Commonwealth: Mungara, 44, ready for marathon

Kenyan marathoner Kenneth Mungara wins the 2015 Gold Coast Airport Marathon

 

When Robert ‘Mwafika’ Cheruiyot quit his job as a barber and took up road running, many thought he stood no chance.

But through sheer determination, Cheruiyot who hails from Mosoriot in Uasin Gishu County, went on to prove those who doubted him wrong. The 44-year-old athlete boasts four wins at the Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest marathon.

It was a similar story for Kenneth Mungara who dropped the shaving machines for spikes and excelled.

Incidentally, Mungara is one of the oldest competitors in the Commonwealth games Marathon. But irrespective of his age, Kenya’s Mungara is one to beat during the event on April 15.

Mungara, a current Gold Coast Marathon race record holder (2:08:42), made a late start to marathon taking up the sport 11 years ago.

“I believed I could run well,” Mungara told GC2018.com. “I watched other runners coming to my barber shop, I observed them, and I thought I can beat them in running. That is how it all started.

Residing in Limuru, the father of six has competed in over 20 marathon races since his debut in 2006.

But the Commonwealth Games debutante doesn’t believe his history on the Gold Coast streets will give him the edge come April 15.

“Everyone running is a winner and this is the game in which one needs to play well all the time, otherwise winning is not possible,” Mungara said.

“It is about the training for the race and then racing well.

“Success is from God and from hard work and this is what I firmly believe in.”

Mungara, alongside his teammates will be out to reclaim Kenya's title which was lost to Australia’s Michael Shelley at the Glasgow 2014 Games. [Agencies]