On track - Karura Forest.

It's like the moment you put your mind and energy into something, the universe shifts to let you experience all of it wholesomely. You join a running club and it feels like you are home, even though you were never really searching. 

On a random Tuesday afternoon, you walk into a 'Think Twice' store and your eyes meet a white, long-sleeved, raglan t-shirt labelled 'Running Wear' and you add it to your cart without thinking twice. One time as you clean the Nike shoes you were gifted 2 years ago in preparation for the Saturday club run, you notice the writings on the side of their sole for the first time:

And it feels like so much alignment your face lights up in amazement. And then all of a sudden a lot of running content pops up on your Instagram timeline, which keeps you motivated and guided about the do's and dont's when running.

As I headed to Karura, I was dressed in these shoes and the white t-shirt, trail runner huh! As we got to town, the just-risen sun shone softly on the city streets, so I carefully lay my head on the window and silently observed the flurry of early-morning activity. 

I walked for quite some time, warily shoving through crowds to get to the Limuru stage which is somewhere close to Odeon. Gate A is along the highway on your way to Limuru but I alighted a few metres past it so I had to walk back - first time blues.

I checked the time and it was 40 minutes past 7. I still had hopes of making it to the group run cause I thought I had arrived, little did I know that from the entrance you walk for some distance to get to the running trail. What consoled my frustration was the scenic Karura, it's a breath of fresh air.The entrance fee is Ksh 100 for citizens.

I had been walking for some minutes when I received a call from my friend from campus - Stacy. We met in drama club and have stayed in touch ever since. In one of our catch-ups last month, we got to know that we were both studying for CPA exams, same level, and we decided to make the Karura Forest run a date after we were done being grilled by Kasneb. We hadn't seen each other in like 2 years because she completed school a year before me.

She used a different entrance and we had a really hard time locating each other but my spirits were instantly lifted once we met. 

By then, most 'werunnairobi' runners had completed their distances. I had been standing along the finishing track while I waited for Stacy to find her way there, so I witnessed a lot of happy faces making their way to the finishing point. I cheered up the faces that recognized me, said hi to those who slowed down as they ran past me and just silently watched a couple others who were strangers to me like I was to them.

The trails are well labelled and there are so many kind people, so seeking guidance is easy for first timers. 

We decided to do 5km and off we went, a little walking which turned to jogging and then bigger and faster strides. The crunch of leaves underneath my feet blessed my ears with what sounded like music.I kept a fast pace for a while and slowed down when I heard the sound of rumbling water. My legs came to a halt when my eyes caught the sight of a waterfall - I didn't even know that there was a waterfall inside the forest, what a magnificent surprise! Stacy had remained behind a little and once she caught up, we made our way down the leafy and woody path to have a good view of the falls - water cascading down overhanging rocks.

I would have let you watch/listen to the therapeutic water sounds but Blogger, the app I use to write, doesn't let me insert videos in my blogs, only pictures. We took more videos than pictures, I was so soaked up in the moment I forgot I would need some pictures for my blog, so next time.

We spent enough time at the falls to let the scenery heal our souls. There were so many beautiful people who looked just as happy and content to be there. Our hearts seemed to be swelling with the surrounding beauty, collectively.

We ran up such stairways, trekked the hilly areas, held each other's hands through dark caves that looked a bit spooky, took pictures in the woods, paused to take in every bit of nature that the heart of the forest holds and eventually got back to the running trail. 

We occasionally came across families who had taken their kids to ride their bikes inside the forest and we joked about how both of us can't ride bikes confidently. There were adults, dressed in protective gear from head to toe, who looked so sexy on their bikes.It was either the run leaving you breathless or a stranger taking your breath away.

These chilling spots had me having specific wishes about them, very specific. There is so many of them in there. Immediately I saw the Samsung imprint my mind went like, 'Those benches are sleek and edgy' - pun intended.

We did some catching up about how life has been after school and our fitness journeys.Stacy used to go to the gym when we were in campus and I admired that about her. And now that her job is very demanding, she is still trying to work things around her schedule so she can find gym time. I asked her if that's really practical and she said, 'There is no way you do so much for your employer and can't find time to do something for your fitness.' And it reminded me of a tweet I had read:

On the other hand, I have always been a home-workout person, on an off with it but now I am consistent like never before - the evidence of desire is pursuit!

So much happens in Karura. We came across a group doing yoga with their yoga mats laid out in the green fields. There was a wedding happening in the bushes that day - service providers were rushing around to do their last minute touches. I think I saw a basketball pitch, or was it lawn tennis court. There was a group going so hard on their training for I don't know what, they moved with big tyres across a field, did star-jucks and so many tough moves. In the children's playgrounds, there were adults satisfying their inner child with swings and other activities. Other groups played football while some did stretches like us. 

Once we were done with the post-run stretches, we made our way to the River Cafe - meeting point for our club's runners - to pick our bags. It was packed with lit up faces, people bonding over coffee and food. Interesting conversations seemed to be going on in every table and lively laughters filled the room. Oh what a community!

Stacy left not long after. I found a chill spot and turned a few pages of my current read:

This is 'Can't Hurt me' by David Goggins - a memoir. I had never read in the woods before, neither had I planned to do it that day. It just happened that I had carried my book and after Stacy left, I wanted to relax a little before leaving. Reading in a scenic surrounding felt so intimate - like I was connecting with myself in ways I can't even put in words. I read every line with so much clarity. 

Goggins is very blunt with his words and I love it. Here is what he says about days when the things you have to get done are so tough: 

If any word sounded intrusive, I hope you took it from the point of view of a pet lover (laughs in my pillow).

I hope these lines resonate with you as much as they did with me, that there will always be things and people to light you up on rough days if you choose to see them.

Tomorrow is on Saturday, 7th September. I will miss the club runs because I will be attending another wedding in Limuru for an ushering gig. But on Sunday, I will be part of the 'Nairobi City Marathon.' 

This is their 3rd edition but it will be my first time being part of their course - running for a green city. 10km gang!

To me, having a lot of first times is proof of life. Let's live while we live, friends!