Young Athletes based at Bombo Training Camp in Kaptagat participated in today’s World Runners Day along the Kaptagat Forest ahead of Kaptagat Forest Half Marathon set for September 8th dubbed Run For Nuature.
The athletes led by Caroline Too said athletes should train in the forest, which has high level of oxygen concentration compared to other regions in the country.
“We always train in such areas to gain much needed oxygen ahead of other races across the world,” said Too.
The event, that comes on the same day as World Environment day as athletes used the occasion to plant trees on conserving Kaptagat forests, which many athletes and is under siege.
“We need not to destroy the forest since athletes will be training here and forever,” said Too.
“As athletes, we decided to conserve the environment by planting trees to enjoy clean environment for training ahead of competitions. If we lose the forest, there will be low concentration of oxygen, hence reducing the benefits for us as altitude level will go down,” said Too.
Elgerini Green Park founder Patrick Birgen they are using the two world events to conserve the forest ahead of Kaptagat Half marathon.
“Today is a good day for us to converse this indigenous forest through sports. Kaptagat forest is being over used and we need to conserve this forest. We are thinking of planting trees that will benefit future athletes along Kaptagat forest,” said Birgen.
“We are lucky today celebrating a World Environment and World Runners Day. We are starting this as a precursor for Kaptagat Half marathon, which was started principally for advocacy. We want to use the marathon to conserve this forest,” said Birgen.