Spcs. Julius, right, and Hillary Bor compete for a spot on the Fort Carson Army Ten-Miler team during a time trial June 25, 2015. (Photo by Sgt. William Howard)
By Andrea Stone
Mountaineer staff
Without their speed on the track, two Fort Carson Soldiers might never have come to the United States.
Spcs. Hillary and Julius Bor, both with 230th Finance Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, left their native Kenya when they were awarded running scholarships to college — Hillary to Iowa State University and Julius to the University of Alabama.
On Oct. 11, 2015 the two brothers will join compete at the Army Ten-Miler. They will run against their brother, Spc. Emmanuel Bor, a member of the Fort Bliss, Texas, team.
“I think I’m lucky to be able to run because it’s taken me places I don’t think I could be,” said Hillary Bor. “Without running, I don’t think I could be here … I would probably still be in Kenya.”
He was selected for the All-Army International Team based on last year’s time of 48 minutes, 51 seconds that far outpaced the Fort Carson runners racing in this year’s time trials. He placed seventh last year.
Neither brother ran growing up in Kenya. Hillary Bor only started running four months before he was awarded the scholarship to Iowa State.
“My uncles were professional runners so when I saw them competing professionally, I started watching sports … I started following the Olympics, and I had motivation to start running,” said Julius Bor.
The Family’s tribe, the Kalenjin, is known for producing remarkable runners.
“Apart from that, you’ve got to put in hard work to be good,” Hillary Bor said.
He’s averaging 80 miles per week in training, running seven days a week. In the coming weeks, he’ll increase the distance to about 100 miles per week before reducing it in the weeks leading to the race.
“A week or two before the race, I’ll go down to 50 miles to make sure (I’m) fresh for the race,” he said.
The speed of past races is something Hillary Bor strives to forget as he trains.
“You’ve got to be in shape at the right time. The times from last year don’t matter. It’s going to be how you get ready from now to October,” he said.
The brothers train together on weekends and both agree that while Julius Bor is faster at the shorter distances, Hillary Bor is the better long-distance runner.
“Let’s say I have speed more than him, but he has endurance,” said Julius Bor.
Running has become more than just a key to a better future for him.
“Running opened the door for me to come to the United States … but I have a passion for running,” he said. “It’s something that comes from inside me. It’s hard to explain. I’ve gotten addicted to running.”
After watching his uncles compete professionally, Julius Bor had hoped to go to the Olympics someday.
“My focus was running, training to go to the Olympics. And then I joined the Army. That’s still my focus, but the mission comes first,” he said.
A life without running is hard for both brothers to fathom.
“I used to not enjoy running, but now I do. The more you do it, the more you enjoy doing it. I just like the idea of, every time after work, (I) just go for an easy run and (my) mind is fresh,” Hillary Bor said.
Looking forward to the Army Ten-Miler, he doesn’t feel as nervous as he did in college.
“I used to be (nervous). I’m not anymore because running in college was more pressure. You’re getting a scholarship to do that so you have to perform well for the school,” he said. “(I) still have expectations, but it’s more fun now.”
Facing his first Army Ten-Miler, Julius Bor is a little more uncertain.
“It’s been awhile since I competed, so I don’t know how it will go. But I’m getting ready,” he said.
His qualifying time was 62.03.
“I’m going to aim for 48.00, so I still have a long way to go,” he said.
The two brothers are looking forward to competing against their brother.
“We’ll beat him,” said Hillary Bor, laughing. “It’s two against one.”
While it would be amazing for their mother to come from Kenya to see the race when three of her six sons will compete, it isn’t likely.
“I don’t think she’s ever seen us run together because we never ran that much in Kenya,” Hillary Bor said.
Whether she can watch them race or not, Family separation has become a necessary part of their lives.
“I miss my Family,” said Julius Bor. “I feel like the United States has given me a lot of chances. I like living in the United States.”