Charles Mutebi
19 November 2008
Kampala — SUNDAY'S MTN marathon will ensure the collection of millions to be devoted to helping the needy, hence the latter half of its catch phrase - 'run for life'.
But look much closer and it becomes apparent that the race has already helped a group of people 'with special needs'. And we are not talking the disabled here.
This special group comprises your regular Ugandan who, because of gross consumption, among other things, has seen his or her figure reach mammoth proportions - literally.
Without wanting to make more enemies, suffice it to say that the marathon has given hundreds of Ugandans a chance to run off unwanted calories - calories that had made the mirror a dreaded customer.
Many clearly had been looking for an opportunity to launch their get-fit crusade but lacked the courage to start, fearful that stopping halfway through would attract more attention to their already well exposed status.
But as the marathon was guaranteed to provoke many into daily exercise, the 'special needs' group saw their chance and took it.
Such is the power of peer pressure. Men and women who would have never thought of themselves running outdoors, dressed in shorts and the like, were emboldened to run.
"If any one asks," the say, "tell them I'm practicing for the marathon."
Of course there will still be a lot of work long after the marathon and that will be obvious from looking at the bulk of the participants come Sunday.
The trick, many health experts will insist, is in sticking to the training regiment that one would have been recently following and not checking in until next year's edition.
After all, it did not take a few unhealthy bites or drinks to get this far.
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