Push Back
For as long as I can remember I have been running, if not, I have been walking, but at all times I have kept moving (shades of Martin Luther King Junior)
From the days I’d exchange my bus fare to travel back home, for 2 cream donuts. By the time I’d crossed Msasa Woodlands from Eastridge Primary I’d fall into line with the kids from Queensdale who were hot-sitting. Sometimes Dread was there and it’d be cool to walk home with him. Next step, I was running, the cross country at Queensdale Primary, this race took you around the whole perimeter of the school, and as I entered the final 400 metres, there was always that one guy infront of me, Tangai Namadire (how do we spell that name, again…)
So as I chased my 31st a new goal loomed over me, not so much a new journey but a transition through the phases. On a cold morning in July, I lined up with the rest of the crew at Blantyre Sports Club, a nervous group of first timers in the midst of weathered veterans, clad in knee braces, tights and all sorts of military attire (their bags hold water repositories and not guns…). As we started off I soon realized that this group of veterans had a purposeful and efficient pace. Even as I took my place at the back, my mind wandered and I questioned my own decision to get involved, my level of preparedness, the end objective, why am I here..?
But this was just another race, although as in all situations you need to size up the task at hand. 'Three Peaks Challenge' is 42 Kms of mountain hiking and cross country walking, it involves hiking up 3 mountains, 12 hours of exertion and just under an hour in breaks. Coming down Michiru Mountain at the back of field, I started to feel my feet aching and blisters on the little toes and the big toes. The tea break gave some respite, even as I realized that the descent had taken its toll on my knees. There were 4 of us at the back by then , Fanuel the experienced guide and the 3 first time hikers (including myself) forming the chasing party and the mathematics of where the remaining energy to complete 2 more peaks would come from, kept baffling me.
The walk past Chirimba and the market onto the railway line saw us catch up with a small group who were starting to also feel the fatigue, and it was funny how the kids along the road stopped and stared at us trudging along their paths, with the white people, and the game was who would we say ‘Hie’ back to, any response would send the same kids scampering away, and they would return to their tiny games again. As if in that fleeting moment – our existence had been erased from the sands of time.
It was at the Johnson’s house that 1 of the back benchers gave up, after a struggle with her shoes and Fanuel with his experience over the years took the lead. For anyone who has hiked up Ndirande Mountain – the first experience is, well, traumatising. For anyone who has run cross-country or a marathon, you know, there is always that moment you pick, when you up your pace. We hit the initial ascent at a crescendo and with a stubborn determination I decided I was not going to let that guide lose me in the hike. I can’t remember how many groups we passed. But by the time we reached the last 150metres on Ndirande Mountain, I could see faces that had had a 30 minute lead on us from Michiru Mountain. I consider myself relatively fit, but every 10 steps of the last 100metres on Ndirande take the wind out of you and you have to rest. And when you get to the summit of the Mountain, you are actually crawling on all fours. One guy looked back at me, as I was gaining on him, huffing and puffing and he said “Eh, adha inu ndinu olimbikila…” (Wow, my friend, you don't give up...). I never actually thought about it until that moment, but No, there was never a point that I was going to give up. But, at the top of every mountain there is marker, and each one – is a sign – that you’ve made it.
With no clear path down it was all dirt and foliage, and even as we got to the transmission tower (Radio Mast) and caught up with a larger group of hikers. I can still hear the cheers that rang out, because obviously where we had been left behind – there was no way we could catch up. But I guess that there is something beautiful about the human spirit, an endearing urge to surmount challenges. And when you work hard enough, people see it.
The walk to Soche Mountain passed as a haze, with the only major highlight being a homeless guy who seemed to practising his tai-chi poses as we walked past him in Limbe just before Royal Motors. The leading pack was waiting for us at Soche School, and it was a small wonder, as some work mates Zizwa, Ngami, Pilirani, saw me again after nearly 8 hours of me chasing their dust. Soche Mountain is not so tough, but after the 2 previous peaks, you just dig deep and take it one step at a time. While the summit itself – it something to see, as the peak is precariously placed on top of a slanted rock face. It’d be a sad place to…
Well, we did make it back to Blantyre Sports club, and it wasn’t easy. But one thing kept ringing through my ears. You don’t know how strong you are, until the weight presses against you, then, you push back...