By ELIAS MAKORI
It’s a chilly Saturday morning and Joe Sang, accompanied by half a dozen training partners, braves the elements to launch a30-kilometre training “long run” on serene Karen roads around the coveted Hemmingways Hotel.
The 5am workout is part of Sang’s build-up to September’sBerlin Marathon, his second World Marathon Majors race after conquering last year’s Chicago Marathon in a personal best time of three hours and seven minutes on his 42km debut.
At next month’s race in the German political capital, the Kenya Pipeline Company Managing Director will be aiming to beat the three-hour barrier in only his second major marathon outing.
Sang has entered the BMW Berlin Marathon of September 21 as part of his fund-raising drive to boost the Joe Sang Foundation kitty that seeks to support needy children get education.
In the half marathon, Sang – also an avid golfer – recentlyclocked a personal best one hour, 31 minutes and 04 seconds at the Nairobi City Marathon, running alongside training partner John Terer, Managing Director and proprietor of motor sales company, Car City.
Chance at education
Terer also partnered Sang as his running mate at last year’s Chicago Marathon and has been a key supporter of the Joe Sang Foundation through which Sang is seeking to raise over Sh200 million to benefit needy children, affording them a chance at education over the next few years.
Terer was among Sang’s “running mates” who battled through the challenging course near Karen Country Club centred around Mbagathi Ridge, Marula Lane, Forest Lane and Karen Brooks, at 1,700 metres above sea level, on this Saturday morning.
Others included Tony Lel, Emmanuel Cheruiyot and Silas Simatwo.
“I’d like to thank my friends for coming to support the Joe Sang Foundation which is geared towards supporting children go through school. Today, we are formally launching our Berlin Marathon challenge which will be on September 21,” Sang saidafter the just over two hours’ morning run.
The Joe Sang Foundation will witness the flagging off of Sang’s Berlin Marathon funds drive at a special breakfast at the Nairobi Serena Hotel on Friday (August 29).
“My call to action today to our well-wishers and Kenyans at large is to support the Joe Sang Foundation by donating towards the cause, which is the transformation of one child at a time.”
In next month’s Berlin race, Kenya’s rising star Sabastian Sawe, currently the hottest property on the marathon running circuit, will be among the marquee runners seeking to cross the Brandenburg gate to the finish in record time.
Sawe chasing Berlin course record
It will be only the third marathon for 29-year-old Sawe after he ran a personal best time of two hours, two minutes and five seconds on his debut in Valencia in 2024 before winning this year’s London Marathon in 2:02:27.
He will be eying a third straight sub 2:02 finish and probably chase the Berlin course record of 2:01:09 set by compatriot and two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge in 2022.
Rosemary Wanjiru, who finished second in 2022 with 2:18:00 on her debut, will lead the Kenyan women’s challenge in Berlin.
Sang’s own journey has been nothing short of inspirational, having experienced a fairytale rise from running barefoot to school at his home area of Kabianga in Kericho County, to becoming chief executive at one of Kenya’s leading parastatals.
“We are very happy to wake up early and join in supporting the Joe Sang Foundation by training with Sang as he prepares for the Berlin Marathon where he is aiming to run the marathon in under three hours,” Emmanuel Cheruiyot, one of Sang’s training partners, remarked after pushing him to the end of the 30km run.
“Joe is a fighter! Watching him training and running alongside him in training, I’m confident that he will break the three-hour barrier in Berlin and all for a good cause – giving a chance to needy children to get good education,” another training mate, Silas Simatwo, added.
Running toward his dreams
The Joe Sang Foundation, which was formed last year, describes Sang mission: “There is a story Joe often recalls from his village in Kabianga, Kericho County. A boy, much like Joe, who ran to school every day with shoes that were falling apart.
“The day those shoes finally gave out, Joe handed him a spare pair of his own, and in doing so, gave him more than just footwear—he gave him hope, a chance to keep running toward his dreams.
“Years later, that boy returned to the village as a university graduate, ready to make his own mark on the world. This is the power of a small act of kindness, a ripple that can turn into a wave of change.”
The foundation further calls for support: “By joining Joe in the Chicago Marathon, you are doing more than supporting a runner; you are investing in a future where every child has the chance to transform their life. Together, let’s make this journey from barefoot beginnings to boundless possibilities a reality.
“The goal is to raise 200 million Kenyan Shillings in the next two years, an investment that will empower countless lives and create a brighter future for all.”
Details on how donations can be made are available at the website – thejoesangfoundation.org.
Sang is a holder of multiple qualifications, including a Masters of Business Administration (Strategy) and Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degrees besides a CPA (K).
For the last 20 years before joining the Kenya Pipeline Company, he worked as Head of Group Business Performance and Planning at East Africa Breweries Limited; Finance Director at East Africa Maltings Limited; Management Accountant with Unga Group; and Financial Accountant at National Oil Corporation of Kenya.
The Nation Media Group is among the supporters of the Joe Sang Foundation with NTV also scheduled to broadcast the Berlin Marathon live on September 21.
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The Joe Sang’ Foundation Comms. Unit amplifies the Foundation’s mission by sharing stories of impact, partnerships, and community transformation.
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