Bananas, the secret of John Kelai's success

THE secret to Kenyan long-distance runner and two-time winner of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, John Kelai's success is kelas (bananas).

John Kelai

THE secret to Kenyan long-distance runner and two-time winner of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon,

John Kelai's success is kelas (bananas).

The fruit is known to be preferred among most sportspersons aiming to regain lost stamina but bananas are a particular favourite with long-distance runners.

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"Bananas are rich in potassium and this helps replenish the body's energy levels that are particularly exhausted while running long distances in places where humidity is high, for example Mumbai," elite athletes' co-ordinator for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon Ian Ladbrooke told MiD DAY yesterday.

"I know for a fact that Kelai has at least three-to four bananas daily in the days leading up to the marathon. This helps build on his sapping energy levels and the need for carbohydrates too is addressed by consuming bananas," added Ladbrooke.

The Kenyan too admitted that it was tougher running in Mumbai given the humidity. "Being around sea-level the humidity in Mumbai is very high so the energy does get drained out," pointed defending champion Kelai, who clocked 2:12:22 to win the last edition of the race.

So then do bananas help a lot? "Yes, they do and I like to eat bananas," admitted Kelai, albeit rather coyly.