Kenya Pipeline Company Managing
Director Joe Sang registered a personal milestone on Sunday after completing
the Berlin Marathon in a record time of 3
hours, 57 seconds (3:00:57).
The MD’s target was ambitious: a sub-three-hour
finish, which meant maintaining an average pace of four minutes per kilometre
across 42.195 kilometres.
Sang, 50, set off at a steady pace
of 4:14 minutes per kilometre, reaching the 5km mark in 21:08 and covering 10km
in 42:22.
His strongest stretch came at the
halfway point, which he cleared in 1:29:31,
averaging 4:11 minutes per kilometre.
The demanding 35km mark slightly
slowed his stride, with Sang clocking 2:29:07 at an average pace of 4:20
minutes per kilometre.
However, he rallied in the final
stages, maintaining a sub-4:30 pace to complete the race, just 57 seconds short
of his goal to break the three-hour barrier.
With the finish, Sang became the first Kenyan public sector CEO to
participate in the World Marathon Majors.
This was his second appearance in
the series, having run the 2024 Chicago
Marathon in 3:07:00.
Beyond personal achievement, Sang is
leveraging his running to support a cause close to his heart.
Through the Joe Sang Foundation, he is working to raise Sh200 million to fund the education of
vulnerable children.
During
an interview with the Star before the Berlin marathon, Sang spoke passionately about
the foundation and his wishes to benefit underprivileged children.
“I want to be remembered as that person who changed the world. Who impacted
Kenya and beyond in terms of uplifting the less fortunate?” he said.
“These are orphaned children, children of
single mothers, children in villages who are really suffering. They need our
support.”
Sang has expressed commitment to
completing all six World Marathon Majors as he continues to blend personal
passion for running with his mission to transform lives through education.
“It
is not just about the race. It is about the cause. It is about helping the less
fortunate to have a better future,” Sang said.
