of self-discovery, Finn’s journey makes for a smart and entertaining read.

Publishers Weekly

Next weeks book will also involve an element of endurance running but has a much more dramatic and expansive narrative. It led to the creation of the film Unbroken in 2014 and is the unbelievable story of Olympian Louis Zamperini.