Toby's Blog
A bit of the why...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDnkF4wtpDc
A link to a youtube video... an old video that explains a bit of the why I went from Shoes to a hospital. Nice filming from Jeremy B. and the beautiful overlook of Central Park is from my dear friends George & Shay Hirsch's apartment!
RUNNER'S WORLD HEROES 2008
New Ambassador for Shoe4Africa from Great Britain, Sheffield
A big thanks to Becky Lyne, a Great Britain International athlete who did a Kit collection for us -- here she is in Iten, Kenya carrying some of the stuff she brought over from Britain to Kenya for the less fortunate runners in Kenya. Not only did Becky help in this way, she and members of her family also donated to us, and furthermore Becky is going to compete for the Shoe4Africa Athletics Club -- she is our star athlete! Thanks Becky!
Becky in Kenya!
Pilgrim Lutheran School -- Thank you!
Big thanks to the Pilgrim Lutheran School of Chicago, Illinois. Not only for an outstanding 150-pairs of shoes sent to Kenya, but also for $1723 dollars collected. Thanks so much -- you rock.
I am now back in the USA after three weeks in Kenya/Tanzania. Of course adjusting to the cold, and also opening the mailings/checks etc... I am only here for a week and then it is back again. So much to do, but all is going really well, in so many ways -- for sure!
Shoe4Africa women's race... and the stars line up!
With just over two weeks to go to the Keiyo Valley, Rift Valley Kenya's top 5km race we are proud to announce that Edna KIplagat, the ING NYC Marathon winner, will flag off the race. Mo Farah, Sylvia Kibet, Lornah Kiplagat, Linet Masai, Mary Keitany and more will be there at the annual Shoe4Africa Women's 5km, Iten Kenya. As always, registration is free.
Edna today on the edge of the Rift Valley
Sea to Stars-- Done it
Amazing Experience. 6:25 am started in Mombasa, Kenya. Wetting my soles in the Indian Ocean off I set. Mombasa was hot. The next day running to Tsavo East, and through the Taru desert was even hotter (to 40-degrees). The following day through the Taita Hills was... "hilly" with the grinding sun pounding my head (another 40-miler)... running in Tsavo West game park was inspiring... coming into Tanzania a relief. Due to a sleepy warden I started the climb late morning Saturday (else I could have done the run in a day for this part). I had an overnight at Horombo Huts (alt 3740-m), then hiked, jogged, (sprinted the last 200-meters) to the Summit the next day -- starting at 8:45am I got to the top at 1pm! Sunday to Sunday; from the absolute sea-level to the ceiling of Africa... running!! Averaged 8:24-minute miles.... The sore legs came from running back down the mountain! 5km down a mountain will do that to you!
In Nairobi, on the way
In Nairobi, I feel ready to go. Sitting here drinking coffee in the Shoe4Africa Office (alright in the Java Adams Arcade). The flight was good, I did nothing for an entire day but be up in the clouds. I went for a run this morning on the Ngong road, in the mud - nearly broke a leg in all the potholes and slippery mud. Right now I am catching up with friends, most of whom are former runners and did not know about this run; in fact Chris Cheboiboch who is closing his school today is looking at ways to get down to Mombasa to join us! Only in Kenya. At lunch I am meeting the team who are helping with cars. This is my last day with internet, for a while. I am also going to pay some bills today and chase down a couple of things... so much so my mind is not really on the task ahead...
Probably a good thought. It is 10 in the morning and I am on my fourth large coffee... that is the bad news, I know no good coffee ahead on the journey! hopefully going to Kibera tonight to see friends there, then zoom down to the coast.
I will tune in later, I hope!
Off to the Sea!
Off to Kenya tomorrow, the run begins on Sunday. Ten years ago, on the shore of the Indian Ocean I was running with blood gushing out of a hole in my head to save my life, now I go back to run for others. At the start of 2010 I knew I needed a monumental fundraiser to make about $100,000 so I would reach my goal to get the first million dollars... thus the Sea to the Stars came about--Mombasa to Kilimanjaro. (I am at $116,000 and so so close at $967,000 total). PLUS Great news to send me off; today I got the full funding for the second Shoe4Africa school to be built!
The road I will be running on!
I have NO idea how this run will go. I have been training by running 10-miles a day with a long run, 20-miles about, on Saturday. This of course is not ideal as I plan to run 40-50 miles per day in Africa. As for running up the mountain; let me tell you about that when I come back; 20,000ft, anything can happen. Moreover lots more of Shoe4Africa stuff will be going on during this trip -- going to be an interesting time. So let me go and pack, as this time tomorrow I will be 34,000-ft up in the air flying, I hope!
PS: Big thanks to all who have supported me on this!
Alex Wittenberg on the job
Big shout to Alex Wittenberg!
Alex raised $66 for us selling Lemonade! Making him a definite Shoe4Africa Hero!! Thanks Alex, you rock!
Thank you Clif Bar
Thank you Clif Bar!! If I do get from the shore of Africa, to the top of the Kilimanjaro mountain it will be fueled by Clif Bar's -- they sent me a huge box, and knowing me I will eat nothing else. The perfect nutrition for this challenge!!
The ING NYC MARATHON
Congratulations to our superb team who ran the marathon for Shoe4Africa. I am working soon on an Alumni page where we can document photos and stories etc. A big thanks to Liz McColgan, an absolute running superstar, a role model and a great person for coming over and running for us -- Liz won the race in 1992, and the same goes to a tremendous character, a legend in the history of the event, German Silva -- you guys rock!
