Komen was walking to school on a Monday when he saw the lady. She was in a small navy blue Passat. What attracted his attention was the way she drove the vehicle. 
      

Komen alikuwa  akielekea shuleni Jumatatu alipomuona bibi huyo.Alikuwa anaendesha gari aina ya Passat.Kitu kilichomshangaza Komen ni jinsi huyo bibi alivyoliendesha gari hilo. 


She drove slowly and looked as if she was a learner, that is, a late learner in driving as such.


	Aliliendesha gari hilo polepole sana na  alionekana kama mwenye alikuwa anajifunza kuliendesha gari, yaani mwanafunzi mkongwe sana wa kuendesha gari. 


The lady looked about forty five years old. Impulsively, Komen made a sign of the tortoise to her. The lady saw the sign and made a slaughtering sign at Komen. 

Huyo bibi alionekana kama mwenye ana miaka arubaini na tano.Komen alimuonyesha alama ya kobe.Huyo bibi alipoiona hiyo alama akamuonyesha alama ya kuchinja.	

By the time Komen got to school, he had forgotten about the lady. This was because he was late and he knew the master on duty would cane him.

Komen alipofika shuleni, alikuwa amesahau yote kuhusiana na yule bibi. Ilikuwa ni kwa sababu alikuwa amechelewa na alijua angeadhibiwa na mwalimu wa zamu. 

Komen’s home was about ten kilometers from his school. But the teachers were not concerned about the distance.
 

 Nyumbani kwa kina Komen kulikuwa mbali sana na shule. Lakini hili halikuwashughusha walimu.

Each pupil had to be within the compound at exactly seven regardless of the distance one had to cover.

La muhimu kwao ni kila mwanafunzi afike shuleni kwa wakati unaofaa, yaani saa moja u nusu asubuhi.

After the thrashing by the master on duty, Komen rushed to class Seven Central which was his class. By then the teacher of Mathematics had already started the lesson. 

Baada ya kuadhibiwa na mwalimu wa zamu, Komen aliingia darasa la saba.Alimpata mwalimu wa Isabati akiendeleza somo la hesabu.

 Mr. Muniafu, the Mathematics teacher, also took the chance to cane the boy for being late for his morning remedial. 

Mwalimu Muniafu, mwalimu wa hesabu, alimuadhibu kwa kuchelewa kuingia darasani.

But since Komen was a vibrant and cheerful boy, he did not allow the caning to make him sad. By the mid morning breaks, he had forgotten both the caning and the Passat lady.

Kwa sababu Komen alikuwa mwanafunzi mchangamfu,hakuruhusu kuadhibiwa kuharibu siku yake.Alikuwa amesahau haya yote na hata bibi wa Passat wakati wa mapumziko.

On Tuesday he was late again and he saw the Passat lady again. And he made the tortoise sign again and the lady made the throat cutting sign at him.

Siku ya Jumanne, Komen alichelewa tena kuenda shuleni na akamwona huyo bibi wa Passat kwa mara ya pili.Komen alimuonyesha tena hiyo alama ya kobe.Bibi huyo akamuonyesha ilea lama ya kumnyonga.

He smiled as he rushed to school. He knew that at least he had met someone who shared a private joke with him. This happened every day up to Saturday.

Alitabasamu huku akikimbia kuelekea shule.Alijua amekutana na mtu anayedhaniana naye.Hii ilifanyika mpaka Jumatano.

Saturday was also a school day. The only difference was that it was only class seven and eight that went.

Jumamosi ilikuwa siku ya shule lakini kwa wanafunzi wa darasa la saba na nane.

At the same time, being a weekend, the teachers allowed them to reach school at exactly eight. Komen did not know that this Saturday was going to be a life changing day to him.

Ilikuwa siku ya mapumziko. Hivyo basi wanafunzi waliruhusiwa kuingia shuleni saa mbili asubuhi badala ya saa moja u nusu.Hiyo Jumamosi, Komen hakujua kuwa itabadili maisha yake milele.

He left home at around six thirty. As usual he jogged. At the usual point and travelling in the opposite direction was the Passat lady. 

Komen alitoka nyumbani saa kumi na mbili u nusu.Kama ilivyo desturi yake, alikimbia polepole akielekea shuleni.Alipofika pahali pake pa kawaida alimuona huyo bibi.

While Komen was travelling downhill she was moving uphill. As usual he made the sign of the tortoise. 

Huyo bibi alikuwa kwa gari lake la kawaida na alikuwa anasafiri kuelekea upande alikokuwa anatoka Komen.Kama ilivyokuwa mazoea ya Komen, alimuonyesha alama ya kobe.

But this time instead of the lady making a slaughtering sign, she stopped suddenly and allowed the vehicle to move backwards in free gear.

Lakini kwa wakati huu, bibi huyu hakumuonyesha alama ya kuchinja badala yake alilisimamisha gari lake kwa ghafla.

Then she parked the car and suddenly jumped out with the car keys in her left hand. All this happened in what seemed a millisecond to Komen. 

Aliachilia gari likarudi nyuma kidogo na liliposimama, alitoka akiwa na ufunguo mkononi.Hii yote ilifanyika kwa muda uliokuwa mfupi sana.

When she crossed the road to his side of the road, Komen realized that she was coming after him. He started running and to his surprise the lady started running after him. 

Huyo bibi alipovuka barabara kuelekea upande alipokuwa Komen, ndipo Komen akatambua anmwandama.Alianza kukimbia na huyo bibi naye akaanza kukimbia akimfuata.

Komen felt a sudden fear in his stomach. He was also surprised to realize that she had relatively long strides.

Komen alihisi uoga. Alishangaa jinsi bibi huyu alikuwa na hatua ndefu.

The lady was not very tall but her legs were long. She was very light complexioned and her hair was very long. 

Ingawa huyu bibi hakuwa mrefu, alikuwa na miguu mirefu. Ngozi yake ilikuwa ya maji ya kunde na nywele zake zilikuwa ndefu.

It was easy to notice that she was in perfect shape for a woman of around forty five.

 Ilikuwa rahisi kubaini kuwa alikuwa na siha njema.Umri wake ulikuwa miaka arubaini na tano.

It was the toughest race that Komen had ever faced in his life.Komen ran as fast as he could but the lady easily kept a constant distance behind him.

Hii ilikuwa mbio ngumu sana ambayo Komen aliwahi kushiriki.Komen alikimbia kwa kasi sana lakini huyo bibi alimfuata kwa mwendo uo huo.

 There was no soul in sight. Ahead of him was a small incline and he hoped she would fall behind him when they started going up the hill. 


Hakuna mtu alionekana mbele yake.Mbele kidogo kulikuwa na kijilima.Komen alidhania kwamba bibi huyu atakufa moyo mara tu watakapoanza kupanda kile kijilima.

After all she was about fifty and a woman as such.

Hii ingetokana na umri mkubwa wa huyo bibi na pia alikuwa mwanamke.

He eventually reached the hill and he glanced back to see if the lady was losing it. To his surprise, he realized that she had gained on him.

Komen alipofika mlimani aligeuka kidogo ili aone kama huyo bibi amekufa moyo.Alistajabu alipogundua kuwa amemkaribia badala ya kubaki nyuma.

By now Komen’s breath was coming out in short gasps. His chest was full partly due to fear and partly due to the strain of running very fast. He was also sweating heavily.

Kwa wakati huu Komen alikuwa anapumua kwa shida.Alitokwa na jasho huku akihema sana na pumzi yake ikitoka kwa mshindo.Haya yalibaini uoga na kukimbia kwa mwendo wa kasi sana.  

 But since he was not sure of the lady’s intention, he tried to increase speed and at least get to a place where there were some human beings.

Aling’ang’ania kufika pahali ambapo pana watu kwa sababu hakujua lengo la mwanamke yule.

But the faster Komen ran, the faster the lady came after him. 

Alivyojikakamua ndivyo yule mwanamke alivyojikakamua.

He had hoped that there would be some soul at the river where most of the women fetched water but as he came over the hill, he saw to his dismay that there was no soul at the river. 

Komen alidhani kuwa kungekuwa na watu karibu na mto kwani ilikuwa desturi kuwapata wanawake ambao walifika hapo kuchota maji.Lakini hakuwa mtu karibu na mto.

The river was halfway between home and school. As he went over the bridge he realized he had to run all the way to school. 

Mto ulikuwa kati ya shule na kwao nyumbani.Aligundua kuwa atakimbia mpaka shuleni.

This was because there was going to be nobody on the road up to the school. He knew that road very well.

Hii ni kwa sababu alijua hakutakuwa na mtu mpaka huko shuleni. Aliijua hiyo barabara vyema.

He felt that he had been running for ages. His mouth was dry and he was almost fainting. His chest was now like an overheated vehicle engine. 

Alihisi kama mtu aliyekimbia kwa miaka mingi bila kupumzika.Mdomo wake ulikauka sana.Alikuwa Karibu kuzirai.kifua chake kilikuwa ni kama kinaungua.

He could see the gate of the school about a half a kilometer away from where he was.

Hapo ndipo aliinua kichwa chake na kuona mlango wa shule yao kwa umbali.

As he made the last effort to sprint, the lady sprinted past him and to his surprise she did not even try to grab him. 

Alipokuwa akijaribu kukimbia kwa kasi zaidi ndipo aufikie mlango wa shule yake, huyo bibi aliongeza mwendo na kumpita Komen.Hakujaribu hata kumgusa Komen.

He just stopped and knelt on the ground: he wanted to regain his breath. He saw the lady run up to the gate of the school and then she started running back towards him.

Komen alipoona kwamba huyo bibi ameenda mbele yake, aliinama ili apate kupoa kidogo.Huyo bibi alikimbia hadi kwa lango la shule, halafu akapinduka na kuanza kukimbia akirudi alikokuwa Komen.

“How are you Champion?” It was the tall lady looking at him. 

“Hujambo Gwiji?” Huyo bibi alimsalimu Komen.

She pronounced Champion the way a white person would have pronounced his name.

Alitamka neno Gwiji kama jina lake Komen.

“Jina langu siyo Gwiji.Ninaitwa Komen,” Komen alisema huku akipumua kwa shida.

He did not feel any fear at all since he was by now very close to the school.

Hakuhisi uoga wowote kwa sababu sasa alikuwa karibu sana na shule yake.

“We covered the ten kilometers in thirty minutes. That is as fast as the world marathon champion. So you are a champion.”The lady said.

  “Tumekimbia mwendo wa kilomita kumi kwa muda wa dakika thelatini.Huo ni mwendo sawa na mwanaridha mkuu wa Riadha za Marathon.Kwa hivyo mimi nakuita wewe Gwiji," huyo bibi akamwambia.


"Are you one of them?” He asked looking at her.


“Je wewe ni mmoja wao?” Alimuuliza huku akimwangalia kwa karibu.

“I was one of them twelve years ago. I am now retired but I participate in local races. We will be having the Karbarnet Half Marathon on Saturday next week. 

"Nilikuwa mmoja wao miaka kumi na miwili ilyopita.Sasa nimestaafu lakini bado huwa nakimbia kwa mashindano ya vijijini.Kutakuwa na Karbarnet Nusu Marathon Jumamosi ijayo.

The prize is two hundred thousand. Can you give it a shot?”

Zawadi ya mshindi itakuwa shilingi elfu mia mbili.Je utajaribu?”

“Ahsante lakini sitaweza.Nitakuwa shuleni.” 

“It is okay. Run to school before you are late.” With that she was gone. 

“Ni sawa.Kimbia uende shuleni usije ukachelewa.” Halafu huyo bibi alitimua mbio akaenda zake.

He watched her as she went down the road. She was not running very fast but she kept the same pace all the time.

Komen alimwangalia huyo bibi akikimbia akielekea kulikokuwa gari lake.Hakukimbia kwa kasi sana lakini alikimbia kwa mwendo bila kupunguza.

 He instinctively learnt the first rule of the champions: maintain the pace or increase the pace but do not by any chance reduce your pace.

Komen alitambua siri ya kwanza ya magwiji: enda kwa mwendo uo huo au ongeza mwendo  lakini usipunguze mwendo.

He was surprised to realize that it was only ten past seven when he entered the school. Other pupils turned to look at him. 

Komen alishangaa wakati alipoingia shuleni alipotambua kwamba ni saa moja na dakika kumi tu. Wanafunzi wengine walimtazama sana.

It was then that he realized that he was sweating heavily.The Monday after the race with the Passat lady, Komen arrived at school at exactly seven thirty.

Hapo akatambua ya kwamba alikuwa anahema sana na ametoa jasho nene.Jumatatu iliyofuata baada ya mbio na bibi wa gari la Passat, Komen alifika shuleni saa moja na nusu.

He was sweating but he was on time to avoid the thrashing. He had taken forty minutes to run the ten kilometer distance from his home to school.

Alikuwa anatoa jasho lakini la muhimu ni kwamba hakuadhibiwa kwa sababu ya kuchelewa.Alikuwa ametumia dakika arubaini pekee.
	

 On Tuesday, he arrived at seven twenty five. Afterwards, he was at school at either seven thirty or seven twenty five. He never received strokes of the cane again for being late.

Siku ya Jumanne, Komen alifika shuleni saa moja na dakika ishirini na tano.Baadaye, akawa anafika shuleni saa moja na nusu au saa moja na dakika ishirini na tano.Hakuadhibiwa tena kwa kuchelewa.
	

ALL THIS HAPPENED when he was in primary school. He did his class eight exams the following year and succeeded to join Iten High. 

HAYA YOTE YALIFANYIKA wakati Komen alikuwa bado katika shule ya msingi.Alifanya mtihani wa darasa la nane mwaka uliofuata na akafanikiwa kujiunga na shule ya upili ya Iten.

That was the place where he realized that being a champion was very important. 
	

Ilikuwa huko ndiko alikotambua kwamba kuwa mkimbiaji mashuhuri ni kitu cha dhamana sana.

The first thing he noticed about the school was that students were allowed to go for cross country practically every school day. 

Jambo la kwanza alilolitambua alipofika Iten ni kwamba wanafunzi wote walikuwa wanaruhusiwa kwenda kukimbia kila siku ya shule.

That was because the trainer of athletes in the school was also the Principal.The Principal was a very tall Nandi man called Mr. Koech Arap Samoei. 

Mkufunzi wa mbio alikuwa mwalimu mkuu wa hiyo shule.Mwalimu mkuu wa shule hiyo alikuwa ni mwanamume mrefu wa kimo aliyeitwa Bwana Koech Arap Samoei.

Mr. Arap Samoei was very strict when it came to athletics. He had an athletics schedule for the School in his office.

 Bwana Arap Samoei alifuatilia sana mambo ya riadha.Alikuwa na ratiba maalum ya riadha kwa afisi yake ambayo ilifuatwa na kila mwanafunzi wa hiyo shule.

On Mondays at five thirty in the morning every student in the school participated in the morning cross country race. 

The track they had to follow was over small hills all the way to Tengecha Market and then through a freezing forest back to the school compound.

Walifuata njia iliyowapitisha kwenye vijilima soko ya Tengecha.Baadaye waliingia msitu ulio na baridi nyingi na kurejea hadi shuleni.

Besides the forest and the hilly terrain, there were two streams which the students had to ford. At five the stream waters were practically frosty. 

Kuongezea; kwa msitu na vile vilima kulikuwa na vijito viwili ambavyo havikuwa na daraja.Iliwabidi wanafunzi kuvuka hivi vijito kwa kuingia majini.Saa kumi na moja asubuhi maji haya huwa baridi mno.

The streams were responsible for the damaged sports shoes. The total distance was about twenty two kilometers. 
	


Hivyo vijitHizo mbio zilikuwa viliharibu vyatu vya wanafunzi.Hizo mbio zilikuwa umbali wa kilomita ishirini na mbili.

Many of the students did not have sports shoes but that was no excuse. Everybody had to run on Monday morning at five thirty.

Wengi wa wanafunzi hawakuwa na viatu vya michezo lakini hiyo haikuwa kijisababu.Kila mwanafunzi lazima akimbie Jumatatu asubuhi.

On Tuesday, the roadwork, as the students referred to it, was optional. Only serious athletes went for the Tuesday roadwork. It was also in the morning at five thirty. 

Siku ya Jumanne, Mchakamchaka yaani mbio ilikuwa tu kwa wale wanafunzi waliokuwa wanapenda riadha.Nazo hizo mbio zilikuwa saa kumi na moja ya asubuhi.

The gate men only allowed the boys out of the gate at that time. On Wednesday, cross-country was compulsory. But this race was in the evening at around four after classes. 

Walinzi wa lango la shule waliwaruhusu kutoka nje ya lango mara tu ilipofika saa hiyo.Siku ya Jumatano, kukimbia kulikuwa ni lazima.Lakini wakati huu zilifanyika saa kumi baada ya madarasa.

 While the Monday race was held in the morning when it was still very cold, the Wednesday race took place when the sun was still very hot.

Mbio ya Jumatatu zilikuwa asubuhi sana wakati kulikuwa na baridi nyingi.Lakini za jumatano zilikuwa wakati kuna jua kali sana.


On Sunday, nobody was allowed out of school.

Jumapili hakuna mwanafunzi aliruhusiwa kwenda nje ya shule.

The worst mistake a boy could make at Iten High was to miss the cross-country race. It was punishable by a suspension from the school and later on uprooting of a stump. 

Kosa kubwa ambalo mwanafunzi angefanya shuleni ilikuwa ni kukosa kushiriki mbioni. Mwanafunzi aliyefanya makosa haya alitumwa nyumbani ili amlete mzazi kasha baadaye alipewa kiziki ang’oe. 

And there were very many stumps in the school.The school had ten fields and all the fields had tracks for athletes. 


Kulikuwa na viziki vingi shuleni.Shule ya Iten ilikuwa na viwanja kumi.Hivi viwanja vyote vilikuwa na laini za mbio.

The school owned a total of about three hundred acres of land. The principal of the school wanted to make sixteen standard fields for the school for the sports activities.


Shule ilikuwa na hekari mia tatu ya shamba.Mwalimu mkuu wa shule alikuwa na mpango wa kuvitengeza viwanja kumi na vitano kwa ajili ya michezo shuleni.

KOMEN DID NOT HAVE any problem adjusting to the school routine. He liked the races and he was soon going for the roadwork every day.

KOMEN ALIZOEA KUFUATA UTARATIBU wa shule bila shida yoyote.Alikuwa anapenda mbio.Baada ya kuwa kwa shule kwa muda mfupi, alijizoesha kwenda mbio kila siku.

 He wanted to compete with Tenai, the best athlete in the school, for the school championships.Everyone knew that there was no one as fast as Tenai in the school.

Alikuwa anajipanga kushindana na  Tenai. Tenai ndiye alikuwa gwiji wa mbio shuleni humo.Kila mtu alijua kwamba hakuna yeyote ambaye angeweza kukimbia kama Tenai shuleni. 

Tenai himself was a tall thin boy of about eighteen. He was very dark complexioned. He was not very talkative. In fact the only thing that Tenai could contribute on was cross country. 

Tenai alikuwa kijana mrefu an mwembamba sana.Alikuwa na umri wa miaka kumi na nane. Alikuwa na ngozi nyeusi ti ti ti.Tenai hakuwa mcheshi. Alikuwa anapenda tu kuongea juu ya kitu kimoja yaani riadha. 


At this time Tenai was in form three.Tenai went for road work every day and for the last two years nobody had beat him. 

Wakati komen alikuwa katika kidato cha kwanza, Tenai alikuwa katika kidato cha tatu.Tenai alikuwa akikimbia kila siku. Kwa muda wa miaka miwili kabla ya Komen kujiunga na hiyo shule, hakua aliyemshinda Tenai.

He always covered the twenty two kilometers in about fifty six minutes. Everybody else covered the distance within one hour or one hour and some minutes.

Tenai alikuwa akimaliza mwendo huo kwa dakika hamsini na sita ilhali wengine wote walimaliza baada ya saa moja.


Komen started copying Tenai the very first time he went for road work. He noticed that Tenai never started very fast. 


Komen alianza kujifunza kukimbia kama Tenai siku ya kwanza alipoenda kukimbia. Alitambua kwamba Tenai hakuanzia kwa mwendo wa kasi. 


But as he ran, Tenai would keep on increasing the pace until the last one kilometer. Then he would practically sprint the last stretch of one kilometer.

Lakini aliongeza mwendo vile alivyokaribia kumalizia. Baadaye alikimbia kwa kasi sana alipokuwa amebakisha kilomita moja.

During the second term of the year, the Iten High Half Marathon Championship was held. The top contenders of the race were of course Tenai- the reigning Iten High Champion- and Kiplimo. 

Katika muhula wa pili wa huo mwaka, Mashindano ya Nusu Marathon ya Shule ya upili ya Iten yalifanyika.Washindani wakuu walikuwa Tenai ambaye alikuwa gwiji na Kiplimo.

No one paid any attention to Komen.The race was to start at seven thirty that morning. Before the race the principal gave his speech.



	Hakuna aliyefikiri Komen angeweza kushinda.Mbio zilipangwa kuanza saa moja u nusu asubuhi.Lakini kabla ya mbio, mwalimu mkuu alihutubu.



“Good morning champions. This is very important gentlemen. Remember this could be your life career and it can make you a millionaire. 

“Habari ya asubuhi magwiji. Hili ni muhimu sana. Kumbuka kwamba hili linaweza kuwa njia yako ya kujikimu maishani.Na wengi wamenawiri sana katika ukimbiaji.

Some of us have worked for over twenty years and we have never seen one million shillings. But look at our champions: look at Kipchoge, look at Paul Tergat, and look at Tecla Lorupe.

Wamepata pesa kutokana na mbio. Sisi kama walimu tumefanya kazi kwa miaka zaidi ya ishirini lakini hatujawahi kupata hata million moja.Lakini waangalie magwiji wetu.Kwa mfano Kipchoge.Mwangalie Paul Tergat na umwangalie Tecla Lorupe.

They are all millionaires because they used their God given talents. Gentlemen, I for one did not know that I could be a millionaire through athletics. My father only emphasized on academic achievement.

Hawa wote wana mamillioni kutokana ukimbiaji.Nisikilize vizuri.Mimi sikufikiria kuwa ningekuwa tajiri kupitia kwa ukimbiaji.Baba yangu alinisisitizia kutia bidii masomoni tu.


Of course I worked hard and I am still working hard today. If I were to be taken back to my school days today, I would run. 

Kwa hivyo nilifanya kazi kwa bidii na bado nafanya kazi kwa bidii. Lakini ningerudishwa kwa siku zangu za shule leo hii ningekuwa mwana riadha.

And that is why I give you this chance to change your destiny by running. Run my boys, run.
	

Ndio nataka kubadili maisha yenu kupitia riadha. Kimbieni kabisa vijana wangu.
	


The prize for today is school fees for the next year for the champion and a cash prize of twelve thousand shillings pocket money to be spread over the next year. 

Mshindi wa leo atalipiwa karo yake yote ya mwaka ujao.Tena atapewa shilingi elfu kumi na mbili kama pesa za matumizi ya mwaka ujao.  

With that I declare the Iten High Championships open. Thank you.”

Natangaza sasa kufunguliwa rasmi Mbio za Magwiji wa Iten.Ahsanteni.”

None of the students paid attention to the school fees payment. All wanted the twelve thousand shillings pocket money. 

Wanafunzi hao hawakuwa na hoja na karo kulipwa.Hao walifikiria tu juu ya elfu kumi na mbili za matumizi.

That was a fortune to boys who were usually given a maximum of about five hundred shillings per term. Komen started slowly but made sure that he kept pace with Tenai and Kiplimo. 
 

Ilikuwa pesa nyingi kwa vijana ambao walikuwa wamezoeshwa shilingi mia tano kama pesa za matumizi kwa muhula mzima.	Komen alianza hizo mbio pole pole lakini alihakikisha kwamba anakaa karibu na Tenai na Kiplimo.
	

He was not worried at all about the other boys. To him they were just pacemakers. All of them would be panting after a half a kilometer.

Hakujali hao vijana wengine. Kwake aliwaona tu kama wale wawekaji mwendo.Wote wangechoka sana baada ya nusu kilomita.

Kiplimo was a little bit ahead of Tenai. But he kept glancing behind him as he ran. Komen was just directly behind Tenai and he did everything that Tenai did. 
	

Kiplimo alienda mbele kidogo na Tenai.Lakini akawa anatazama nyuma mara kwa mara huku akikimbia.Komen alikimbilia nyuma kidogo na Tenai na alifanya kila kitu Tenai alifanya.

Every time Tenai increased pace Komen would do the same.Soon all the other boys had fallen behind Komen, Tenai and Kiplimo. 

Kila wakati Tenai aliongeza mwendo naye Komen aliongeza. Baada ya muda mfupi, kila kijana alikuwa amebaki nyuma ya Komen, Tenai na Kiplimo.	

By the time they reached the halfway mark of the race, the three were about two kilometers ahead of all the other boys.

Walipofika kati ya mwendo, hao watatu walikuwa mbele ya vijana wengine wote kiasi cha kilomita mbili.

 It was an interesting trio, two tall boys and one relatively short boy running up and down the hills.	

Mwendo wa hawa watatu ulikuwa unafurahisha sana.Wawili wao walikuwa warefu kiasi na mmoja wao alikuwa mfupi wa kimo.Na wote walikuwa wanakimbia wakipanda na kushuka vilima.

When they were about six kilometers to the finishing line, Komen decided to go for it. 


Walipokuwa wamebakisha kilomita sita kumalizia mbio, Komen aliamua kukimbia kabisa. 

He increased pace and went quickly past Tenai. Tenai was amused to see the small boy sprinting past him. He knew he would overtake him on the last hill before the finishing line.

Aliongeza mwendo na kumpita Tenai. Tenai alicheka alipoona huyo kijana mdogo akimpita. Alijua atampita watakapofikia kilima cha mwisho kabla ya kumaliza mbio.

But Kiplimo was determined to maintain the lead. When Komen came sprinting Kiplimo also increased his pace. 


Lakini Kiplimo hakutaka kupitwa na huyu kijana Komen.Wakati Komen aliongeza mwendo hata Kiplimo naye aliongeza mwendo.	
	


 As he ran, Komen recalled the Passat lady and the way she had pursued him.He could also remember the way the lady had increased speed when his lungs were almost bursting.

Komen alikumbuka vile yule bibi wa Gari la Passat alimkimbiza.Alikumbuka pia bibi yule alivyoongeza mwendo wakati Komen alikuwa amechoka kabisa na anahema. 

He knew Kiplimo would not maintain the pace when he realized that Komen was not going to give up. 

Komen alijua kwamba Kiplimo hataweza kustahimili huo mwendo wa kasi.

And sure enough, after about five hundred meters Kiplimo slowed down a little bit and Komen sprinted past him.

Kiplimo alipunguza mwendo wakati alitambua kwamba Komen hatapunguza.Komen alimpita na kuenda mbele yake.

By this time Tenai had realized that Komen was not going to reduce his pace and so he was sprinting after him. 

Wakati huu Tenai alikuwa ametambua kwamba Komen hatapunguza mwendo.Kwa hivyo alikuwa ameongeza mwendo ili ampite.

But he noticed that even though he was gaining on Kiplimo, the distance between him and Komen was increasing.

Lakini Tenai aliona anakaribia sana Kiplimo; lakini mwendo kati yake na komen ulizidi kuongezeka.

The short story is about a boy of fifteen who becomes a Marathon Champion despite the fact that he is very young.This comes about because he had been challenged to run while on the way to school by a lady after a joke.The story begins in Baringo in Kenya moves on to the USA and back to Nairobi Kenya.

Hii hadithi fupi inazungumzia kijana ambaye anaibuka kuwa gwiji wa mbio za nyika ingawaje yeye ni mdogo mno.Ana miaka kumi na mitano tu.Hadithi yenyewe inaanzia Baringo Kenya, halafu inaenda huko Marekani halafu inaishia Nairobi Kenya.

THE MARATHON CHAMPION English

GWIJI WA MBIO ZA NYIKASwahili

Samuel Nang'ole

English

Swahili