It's that time of year again – the week of the 2024 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.
However, as you may have (or haven’t) noticed, this year’s conversations have been about something deeper, something more profound than just the race. I was privileged to be at the National Stadium in Surulere this weekend, as the setting sun casted a golden glow over the city skyline, watching a diverse range of individuals gather to prepare for their first-time participation in the race – which is now in its 9th year.
Amongst them was Tunde, a young man with dreams as vast as the city he hails from – Ibadan. For Tunde, participating in this year’s Marathon represents more than just a physical challenge; it's a chance to find his feat in a world that often feels too big and too daunting.
With each step he took, Tunde felt a sense of liberation, as if his feet were finally finding their rhythm in the symphony of life. The heaving of his breath echoed in time with the beat of the city, a graceful cadence that propelled him forward with unwavering determination.
But Tunde wasn't alone in his quest. Along with him were tens of others, each with their own story to tell, their own battles to fight. Together, they formed a complete meaning of humanity. Diverse, but united by a shared desire to conquer the roads of the Lagos city and achieve a purpose, which for a long time, they have prepared for. Eleven months precisely!
Asked what drove them to prepare persistently, one of the athletes blurted, “$50,000 na joke?!!” As the night wore on and the city came alive with its typical weekend activities, Tunde couldn't help, but feel a sense of belonging. Here, in the heart of Lagos, amidst the chaos and the noise, he has found his tribe – a community of kindred spirits bound together by the simple, yet daunting act of road running.
Tunde recognises that he and his peers stand on the precipice of greatness. Quizzed on what he will do with the winnings of being the first Nigerian to cross the finish line, he digresses and mumbles loudly in wonder, “Why has a Nigerian never won this race? We know these roads, we breathe this air daily.” He is confident that with dedication, he will one day buck the trend of his East African counterparts and define a new era for Nigerian road running. Tunde knows that he is ready. Ready to dig deep into his fitness, ready to fully apply his 6ft3’’ frame and size 47 feet, to discover what that lies within him – waiting to be unleashed upon the world.
“What will drive him to the end of the 42km race?” I asked. A calming confidence that as he takes that first step across the starting line, he knows that he is not just running a race – he is embarking on a journey of self-discovery, a journey to find his feat in a world full of endless possibilities.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get Tunde’s number, but I hope he runs well. I hope he finds his feat, and like the race’s name sponsor, Access Holdings, I hope he puts Nigeria and by extension, Africa on the world map through his inspiring achievements.
Saturday will be epic. Not only because of Tunde and his friends, but because of the thousands of others, who will be participating for various reasons, hoping to push their limits, challenge their capabilities, and discover the extraordinary within them.
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