In Kenya Running Is Not a Popular Sport but a Necessity and an Opportunity. Running cannot really be called a popular sport in Kenya. There is no series of races in which the number of participating runners regularly exceeds the ten thousand mark. In contrast to many other countries in the world running is not a hobby as such in Kenya, running is much more. It is a necessity and a great chance as most of the top Kenyan runners come from poor backgrounds. Through their successes they can afford a better life for themselves and their families. In fact, many have earned enough money through starting and winning prizes and do not have to worry about money anymore for the rest of their lives. Most school children run up to 5 km on their daily way to school. As they run home for lunch and then back to school, they run 20 kilometers each day. To safe time they run the long distance. The paths to schools are on unsealed roads and are often hilly.