Everyday Champions: 2023 Runners of the Year 10We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back, 25-Nutrition - Weight Loss Agnes Tirop was found stabbed and beaten to death in her home in Iten, Kenya. Her estranged husband and middle-distance runner, Ibrahim Rotich, admitted to the crime in an affidavit. (Rotich has pleaded innocent and has yet to stand trial.)
While Kenya is known for producing many of the world’s top runners, Tirop’s senseless murder brought attention to the country’s problem with gender violence. According to a national study, more than 40 percent of women in Kenya have experienced some kind of abuse at the hands of husbands or partners. And after Tirop’s murder, Kenya’s Ministry of Sports presented findings from a study on gender-based violence in which 15 percent of female athletes reported sexual abuse within the sports ecosystem.
“It was a case of ‘who is next?’” says Kenyan marathoner Mary Ngugi. “And I just wanted to do something.”
So in 2022 Ngugi founded the Running With MS. The all-girls club is an alternative to traditional coed elite training camps in which girls are scouted at a young age and sometimes become vulnerable to exploitation and abuse by coaches and agents.
“I’ve always wanted to support young girls in Kenya,” says 35-year-old Ngugi. “But [Tirop’s] passing accelerated my thinking.”
For Ngugi it all starts with empowerment and education. Many Kenyan athletes often must choose between going pro or continuing their studies. “Most of them would give up school and go train,” Ngugi says—a risky path that doesn’t always pay off.
The club’s Swahili name means “queen, lioness, or a powerful woman.” Based in Nyahururu, Kenya, about 115 miles north of Nairobi, its focus is on educating young female runners aged 14 to 22, and to safeguard them from abuse. The all-inclusive, women-led camp covers school fees and provides lodging for the athletes.
A typical day starts with a short 5 a.m. run, followed by a shower, breakfast, and school. Later, the girls do homework and finish their training. It’s an environment free from male intimidation, where the girls can connect with their peers and get advice from coaches about training, Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.
Over time, the girls have improved athletically and academically, but what impresses Ngugi most is their newfound confidence. “They’re able to interact with each other, and because of that, they can [better] interact with people outside,” she says.
The girls also learn skills that will serve them in real life, from how to get a job in the community to how to read and understand a professional contract.
“We’re not just concentrating on Olympic medals,” says Ngugi. “We try to empower them and have them grow as people.” This way, no matter what path they choose, they have the skills they need to succeed.
Monique LeBrun joined the editorial staff in October 2021 as the associate health and fitness editor. She has a master’s degree in journalism and has previously worked for ABC news and Scholastic. She is an avid runner who loves spending time outside.
