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She could be one of the oldest people to run road races and marathons in Kenya. Elizabeth Cheboin, aka ‘Chelimo’ who is now 70 years old has been participating in the races in the South and North Rift regions for more than two decades, making her presence known in various fields in the country’s athletics cradle.
Inspired by a generation much younger than her, this septuagenarian finds her peace, solace, and space in a field that is well entertaining and benefit from their toil a sweat in the country and abroad. Cheboin has run 10km, 6km and 21kn races.
She says she is not about to call it quits despite the age factor catching up with her but she appears rejuvenated and upbeat of beating some of the young athletes.
She started running when she was 60 years by joining athletes in local schools during school competitions and progresses on until now when she is featuring in serious athletic meets. Although she has not won the races because she is competing with prominent athletes she is not about to quit running.
At her village in Cheborgei in Bureti Sub-county, Kericho County, Cheboin has seen every morning training when she is not busy on her tea farm. “I have a passion for athletics and I am not about to quit despite my age.
She is upbeat of beating her age mates in Kenya and even beyond. “I am appealing for races for women of my age so that we’re rewarded with prizes too like other athletes,” Cheboin said.
She advises both the old and the young people to embrace sports saying sports are means of livelihoods in the modern world besides keeping people fit and keeping diseases at bay.