Born to run

By CAITLIN SULLIVAN/Staff

David Cheromei was born to run, into a family born to run.
“I feel bad because I’m the only one not in the Olympics,” he said.
And he’s serious.
His two brothers, Joseph and Jeremiah, have been to the Olympics. His sister Lydia was, at 13, the world junior cross-country champion in 1991 - the first female to win in her age group. And then there are his parents.
His mother used to run six-minute miles. And his dad, who he described as one of the best runners in the nation, still turns out seven-minute miles. He’s 72.
Growing up in Eldoret, Kenya, Cheromei ran 10 miles to school. Most kids did, he said, not because they had to, but because it was fun and it kept them from being late to class and getting caned.
“What inspired me to be a runner was my sister,” he said. “One day she embarrassed me in one of the races. Even when I was 12 years old she beat me. So I would secretly train before school at five in the morning.”
Cheromei, now living in Damascus with his wife, Laurel, and soon-to-be newborn, runs 10 to 15 miles a day on the Creeper Trail. Later this month, he will host his Train with Kenyans running camp at Emory & Henry College. The camp from July 25-31 is designed for middle and high school students and will focus on technique, goal-setting and nutrition. Cheromei said participants will run between three and eight miles a day.
“Beginners are welcome,” he said. “Instead of playing video games the whole day, we’ll run and have fun.”
Cheromei said there’s little running in gym classes anymore and kids don’t know the proper techniques to maximize their energy.
“A lot of kids don’t have the right form … They’re all over,” he said. “You should push with your toes.”
He said most of the people who have signed up are not from around here. In order to encourage local middle- and high-schoolers to participate, he’s offering the whole six-day camp for $130 to those who bring their own lunch and get dropped off in the morning and picked up at night. The camp runs from about 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Emory & Henry College.
“I really want schools around here to benefit,” he said. “Training is the hard part; competing is the easy part. I want to share my talent of coaching and I want to help someone benefit from it.”
Cheromei is USA Track & Field-certified coach. Among others, camp coaches include Samuel Chelanga the 2009 NCAA D1 Cross Country Champion, Boaz Lalang a 2008 Bejing Olypian and Sally Kipyego the 2009 NCAA D1 cross country champion.
“(Running) makes you disciplined in all areas of your life,” he said. “And it gave me opportunities. My running paid for my college.”
In 2004, Cheromei came to the U.S. and received a full scholarship for running at Virginia Intermont College. He graduated in 2007 with a degree in business administration and international marketing.
Along with being the only one in his family to not go to the Olympics, he’s the only one to go to college.
Schooling isn’t always a priority to most Kenyan families who, he said, have to choose between going to school and buying food.
“Most families are going to buy food,” he said.
Running, though, is. An athlete from his hometown won an Olympic gold medal in 1968, he said, and inspired the whole community. Now, Eldoret is the hometown of six former record holders.
“It’s the most competitive place to train in Kenya, in the world,” he said. “When you wake up in the morning to run there are 100 people waiting to run with you. It’s the town of runners.”
Cheromei, who plans to become a U.S. citizen next year, hopes to follow in his fast family’s footsteps.
“I want to run for the U.S. in the 2012 Olympics,” Cheromei said. He wants to run in the steeplechase hurdle competition.
A gold for the U.S. would break the near 50-year Kenyan steeplechase winning streak.
“I wouldn’t feel bad about breaking that tradition,” he said.
The chances look good, he said. The United States has good tracks, good shoes and good facilities.
“I believe we have a good shot.”
Cheromei said he loves the Kenyan people and culture but not the Kenyan government or athletic federation.
“When it comes to representing the country, it’s corrupt,” he said. “I don’t feel allegiance to the Kenyan government and country, but I love the people.”
He favors the freedom he’s found in the U.S.
“You harvest what you plant here,” he said. “There, someone else harvests.”
Still he misses his homeland sometimes.
“My entire family is there,” he said. “I miss the culture too. Getting together, there are no strangers, everyone is welcome, you don’t have to make an appointment to see someone.”
Running from Damascus up to Whitetop reminds him of his hometown. It’s the stretch he likes best. He runs that 18 miles in an hour and 40 minutes.
These days Cheromei runs 10 to 15 six-minute miles a day. Twice a week he runs 10 to 20 two-minute and 15 second half miles. When he begins training for the Olympics next year, he’ll be running 20 less than six-minute miles a day.
Cheromei’s baby is due in a month. He said if it’s a boy they’ll name him Levi and if it’s a girl they’ll name her Lily.
They moved to Damascus two months ago because they were in love with the trails.
“I’ve run all the trails but I love the Creeper Trail,” he said. “The people are really nice and I like the small town. I consider here home.”
For more information on the 5-K race or the training camp visit www.trainwithkenyans.com or call (276) 698-7612.
To contact Caitlin Sullivan e-mail csullivan@wythenews.com or call (276) 628-7101.