At the age of 42, home is not just four walls, furniture, and people to talk to for Grace Kinyua. The IT project manager said the house looks and feels like the snow-capped Rwenzori Ranges or Mount Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak. You might say it’s in her genes.
“My grandfather worked with white settlers and was one of the first local people recorded to climb Mt. Kenya, a bug he passed on to my late father, who in the past, was an avid hiker,” says Grace.
He was the apple that fell too close to the tree and higher than the tree. He has reached the summit of Mount Kenya 19 times, 12 of which he did in 2023 in a 12-month challenge he undertook at the beginning of the year. Those who know him say that he deliberately chooses to suffer, because he always pushes himself to climb another mountain.
The true north is the question that his father keeps asking him every time he comes home from mountain climbing, “Which mountain am I going to climb?”
He took up hiking in 2018. First, he joined a hiking group, and his first attempt was Mt Kinangop.
“When we were briefed on the hike, we were advised to bring boots because Kinangop was rainy. Being a newbie, I brought cute red gumboots, which earned me the name Gucci Grace among hikers. So, in hiking circles, I am known as Gucci Grace,” he said.
Later, he climbed the mountains of Kenya and it became his hobby. Next, he went to Mt Kilimanjaro, then the Rwenzori Mountains, and has never stopped since.
He’s a professional and now he doesn’t have to go up in groups. So many have become local climbs that they stopped counting. During the days of working from home in the Covid pandemic, he needs a place for his hobby because of the restrictions on movement and congregation.
“I started walking, but soon I got bored, so I started running. I started with five kilometers and then moved to 10 and when we continued normally, I could do a half marathon.
36 hour Kilimanjaro ultrarun
Last year, he challenged himself to take on Mt Kilimanjaro and the Kili Marathon, all in less than 36 hours.
“We started at 5 in the morning and reached the base camp at 2 in the afternoon. We continued and climbed at 19:43,” he said.
This was the day’s race, Grace and her team went down again and rested the next day, waiting for tomorrow’s marathon, where they ran 21 kilometers.
“Doing such activities is like going to war. Focusing on winning is your biggest arsenal. Mt Kilimanjaro taught me that the mind is the strongest thing I have; whatever I put my mind to I can do it. Being in a dark place at the highest point in Africa was enough, but my mind was still nine yards,” she said.
Grace’s accomplishments are not limited to mountaintops. He also conquered the ultra-marathon.
Photo credit: pond
Risk and reward
Grace didn’t tell her family until she left for the hike and the marathon because she thought it would upset her.
“Everyone thinks you don’t care, especially since I’m a parent of two boys. The conversation is always centered around the risk I take. The truth is, the risk is there, and fear is not wrong. I believe fun and excitement begin where fear begins ends. I make adequate plans before starting such activities, including preparing myself, leaving the house in order, and planning my work so that it does not affect my work.
Grace Kinyua, IT project manager at the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, home of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.
Photo credit: pond
Cool toenails
Grace lost two fingernails when she climbed Mt Kilimanjaro. “On the bright side, losing two toenails has reduced my pedicure expenses,” she giggles. “I rarely wear open shoes now. It was a small exchange for the excitement I had. In addition, toenails, like hair, grow back and my fingernails grow back,” he said.
Even with this brave show, Grace admits that she carries this fear. Earlier this year, the country came to a standstill when news broke that Joshua Cheruiyot had disappeared from the radar while attempting to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. Unfortunately, a few days later, Cheruiyot was confirmed dead.
“Joshua was a good friend of mine, a colleague in the industry, and a person I look up to when it comes to mountain issues. His death is a big blow to our community. Last year, my first guide on Mt Kenya collapsed and died while trying to rescue a hiker. Such an accident can cause fear. Knowing that these friends die while doing something they love can instill courage and resilience. Accidents don’t just happen on the mountain. I can only do my best to reduce the chances of such an accident, such as having the right equipment and aligning safety protocols. So, yes, fear is part of the process, but the only way to get to the top is to overcome it,” he said.
When in BDLlife opened her in Upper Hill, Nairobi, Grace has braced her ankle – an injury she got from walking. “I think this is why people say I like to suffer. I have been doing this for some time, and I can’t wait to get it off and open this year’s Standard Chartered Nairobi marathon (set for October, 27),” he said.
Beyond mountains and marathons
Grace’s accomplishments are not limited to mountaintops. He completed a 100-kilometer circuit around Nairobi’s four major bypasses (South, West, North, and East bypasses in that order) in one day. And when he conquers the ultra-marathon, he also joins his two boys (ages 14 and 10) in some of these adventures.
“Last year, I went with him for one of the dashes. He did two kilometers and returned to the base camp while I continued to the summit. He has joined me for two marathons and now he has a medal to show.
This helps him to deal with mother guilt occasioned by long hours spent away from them.
She encourages women to take up the hobby and live more.
“Every time I see the Strava rankings, I want to see more women. I am encouraged by Courtney Dauwalter – one of the best ultrarunners in the world. She is a teacher in the game and beats men and women and shines a light on women who dare to do more.
Grace believes that mothers should not give up the fun side of motherhood.
“Do it for yourself as well. As mothers, we tend to immerse ourselves in raising our children until we forget who we were before we became parents. It will help if, from time to time, you remind yourself about yourself.
