It also turned out to be that day that Julius Njogu executed a plot he had hatched, to cheat his way into the money bracket in the blue ribband 42.195km race.
Sunday 25 October 2015 was a day dedicated to the 15th edition of the Stanchart Nairobi Marathon.
It also turned out to be that day that Julius Njogu executed a plot he had hatched, to cheat his way into the money bracket in the blue ribband 42.195km race.
And for a moment, he had got away with bloody murder, jogging easily to the finish line to claim second place and the hefty cash award for his efforts.
He did not reckon with hawk eyed members of the press who immediately raising doubts as Njogu make his way to the finish line at the Nyayo National Stadium.
What happened after was both dramatic and comedic. Njogu trying hard to justify himself to race organizers, even removing his shoes to most probably show off blisters as proof of his toil on that Sunday morning in October.
“I was part of the leading group that broke from the rest of the pack after 38km,”said Njogu.
He went as far as claiming that he was based in Naivasha and had finished fourth at the Lewa Marathon four months earlier. " I am a renown runner and I have participated in all the previous Stanchart marathon races. I even finished 4th at Lewa. I confirm that I ran the whole course today and it is the responsibility of the organizers to justify that, " he claimed.
It turns out Njogu had been waiting in the crowd and joined the race with just a kilometer to go. Indeed he had joined the final two winners at the final bend towards Nyayo stadium entrance hoping he could easily evade the organizers eye and walk home with a cool 650,000 shillings that came with the glory.
His running shoes too, were not those used by professional athletes, but trainers used for warm up exercises and leisure running.
He was arrested and charged in court although the charges against him were eventually dropped.
Njogu has never been heard of since…