Abel Kirui keen to ride on his late grandmother’s blessings

He’s an Assistant Superintendent of Police based in Mombasa

Two-time world marathon champion gears up for Mumbai Marathon on May 30.

Allegiance rightly describes Abel Kirui’s drive to claim victory when competing in the national colours.

He has blazed the trails in 42-kilometre battle at the world championships twice –Berlin (2009) and Daegu (2011) Worlds respectively.

And his mettle will be put to test once again when he lines up at the Mumbai Marathon on May 30.

Kirui, now 38, banks on blessings he believes his late grandmother, Tamining Chemaiyo, passed on to him.

For this reason, his preparation for the 2009 World Championships in Berlin stands out as a memorable one.

The 38-year-old Kirui from Samitoi village in Nandi County, started fetching blessings from then 86-year-old grandmother. And he still banks on it even as prepares for the showdown in Mumbai.

“My training is going on well. We are doing some build-ups and long runs. I expect a tough race. I always do well under warm weather conditions and I believe Mumbai, which is always hot during this season of the year, will earn me victory.

“Over the years, I have been fetching blessings from my late grandmother.  Before I went to compete in Amsterdam Marathon (in 2014), she had been hospitalised. She told me that she had given me her blessings. She died the same day I competed in Amsterdam. I still believe that her blessings make me excel in athletics,” said Kirui, who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police attached in Mombasa.

That is not bad for a boy who braved numerous challenges in his childhood, burning with a desire to post stellar performance in class work and make headway to university –or, at best, get recruited to the disciplined forces as a cadet officer and then athletics.

But Kirui had unbridled love for athletics and the disciplined forces right from childhood.

“I could walk almost 10 kilometres away to follow that military parade on a black and white TV set during national holiday celebrations. And that’s what actually drives."

“I love Kenyan military and athletics outlook so much. I put more effort when it comes to doing something for my country, regardless of the weather conditions of the day. I work with Administration Police (AP) and swore to do any duty for the benefit of Kenya,” said Kirui.

The last born in a family of four, Kirui developed interest in athletics while a pupil at Simatoi Primary School in Nandi South, where he competed in 1,500 metres.

“I used to admire Paul Tergat (former world marathon record holder). I could write in marker pen the name ‘Tergat’ in my school games T-shirt and longed that one day, I would be like him,” said Kirui.

Kirui, a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church member, could soon have his childhood dream come true when he won the Ndakaini half marathon that was presided over by Paul Tergat.

“That was not enough as I had another encounter with Tergat. He handed me an award at the 2009 Sports Personality of the Year (Soya) gala,” he said.

“I usually attend church service on Saturdays and since most marathons are run on Sundays, I line up when I am spiritually enriched. My wife Stella Jemeli Kirui ensures that she includes a Bible in my luggage when travelling for races. We believe God is a giver of all talents,” said Kirui.