Former Lead Editor – Sports & Integration Projects
Nation Media Group
Peter Gacheru, Joe Sang and John Terer have contrasting plans for 2025. But one thing unites them: The love for running.
The three are all chief executive officers. Mr Gacheru leads the team at IMG Kenya Limited, a public relations and advertising agency, Mr Sang is the managing director at State fuel transporter, Kenya Pipeline Company, and Mr Terer is owner and CEO of Car City Limited, a dealership.
Their love for running saw the three join some 50,000 runners at last October’s Chicago Marathon, enduring the battle to the finish line and carrying with them critical lessons that will also help shape their management careers.
Mr Gacheru took up running in 2015 as a weight management strategy but took it a notch higher when Covid-19 broke out, joining a serious running club.
“I have since run three marathons, namely the Stanchart Nairobi Marathon in 2022, the Amsterdam Marathon in 2023 and the Chicago Marathon last year,” he reflects.
The most memorable race being the Stanchart Nairobi Marathon.
“The first marathon will always be special. Attempting the 42-kilometre distance for the first time at the age of 52, one has to have a lot of self-doubt and getting to the finish line is special. Despite the pain, the sense of accomplishment is rewarding.”
Throw in several half marathons and Mr Gacheru now enjoys the finesse of a seasoned pro.
“These (half marathons) have become a monthly ritual to date.”
Mr John Terer (right) and Mr Joe Sang compete at Nairobi City Marathon 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Photo credit: Pool
He holds the Chicago Marathon experience close to his heart.
“Chicago, being the only World Marathon Majors race that I have run so far, is memorable. Running among 50,000 runners in such a historic course, a year after Kelvin Kiptum broke the world record here was special. But for me experiencing the entire marathon atmosphere that lasted several days was magical,” says Mr Gacheru.
He can’t stop wondering just why Kenya, with such distance running pedigree, can’t host a World Marathon Majors (WMM) race.
There are six big city races in the WMM series – Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York - with Sydney joining as the seventh from this year.
“Why is it that the country known for its marathon runners doesn’t host a marathon worth putting on the world map? The economic benefits to the city of Chicago were evident,” he poses.
In 2023, for instance, the Chicago Marathon generated a record-breaking $547 million (Sh70.6 billion) in economic impact across various sectors including tourism, hospitality and retail.
The amount was a 42 percent increase from the $386 million (Sh49.8 million) the previous year.
Mr Gacheru has also drawn vital life lessons from running.
“As a member a running club, in 2022 I was confronted with a birthday challenge which entailed running 5.2 kilometres every day, for 52 days, come rain come sunshine,” he flashes back.
“By Day 10, it was clear that the challenge wasn’t about running, it was about putting your mind to doing something and committing to the task. By the end of the challenge, I knew that I’m capable for taking on more than I believe.”
Pretty much the same lessons Mr Sang learnt from his marathon debut in Chicago where he was running to raise funds for the education of needy children through his freshly-launched Joe Sang Foundation.
Turning the first corner and crossing over the Chicago River, accompanied by his training partner Mr Terer, his determination and his drive to succeed kicked in.
At the halfway mark, fatigue was creeping in but the thought of the bigger mission ahead urged him on, reflecting that with every kilometre he covered, he could improve the life of a child.
“An old injury resurfaced after 30km and I was almost giving up. But the thought of disappointing the underprivileged children whose cause I was running for urged me to go on,” Mr Sang explains.
“It taught me that even in management, one should never give up on his or her goal, no matter how difficult the circumstances.”
Mr Sang grew up in Kabianga, Kericho County, and would pound kilometres of dewy ground to get to school running barefoot each morning.
Having risen to the helm of one of Kenya’s biggest State corporations, he felt the urge to give back by educating needy children.
“We have done it! The weather was great and although I struggled a bit at mile 26, I did not give up. I knew I had to keep going,” Mr Sang said immediately after crossing the finish line in “Windy City.”
“A lot of people promised to support our cause through the foundation. They said if I complete this run, they will support our programmes. I have done my part. I cannot be happier.”
Bitten by the running bug, Mr Gacheru now has to juggle between his tight office schedule and his running passion.
“Running a PR agency means that sometimes clients can take over my day, and training for a marathon requires 18 weeks for committed training - four runs a week, two strength training sessions and one rest day,” he explains.
“Hence I do all my training between 5:30am and 7am for the weekdays.”
But he wants to scale down this year. “In the last two months after the Chicago Marathon, I decided to reduce my monthly mileage to allow my body to recover. This month I plan to resume my routine running of 40 kilometres per week, before identifying a marathon to participate in, probably in the second half of the year.”
Kenya Pipeline Company Managing Director Joe Sang (left) and John Terer, CEO of Mara Rach Group of Companies, after completing the 2024 Chicago Marathon, running for the Joe Sang Foundation charity.
Photo credit: Pool
On his part, Mr Sang is targeting to beat the three-hour barrier having run 3:07:21.
This could see him either return to Chicago in October, or take on the Berlin Marathon in September, both races lending themselves to fast times due to relatively flat courses and accommodating weather conditions.
Mr Sang is usually up well before 5am each morning and runs a few kilometres around Karen before heading to his office in Nairobi’s Industrial Area to start his working day.
Last year he completed the Nairobi Marathon’s 21km race, clocking a personal best time of one hour, 32 minutes and 44 seconds.
Mr Terer, on the other hand, has been actively engaged in running since 2017.
“I found myself confronting significant health challenges, having hit a weight of 96 kilogrammes,” he explains. “Following a comprehensive medical evaluation, I was advised to consult a doctor at a Nairobi hospital. The recommendations included dietary modifications and a structured exercise regimen to facilitate weight management. Unfortunately, after three months of adherence to these guidelines, I observed minimal progress.
“The physiotherapist ultimately suggested that running would be the most effective approach for my situation. I conducted thorough research and discovered that running could indeed serve as a transformative solution. Consequently, I joined a local running group at Heron Court Hotel, marking the commencement of my running journey.”
Mr Terer managed to cut down from 96 kilogrammes to 70 kilogrammes and has successfully completed three major marathons: New York, Berlin, and Chicago. He is currently preparing for his fourth marathon, which will take place in Boston in April, 2025.
A significant milestone in Mr Terer’s running journey occurred on October 13, 2024, when he participated in the Chicago Marathon.
“Engagement in running has imparted numerous invaluable lessons, the foremost being the importance of maintaining health and fitness.
The benefits of physical activity are profound, including a reduction in lifestyle-related diseases,” Mr Terer observes.
“Additionally, running has a purifying effect on the spirit, fostering emotional resilience and a positive perception. It has enhanced my mental fortitude, enabling me to remain alert and composed.”
This year, Mr Terer’s primary objective is to continue his running endeavors to reap these benefits. “I also aspire to inspire at least four individuals to embrace running and experience its advantages,” he adds.
Like Mr Sang and Mr Gacheru, balancing work, family commitments, and a rigorous running schedule present a set of challenges.
“Personally, I begin each day with a morning run at 5am. My training regimen includes completing 10 to 12 kilometres from Monday through Thursday, culminating with a 20-kilometre run on Saturday, yielding an average weekly distance of 65 to 70 kilometres.
“This routine allows me to enjoy breakfast with my family at 6:30am and ensure my children are ready for school by 7am before I commence my business operations at 7:30am,” he explains his religious routine.
