Mater Heart Run 2025..touching a childs heart, one step at a time!

 May is always the month for Mater Heart Run..

So this is a permanent fixture in my To Do list for May since 2009 ( we had to recreate this photo)!

Almost missed it this month because of some sudden back pain I had, but mercifully this was sorted by physiotherapy and I can go back to the walks (amen!!)

This was the 23rd edition of the Run and the initial notice was that the run/walk would start in Ulinzi Stadium and this would mean Langata Road would be the main road that would be affected. Last minute there was a change to KICC and my sis and I were like that's gonna be a day for jammmmmmmmmmmmm and we warned all the people we could! (because understandably one can simply miss some notices and stuck in epic jam in this Nairobi..given that Uhuru highway is an important traffic artery!)

Anyhooooo

Saturday May 31 bright and early, we (my sis, her reluctant son..hehehe & I) took an Uber to KICC and reached at 6.30am

The crowd had not gathered and even the exhibition stands were not yet ready

We stood around and took photos around KICC and at some point they even opened the fountains and am convinced they did this to allow for photo ops...big up KICC!

Around 8.30am the crowd had really swelled...lots of school children and I really love this because Mater Heart Runs' main beneficiaries are children; and its a fun initiative to introduce children to giving for a cause plus walking as a way of keeping fit and healthy

So 9am we were finally flagged off after a series of fun warm ups and speeches (which to me could be made extremely brief!!) The sun was already up and I was so glad I carried a wide breamed hat!

The route took us past Parliament building and up Ngong road, then we entered lower hill road up to KNH - this was 4km mark - then we turned back and we turned off at Bunyala Rd and walked down to Mega Mall..since the logic of heading back to KICC would mean walking to the same Mega Mall to avoid the jam - so we managed 6.5km, by around noon

Took an Uber Home with my heart full!

Loved the walk....wish I could have done the 10km but the route didn't favour us....at first the Mater Heart Run was just a cause I loved to support, and in later years, the issue has come very personal and close to my heart!

The news reported that over 17k participants took part this year across 10 towns in Kenya...wow wow wow

So heres to all those who Touched a Childs Heart! 

May you never lack in Jesus name!!

Cheers!

Menstrual day...lets talk about the pause shall we?

 

Yes lets go there - perimenopause and menopause..actually should be renamed MENSESTOP..or MENOSTOP...hehehe - pause insinuates they will restart, ama?

Am now past 50yrs and in comes another period that leaves one wondering, was the monthly red visit better?

the post menses stage differs among women, since oestrogen levels fluctuate during this period - typically its marked with

 - irregular or skipped periods

 - more or less bleeding that usual during periods

 - hot flashes!

 - dry skin....(need good quality lotions!)

 - thinning hairline (goodbye luscious locks!)

 - frequent urination (weuhh)

 - sleep problems like insomnia because of hormonal imbalances (suddenly realize why women become 3am prayer warriors!)

  - mood changes including irritability and even depression (we take no prisoners, but please extend grace to these women!)

 - weight gain that simply cannot just drop off despite all the exercise routines! (caused by reduced oestrogen and increased cortisol - slowing ones metabolism)

and then one gets into full menopause which still has more HOT flashes ...weuhhh...its sudden and periodic, one minute one is fine, the next they are sweating profusely like they have run a marathon! Other symptoms are the same as peri stage, and for some tiredness as well

Apparently it can last up to 7 years and then one hits the POST menopause stage

So how can one relieve these symptoms in a natural way?

1. Eat foods rich in Omega 3, Calcium and Vitamin D

2. Manage your weight

3. Increase uptake of fruits and  veges

4. Know your trigger foods and avoid them eg caffeine, alcohol

5. Regular exercise to strengthen  muscles and boost your mood

6. Increase water intake

7. Avoid ultra processed foods...eat them close to their natural state as possible

8. Increase protein intake!

9. Try chamomile tea to help with sleep!

I know I know...its a cringy topic, but this is life! Research shows that the right foods, right movement, right bedtime routines and select herbs can make this season manageable. Listen to your body and do what you gotta do!

So there you go...whichever part of the menses wall you fall..you are strong and beautiful, you gat this!

Enjoy the day!!

PSA: Stretch yourself!

 So its Saturday early morning

Am staring down a square hole in a hospital bed, at the white tiled floor, with a heated pad on my back -am in my 5th and final physiotherapy session

So how did I get here?

I love love long walks and do them occasionally - so I did Oloolua 10km and after 2 days was in hospital with excruciating back pain, weuh - mercifully the pain cooled off the same day. Then another Saturday I did Karura 10km and was back in hosi. The third time I did a walk round Nairobi and clocked 14km and a day later I had the same terrible backache. The doctor wondered what was going on and sent me for kidney scans and MRI of my back...both were ok (Thank you Lord!!)

So she says then, lets do physiotherapy for 5 days and see how it goes

So I booked the appointment for physio and weuh, let me tell you Maina.......the PAIN!!!! kwani my muscles were all tight?.....the lady kneaded my back like chapati dough...mpaka i was like, just stop, please stop.....she was like sawa...and sent me home with some light stretches to do

Next day and I was SICK! like i had like a terrible bad homa with no running nose...but fever, aches the works...Dr Google said that after deep tissue massage (well thats how the physio session felt like) when toxins are released to the blood stream...you can have flu like symptoms.....another article dismissed this assertion...but it made sense to me, so I explained my fever with that....had to stay home that day

The physiotherapist assured me that by session 3 I should have no pain! and she was spot on.....

With each session I was given stretches to do morning and evening

and now my Instagram is full of mobility topics...hehehehehe (big brother always listening!)

am better now (amen)

please remember to stretch properly 

esp if you seat a lot during the day

I will be at the May 31st Mater 10km Heart Run....hopefully I dont get pain after that!

Habemus Papam - We have a Pope!

 We have a new Pope!

Pope Leo XIV was announced on May 8 - took 2 days to get white smoke

So in my lifetime I have seen 4 Popes

Pope John Paul II started in 1978 to 2005 - 26 good years! He was from Poland was the 264th Pope

Pope Benedict XVI started in 2005 to 2013 - and was from Germany

Pope Francis started in 2013 to 2025 - from Argentina

and now Pope Leo XIV from May 8 2025 an American/Peru citizen and is the 267th Pope (he was made Cardinal in Sept 2023)

I have had the pleasure to see Pope John Paul II with my own eyes in Nairobi in 1995 in Uhuru Park and Pope Francis in Nairobi in Nov 2015 and in Rome 2023

A Prayer for the Pope

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world. Amen.

The Pope has rested..on Easter Monday

Easter Monday April 21 2025

Pope Francis has rested, at the age of 88...may his soul rest in peace.

He became Pope 12 years ago on 13 March 2013

I remember when he came to Kenya in November 2015 - that was a befitting welcome! I was very  happy to be at the Papal mass at the University of Nairobi grounds on that rainy rainy day. The mass was simply wonderful...and I heard this song for the very first time...and loved it!! The message in the song, which was the theme of his visit, was simple and direct to the point...

Simama Imara Katika Imani x2

Usiogope, usiogope, usiogope tulia katika maombi

Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, stand strong in faith!

*funfact - the beautiful Mitre (Popes hat) he wore in Kenya in 2015 in the pic above was made by women from Samburu County!*

Then in May 2023 I had the utmost pleasure of being in the audience when he addressed Catholic World Women's Association in the Vatican - at a building adjacent to the magnificent St Peters Basilica. He was wheeled in and addressed us for like one hour....

Magical....inspiring!

He was simple,

He was different,

He was truly loved.

Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis Oh Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in eternal peace, Amen.

The Nature Trail..

 Saturday Jan 25

My colleagues wanted to jumpstart the year with an easy trail 

I suggested Oloolua as I had done it twice before and it was quite OK

we reached the venue at 9am sharp and off we went after making the payments. A group of elderly women and men also came at 9am each having a stick and they started off slowly and we were like...this is the life...enjoying a quiet walk as part of your Saturday morning routine! self actualisation at its best....

as we started off, we decided to do 10km (mind you I was coming for the 5km...but isorait...we soldier on)

I had no idea Oloolua had such a trail!

the 10km was very long for me; but I enjoyed it

we began at 9.30am and cleared at 1.30am - 4 hours of a slow walk...12km in total

the cherry at the top was finally making it to the elusive waterfall...we almost didnt see it!

I wore my hiking boots so that  I can break them in and that was part of the reason for my limp...I think i didn't tie them well

Oh well.....hears to more trails!

ACT NOW for 2025

 I was listening to Dr Cindy Trimm speaking about 2025 and the Urgency of Now! (dated Jan 6 2025)

Loved it 💓

here is an excerpt from the notes i took!

ACT INTENTIONALLY NOW!

• ALIGN yourself with purpose
• COMMIT to courageous action
• TRUST in Gods timing

• INVEST in yourself
• NURTURE strong relationships - everything rises and falls on relationships, build connections, have a deliberate success circle of trust
• Taking TERRITORY - ask God to enlarge your reach like Jabez - not just physical but spiritual. Convenience is where I shoot my potential at point blank range! 
• INVEST in others
• OPTIMISE your time, Time is a currency of purpose.
• NEVER Quit, there will be storms and challenges, but stay focused 
• AIM high! raise that bar, dream big
• LEAD by example, LIVE fully!
• LIVE with gratitude every day!
• YIELD to the Holy Spirit

• NAVIGATING challenges - obey God and you can be able to ride the winds of change
• OVERCOMING doubt, this is the first step to victory -esp doubt of self
• WORK and excellence - excellence is the language of KINGS, and the currency of influence!

Go out and conquer!