Adedayo Akinbode is a graduate of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).
Dayo fell in love with running while working at Shell. At 50, she took an early retirement to pursue her passion for running. Now she seeks to complete in marathons in as many countries as possible around the globe, in spite of running in 77 countries so far.
She also added photography to her passions, leading to her first solo-exhibition of her work in 2021.
Last year, Dayo raised the Nigerian flag at 14 different marathon finish lines in 14 countries. And this year, she has been at five marathon finish lines in Lithuania, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Bosnia and Croatia.
Dayo, whose efforts have so far been self-funded, seeks support in her quest to take Nigeria to the world through her Ile-Ife Heritage Marathon Organisation. She spoke to Vivian Onyebukwa.
What is Ile Ife Heritage Marathon all about?
The Ile Ife Heritage Marathon is a project that holds great significance for me. It aims to bridge the gap by providing marathons that meet global standards. Drawing from my extensive experience in various marathons, I have carefully observed both the positive and negative aspects. My goal is to incorporate the strengths I have witnessed into the Ile Ife Heritage Marathon. As the founder and sponsor, I take personal responsibility for financing the event. While we did approach potential sponsors, I remained steadfast in my commitment to upholding the marathon’s standards. I firmly stated that if their support came with conditions that would compromise our vision, I would prefer they not sponsor us. We were determined to maintain the integrity and excellence of the marathon on our own terms. To ensure effective management and maintain our standards, we have set a participant cap of 150 due to our limited resources. It’s important to clarify the definition of a marathon, which is precisely 42.195 kilometres. Therefore, it is disconcerting when people claim to have run a five-kilometre marathon or completed it in under an hour. In Ile Ife, we strictly adhere to the established distance and meet all the required standards and criteria. At our marathon, medals are not for sale; they are earned. If a participant fails to complete the entire course, they will not receive a medal. While we may not have the means to employ timing mats along the course, we have dedicated volunteers stationed at various checkpoints. These volunteers provide runners with different coloured bands as they progress through the race. Upon reaching the finish line with all seven bands, signifying the completion of the full course, participants are awarded their well-deserved medals.
The marathon in Ile Ife is not confined to a single day. Following my experience in Uganda, we advise participants to arrive on a Thursday. We arrange transportation from Lagos to Ife, making a stop in Oshogbo along the way. In Oshogbo, we visit the Nike Art Gallery, and engage in Adire, tie and dye workshops. We also visit the Osun Oshogbo Grove and have the chance to observe monkeys. Afterward, we continue our journey to Ile-Ife. On Friday, we pay a visit to the royal palace, and on Saturday, we receive a warm welcome from the king, accompanied by captivating performances by Ife dancers, which he particularly enjoys. The marathon would then take place on Sunday. The following day, we visit the Erin-Ijesha Waterfall and Ikogosi Warm Springs, spending the night in Ikogosi. On Tuesday, we ensure the participants’ safe return to the airport for their departure. During their stay in Nigeria, participants are not left to wander aimlessly. I take personal responsibility for their well-being and provide them with introduction letters to support their visa applications. Instead of portraying Nigeria as unsafe, I assure them that they will be in my care during their visit.
The Ile Ife Heritage Marathon had its inaugural edition in 2017, and subsequent editions were held in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 which was the virtual edition. However, in 2022 and 2023, we were unable to organize the marathon due to financial constraints. We have successfully organized five editions of the Ile Ife Heritage Marathon.
What value does running marathon add to you?
My goal keeps changing. Initially, I ran a marathon because I wanted to belong to the one per cent. However, now I have a new quest, which is to run a marathon in every country, and by that, I mean participating in official marathons. I don’t just wake up and run a distance of 42 kilometres. It has to be an organised event where other people participate. Running a marathon is not just about earning a medal; it requires having a verifiable time recorded on the organisers’ website. That’s why my club members don’t participate in the marathon we have in Nigeria because there is no verifiable platform to check the participants’ names. On the other hand, the Ile-Ife Heritage Marathon meets global standards. They provide a comprehensive list of all participants and their respective times. If you don’t finish within the specified time, you won’t receive a medal. In fact, at this marathon, you can’t just take a medal, you must cross the finish line. This year, I cycled with my cycling club in the marathon, but I can’t hang the medal in my house because I didn’t run the race. I understand the significance of earning it. Unfortunately, at the marathon I mentioned earlier, there are people who sell medals to those who didn’t even run. Meanwhile, if you ran the race and finished five hours later, they would ask you for N2,000 to get a medal. However, in real marathons, the authentic ones, you have to put in the effort and sweat. Along the course, there are checkpoints to ensure no shortcuts are taken, and you have a chip to verify that you completed the full course. Only then can you receive the medal and have your name listed on the website.
How has that endeavour been progressing for you, considering that financial gain is not the primary motivation behind this pursuit?
I’ve made some money along the way. However, making money is not my main focus in running. I am not an elite runner like those from Kenya for whom running is a profession. In fact, they don’t participate in the Ile-Ife Heritage Marathon because they inquire about the prize money, and when I inform them that there is none, they decline to join. Even when teh Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi mentioned the possibility of prize money, I emphasised that there wouldn’t be any substantial amount. If there is any monetary reward, it should be distributed evenly, even if it’s just N10, 000 or N5, 000, so that the people of Ile-Ife can benefit from it. So, we don’t offer large cash prizes. However, I have won 1500 Euros in a race before. I have also won in Burkina Faso, where I came in last overall. But since I was the only woman participating, they had a prize for the first woman, the second woman, and the third woman. They awarded me the prize for the first woman, despite my overall position. For me, the joy of running a marathon is not about finishing first, second or third. Every person who crosses that finish line is a winner and deserves a medal. Therefore, I am not into marathon journey for the purpose of making money. I am not that fast, and I am not an elite runner.
How were you able to accomplish the feat of running marathons in 77 countries?
With the grace of God, I meticulously plan my marathons. Surprisingly, the logistics involved in organising the marathon can be more challenging than the marathon itself. Just two weeks ago, I returned from a trip where I ran in five different countries. It all began in Lithuania, followed by Ireland, and then Liechtenstein. Next, I travelled to Bosnia and Croatia before finally returning home. The process requires careful consideration and planning, as each country has specific times of the year when they host such events. I take the time to sit down and carefully organise my schedule, taking into account the different locations and their respective marathon dates. By doing so, I ensure that I can participate in marathons across various countries while effectively managing the logistical aspects.
What were some of the challenges you have encountered?
I have faced numerous challenges and fought many battles throughout my journey. When I first started running, even before participating in marathons, in 2001, while I was in France, I had a domestic accident. I was 36 weeks pregnant at the time, and I fell in the kitchen. The doctors diagnosed it as eclampsia, and I ended up breaking my leg. I had to use crutches for almost two years, and even after that, I limped for a long time. Eventually, it healed, and I forgot about it. I still have a plate and seven pins holding my foot to my leg. However, when I started running, people kept reminding me of my leg but I told them that I didn’t feel any pain anymore, but they continued to bring up my past. They even called my father to express their concerns, claiming that I was endangering myself. This was my very first challenge-people trying to dissuade me even before I ran my first marathon. I eventually ran my first marathon in 2014, which was 13 years after the accident.
Second challenge is, to get to some countries because I hold a green passport. Even when I get my visa and I reach the point of entry, I’m always told to stay while other people pass easily. This is because there are some places where Nigerians are not commonly seen. Although Nigerians do travel a lot, it’s mostly to countries like the UK, US, France, and Canada. However, there are places where they have never seen a black person, let alone Nigerians. I remember when I went to Nicaragua with a group. We had initially gone to El Salvador, which doesn’t have an embassy and no diplomatic relations with Nigeria. Moreover, they do not allow Nigerians to apply for visas online. Many other places also do not offer online visa applications for us. So, I decided to go to Berlin since I was going to Germany, and I wrote to the El Salvador Embassy in Berlin, asking if I could come and apply for my visa there. They gave me permission to come, and when I arrived, they were very nice. We even did videos together. The ambassador himself conducted an interview with me, and I was granted the visa. We were scheduled to run in El Salvador first and then in Nicaragua the next day. I knew my case would take longer, so I always tried to be at the front of the group. If I stayed at the back, it would delay everyone else. So, when I got to Nicaragua, all of us who had run in El Salvador went together, they put me aside while my friends easily passed through and waited for me on the other side. They asked me three questions like what I came to do, when I was leaving, and so on. They couldn’t believe that someone would come all the way from Nigeria just to run for three days. Despite providing all my documents, they called a senior person who asked me the same questions. I gave the same answers. Frustrated with the delay, I asked them why they were still holding me back and what else they wanted since I had already given them everything. I showed them the pictures we had taken together in El Salvador earlier that day, with all my friends who had already passed through. I emphasised that we were all there for the same purpose. Eventually, they allowed me to pass.
In Pakistan, I faced a similar problem when I travelled alone. When I arrived in Pakistan, I was invited by the Prime Minister to participate in a marathon. Since I was invited by such an important person, I didn’t bother making arrangements for my stay and assumed they would take care of it. However, when I reached the point of entry, they asked me where I was going to stay, and I didn’t have a clear answer. They asked me to stay aside and I showed them my letter of invitation. Once they realised that the Prime Minister had invited me, they were surprised and asked why I didn’t mention it earlier. I explained that they only asked where I was staying, not who invited me, and I showed them the letter. They allowed me to proceed and even provided an official to assist me and carry my bags. Because I hold a green passport, I often face difficulties and have to go through extra measures. There are some places where I want to run, but getting the visa is extremely challenging. For example Tanzania, but obtaining a visa has been difficult. Previously, Nigerians could get a visa on arrival in Tanzania, but now they require a three-month e-visa. I was invited to run there this weekend, but I’m still waiting for the visa and may have to cancel my flight.
Another memorable race was in Krakow, Poland. During the marathon, it started raining around kilometre 32, and the water was freezing cold. I was crying and feeling miserable in that cold weather. In Nigeria, I can easily play in the rain because it’s warm, but Poland was a different story. However, the people there were kind and supportive. They comforted me, stayed with me, and encouraged me to finish the race.
I face various challenges along the way, including difficulties with food. These experiences highlight the additional obstacles I face as a Nigerian traveller with a green passport, but they also demonstrate the kindness and support I have encountered in different countries during my running journeys. I don’t want to use the word “racist,” but in some places, my skin colour becomes an issue. I had an experience in Cyprus where I was waiting in line at immigration, and an officer called me over. I was initially happy, thinking they were giving me preferential treatment, but instead, he took me to an office to check my bag. One of the reasons I travel to these places is to challenge their preconceived notions about Nigerians. I always make sure I have clean documents and behave in a cooperative and patient manner. I want them to remember that they have encountered a Nigerian who is not carrying drugs, even if they don’t explicitly acknowledge it. They took me into the office and asked what was in my bag. Instead of answering, I let them open it and see for themselves. This is something I do even at customs in Nigeria when I arrive. I want them to have the assurance that I have nothing to hide. They opened my bag and questioned why I had come. I explained that I had come to run a marathon, and coincidentally, one of the officers mentioned that he was also participating. Once they realised we had a shared interest in the marathon, their attitude changed. We started chatting, and when they were done with their checks, they closed my bag. At the end of the process, just before they were ready to dismiss me, I took the opportunity to ask them a question. I asked why they had randomly picked me for inspection. The officer candidly replied that it was because I was black and they wanted to be sure what black people come to do here. I asked if they were satisfied now, and they responded affirmatively, allowing me to go on my way.
Among all of your experiences, which is the most memorable?
I always say that every marathon is different and unique, making them incomparable. When I ran in and there are so many moments from that marathon that I will never forget. One experience that stands out is my time in Antarctica. It’s a place I may never have the opportunity to visit again in my lifetime, as access is limited due to its status as a continent unto itself. The number of people allowed to enter that terrain is closely monitored. We couldn’t even spend the night there; we had to sleep in a tent. The following morning, we ran, and after completing the run, we had to leave. Antarctica is not a place where people reside permanently. The only individuals you’ll find on that continent are those engaged in research, such as Russians, Chinese and American research stations. The remarkable thing about running in Antarctica was the absence of human spectators. Instead, we were surrounded by penguins and sea lions in their natural habitat. Penguins, in particular, make a clapping sound, adding to the extraordinary atmosphere. Running through snow, streaks, and rocky terrain made the experience even more memorable. I will never forget my time in Antarctica, and I take pride in sharing that I had the opportunity to be there. It’s not something many people in the world can claim.
How long do you plan to continue participating in marathons?
I have friends who are close to 90 years old, and we still engage in activities together. Recently, a friend of mine passed away at the age of 87, but we used to run together in Salvador. The key is to keep moving, regardless of your speed compared to younger individuals. Our bodies are designed for movement; otherwise, we would have been stationary like trees with roots. However, we have been blessed with 662 joints in our bodies, so let’s make an effort to stay fit. Every time you exercise, you add an hour to your life. Therefore, I hope that we can all embrace an active lifestyle.
Which came first, your involvement in marathons or your interest in photography?
I firmly believe that my running and cycling activities inadvertently gave birth to my interest in photography. It was never planned. I simply stumbled upon photography because I enjoyed it.
One day, someone happened to be scrolling through my phone and asked me why I wasn’t sharing my captivating pictures with the world. Initially, I dismissed the idea, thinking it wasn’t my concern whether others wanted them or not. However, this person persisted, insisting that we should hold an exhibition to showcase my photographs. In 2021, I had my first exhibition, originally planned for three days but continuously extended due to the overwhelming demand from Lagos residents who couldn’t get enough of the photographs. Eventually, I sold enough prints to start selling my photographs on a regular basis.
What’s your advice to individuals facing challenges with their health and overall well-being?
I want to emphasize that it is never too late to pursue your goals. A healthy nation is a wealthy nation, and being physically active plays a crucial role in achieving that. When you engage in physical activity, your brain releases endorphins, which create a sense of happiness. This natural high is far better than relying on drugs or substances, as it has no side effects and doesn’t cost a dime.
All you need to do is be physically active, and you’ll experience the positive effects. Engaging in physical activities not only improves physical health but also opens up the mind and enhances cognitive abilities. Some of my best ideas come to me while I’m out on the streets.