John Kelai - A Story on Resilience (Part 3B)

Note:

If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)

By Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)

Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)

John Ekiru Kelai - From a developmental runner to a world-beater

Commonwealth Games Marathon 2010

John Ekiru Kelai, born in 29th December 1976, is a male long-distance runner from Kenya, who focuses on a marathon race. He has a personal best of 2hr 09min 09sec when he ran in the men's marathon race in the 2005 edition of the Eindhoven Marathon. He came in fourth in the race. He is a two-time winner of the Enschede Marathon and had consecutive wins at the Mumbai Marathon in 2007–2008. Other achievements on the road include his winning of the Singapore Marathon in 2003, the 2004 Brussels Marathon, and was the 2007 winner of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

However, in the 2009 season, he was third at the Mumbai Marathon, failing to defend his title, and took fourth in the Singapore Marathon. Nevertheless, over time, he bounced back when he got selected for the marathon at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. After 1hr and 36mon 03sec of push coming from Samson Ramadhani from Tanzania, the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Champion, John Kelai took the lead at 1hr 50min onwards to gradually pulled himself away from the field of lead runners. He was relentless in increasing the gap and finally finish as the Commonwealth champion for the marathon race. He is currently the second Kenyan to win the title after Douglas Wakiihuri for the men's race.

After the race, John commented, "I am so humbled to win here. It is an honour. I didn't know I could be the winner", said an ecstatic Kelai, "I feel on top of the world. This is for my country, the people, coaches and officials. All of us are going to celebrate when you can win at the level you have reached your peak," he said.

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By Narayanan

Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’  by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).

He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.