The running CEO: Joe Sang’s race beyond the finish line

Today, the Kenya Pipeline Company managing director is set for a 17km run at a preferred training track in Karen. 

He slips into his running gear and steps into the still, chilly Nairobi morning. 

By 4.45am, he and a small team, including his trainer and two running partners, are on the road, pounding the tarmac under the dim glow of streetlights.

This is not an occasional indulgence. 

For Sang, a seasoned corporate executive and an avid runner, it is routine. 

“When we are running, we start the day very early, at about 4am. We run every other day, minimum three days a week, and we try to finish by 6, 6.30am, then I’m in the office by 8am,” he says.

Sang’s mornings are not just about fitness. They are the foundation of his discipline, a discipline that he has carried from the running track into the boardroom and, most recently, into philanthropy. 

On Sunday, he will be on the starting line of the Berlin Marathon, aiming for a sub-three-hour finish.

But for him, the race is more than kilometres and time splits. 

It is about resilience, purpose and raising hope for children across Kenya through the Joe Sang Foundation.

The foundation uses his races to raise funds for education, targeting Sh200 million as an endowment fund. 

The foundation, barely a year old, has already raised more than Sh10 million, Sang says, and aims to grow further. 

Through the foundation, he wants to support “extremely underprivileged children,” especially those whose parents cannot afford school fees.

“Running is a phenomenal passion,” he says. “It goes beyond the medals. It goes beyond recognition. But it is about social impact. It is about helping the less fortunate.”

His earlier marathon, the Chicago Marathon, also carried this dual purpose, personal achievement and giving back.

BUILDING RESILIENCE

The early morning routine is a testament to Sang’s philosophy of balance.

“It is about resilience. That is the reason why we start very early, so that I can still get into the office at the same time as everyone else. I have already started my day three hours before,” he says.

When not running, his “rest days” are just as structured. 

“A rest day is when I get into the office at about 7am. That is also the day for the gym and sometimes I play golf,” he says.

Running in a group keeps him accountable. 

“We run in a team of three or four people. I prefer running in a team,” he says, pointing to the camaraderie that keeps him motivated.

Sang acknowledges that the life of a corporate CEO does not naturally lend itself to marathon training.

“It is not easy because you’re balancing stakeholders, customer needs and business delivery,” he says.

“Unlike a full-time athlete, you have to balance your 8-to-5 job with preparation.”

That balancing act requires sacrifice. 

“At times, it is difficult to go to bed early because of work commitments. But you make time. You sacrifice,” he says matter-of-factly.

For Sang, however, running has become a metaphor for leadership. 

He draws parallels, noting that discipline in training equals discipline in management.

Mental stamina built on early runs translates to resilience when tackling difficult business decisions.

And long-term vision matters — just as leaders cannot chase quick wins, a marathon is not sprinted.

“Marathon running teaches endurance, discipline, perseverance, and resilience. These are the same qualities you need to run a corporate organisation” he says.

“Just like in a marathon, leadership is not about chasing short-term wins. It is about patience and playing the long-term game,” he reflects.

THE BERLIN CHALLENGE

Berlin will be Sang’s second marathon after Chicago in 2024, where he finished 3:07:21, a credible debut time. 

“We have been preparing for this race for the last couple of months. You can see me, very fit and ready,” he says with a smile. 

His target this year is ambitious: a sub-three-hour finish, which means maintaining an average pace of four minutes per kilometre across 42.195 kilometres.

“It is not easy. You can’t just wake up and run at four minutes per kilometre without warming up. That is why we do splits in training — pushing at high speed, slowing down and then pushing again,” he says.

“In the last weeks before the race, we reduce mileage to avoid injuries. Today, for example, we did 15 to 17km. Last week we did 31.”

Injury scares are not uncommon. 

“Last year before Chicago, I had an injury. Even two weeks ago, I had a small leg injury. Thank God, it has recovered,” he says.

For Sang, the Berlin Marathon is not just a personal challenge. It is a platform for social impact. 

Through the Joe Sang Foundation, Sang has tied his passion for running to a mission: supporting underprivileged children in Kenya through education. 

“I want to be remembered as that person who changed the world. Who impacted Kenya and beyond in terms of uplifting the less fortunate,” he says. 

“These are orphaned children, children of single mothers, children in villages who are really suffering. They need our support.”

Looking back, he wishes he had formed the foundation earlier.

“I wish we had started 10 years ago. But as they say, good timing is the best. Now our vision is to scale,” he says.

Despite the intensity of marathon training, Sang does not follow an overly strict diet.

“We eat normally. But as you get close to the race, you adjust, eat more carbohydrates, and drink more water. That way, you retain energy for the marathon,” he says.

“We all know the pastries are irresistible. Sometimes it is difficult to resist. But you balance. Because in running, the lighter you are, the easier it is to run.”

Beyond running and boardrooms, Sang is a family man. 

Married with three children, he treasures weekends spent playing golf with his sons. 

“On a Sunday afternoon, I play with my two sons for more than four hours. It is a good time to catch up, to understand what goes on in their life,” he says.

“As teenagers, they are at that stage where they have girlfriends and social issues. I encourage parents to be friends with their children. That way, they open up to you.”

His wife will be at the finish line in Berlin, cheering him on. 

“Yes, she’s coming along to Berlin to cheer me up. And we are running for a noble cause,” he says warmly.

SPORTS IN KENYA

Sang is also passionate about the future of sports in Kenya. 

“There’s a huge opportunity to bring sports as a unifying factor for the country. Look at Afcon coming in 2027. We should be ready as a country to mobilise the youth,” he says. 

“Sports should be developed from primary school all the way to university, like in the US, where every street corner has a sports academy.”

On athletics, Sang points to Kenya’s global dominance.

“Our girls and boys dominate the world. But we need to grow talent from the ground up. Kenyans are resilient and hardworking. We need to harness that through sports,” he says.

Sang pauses when he reflects on regrets, then says he doesn’t really have any. 

“Maybe the four years I was out of work — that was tough. But that is when I discovered my passion for running. It was a hidden talent,” he says.

“My dream is to make a positive difference in society. So that in years to come, people will say there was a man who impacted lives and touched so many across Kenya.”

As the Berlin Marathon day nears, Sang is focused. 

He knows the race will demand everything: stamina, grit and mental toughness. But as he sees it, the finish line is not the end.

“It is not just about the race. It is about the cause. It is about helping the less fortunate to have a better future,” he says.

For Joe Sang, the running CEO, every kilometre is a step towards impact. Impact for his health, his leadership, and above all, for the children whose futures he is determined to change.