“Stop Dreaming and Start Travelling” is a motto I developed for myself many years ago when I started converting my travel dreams into a reality. I did and still do find this phrase to be very profound and I am truly grateful to God that He has enabled me to turn many of my travel dreams into a reality. When I started Wangechi Gitahi Travels as a business, I offered the same motto to the business and thus by extension to my audience and clientele. We do go over and beyond to make our clientele turn their travel dreams into a reality by curating immersive , customized, life changing travel experiences with them, that best meet their preferences and needs.
In 2024, I was able to ‘Stop Dreaming, and successfully completed the 42km Full Marathon, hosted by Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon. I now officially go by the title, Award Winning 42Km Full Marathon, Marathoner. Scream!!!! When I successfully completed the 42km full Marathon and received a medal, a keepsake from the organizers, I was content, I was happy, I was very proud of myself. I had come, I had walked, I had an amazing travel experience , noting that the marathon is a journey and thus is a travel experience. I had conquered the 42km Full Marathon and converted my dream into a reality
However, with the dream of mine becoming a reality, came the realization of so many elements that I had not envisioned in my dream. Perhaps this was as a result of waking up before the dream ended or perhaps waking up with no memory of the ending. In this case, something I had not envisioned has happened and it is good, so good. I Wangechi Gitahi, was Officially Welcomed to the “Winners Circle” by the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon Team.
Mr. David Mwindi, Chairman-Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon and I
Post all their marathons, they host an event where they fete the winners with cash prizes as well as other gifts from the various sponsors. It was an honor to rub shoulders with these world class athletes noting, I never got a chance to engage with them at the race because cough! cough!…we were kilometers and hours apart. It was interesting to learn that Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is a World Athletics Road Race Label . This means that it is recognized internationally and thus runners can use their timings to qualify for other international marathons. It is also an Abbot Marathon Event, which means all runners are then also ranked against their age-mates. I also learnt that all elite runners at the marathon undergo anti doping tests by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) , which demonstrates the high integrity of the marathon.
I got to also engage with several amazing people from the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon Organizing Team, Standard Chartered Bank , the various sponsors and more. Kudos to each and every individual who plays a role in the planning and eventual execution of the marathon-you are all doing an amazing job. Kudos to the over 25,000 participants whose participation fee raised over Ksh. 43 million. All the funds go to support the less fortunate members of the society via the Standard Chartered Future Makers Initiative. This initiative works with disadvantaged youth in the society by supporting three core pillars that are Education, Employability and Entrepreneurship.
Now, calm your horses, I am getting to why I was Welcomed to the Winners Circle. Let me start off with the background of my whole experience at the marathon. First, I was a winner by the sheer fact that I had successfully completed the 42km full marathon. Two, I literally shut down the Marathon as I led from the back :-). I trudged on, was resilient, I didn’t give up even as the hours rolled on by and the numbers dwindled to I being the only marathoner left on the course. Third, I think I officially broke a world record with my timing. Fourth, I had successfully completed the 42km Full Marathon with no prior training. I had opted to walk the whole way because life had happened and thus I was not able to train. I may be adventurous, but I am not crazy and crossing the line alive was the agenda. I however highly recommend that You train before participating in a marathon. As I awaited to receive my award and listened to the accolades associated with me after this fete, I could only blush because how a personal fete, done silently, without any pomp, was now being recognized publicly and in such a grandeur way-had never appeared even in my wildest dreams. I will quote part of what they wrote and said about me and why I was officially being welcomed into the Winners Circle. “We were honored to celebrate the inspirational Wangechi Gitahi, who through sheer determination, crossed the finish line after 8 hours 52 minutes and 29 seconds in the 42km race. She purposed to complete the race at her own pace, without prior training” and she did.
To the entire Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon Team, Thank you for hosting such a successful marathon in 2024 and for the impact you are having on the less fortunate in the community via the Future Makers Initiative. Thank you for officially giving me bragging rights of being an Award Winning 42km full marathon, marathoner. Thank You for this fete that you have accorded me of officially joining the Winners Circle. You have reminded me that being a winner is not always about being the lead. It is sometimes in the silent moves, dancing to ones tune, competing and completing a 42km full marathon at ones pace, inspiring others without even knowing it, being resilient, putting in the work and making ones dreams come true. I have now officially updated my dream to read, ” Stop Dreaming , and successfully hike Mt.Everest “. To you who is reading this, stop dreaming and start turning your dreams into a reality. Talk to us at Wangechi Gitahi Travels and we will help you turn your Travel dreams into a reality, including participating in this years Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon. We are ready to welcome you all to “The Winners Circle.”
