The rector of KBTU invited the deans to support and develop the desire of young people for a healthy lifestyle. On behalf of our university, we asked Beisenkhanov Nurzhan Beisenkhanovich, Dean of the School of Materials Science and Green Technologies, to tell us about his impressions of the city half marathon. Beisenkhanov Nurzhan Beisenkhanovich ran a distance of 21.1 km in 2 hours and 11 minutes.

“On Sunday the weather was wonderful – the sun was shining, but at 7 am it was still cold: +4°C. On April 24, 2023, the marathon races took place - 10 and 21 km. I left the house and found that the transport does not go along Sain Street. Transferring to other buses, I arrived at the Presidential Park at 7.50, i.e., 20 minutes before the start of the 21.1 km race. Three thousand three hundred people gathered on the ave. al-Farabi. Everywhere smiles, laughter and exclamations. Each has a participant number on his chest.

I entered through the railing and was the last one up. There is no reason for me to get under the feet of young people - 61.5 years old is still an age. I enjoy looking at them. They are young, beautiful, healthy, full of energy and happy. Many came with friends, others do not waste time and get to know their peers here. This can be understood - the best have gathered here. In the 21 km run, you need to be able to win! Here you need to be able to conquer yourself - your fatigue, laziness, fear of the pain of cramped muscles, of lack of air, of the fluttering of the heart. Here gathered strong people who know how to fight with themselves.

I see peers even a little older than me - they are calm and businesslike. Some, like me, are embarrassed that they are engaged in the work of youth. But I understand them - they came on holiday. Loud exclamations are the start. The huge formation moved forward like lava, like an iron stream, flowing over the starting line. Ahead - the heroes, I call them that. I immediately picked up my pace, bypassing those who were not in a hurry. We rushed along the avenue towards a 34-story building somewhere far away, five kilometers on the horizon. In my training races, I often call him "Cyclop", not for fun, but out of respect for the power of the ancient Greek mythical hero.

The stream went forward and soon the front ones passed the great building and after some time went to turn around - towards us. The heroes are rushing ahead in long leaps, and I hear the voice of one of them: “Agasy, how do you keep up such a pace?” I see an old man in the top ten running at incredible speed. I passed the turn and after a kilometer or two went uphill, overtaking those who exceeded their maximum pace. Their legs are already cramping, and they walk. But this is risky, as the Organizing Committee can strike their numbers off the list. They can march to the finish line and receive a finisher's medal, but there will be no running times listed online due to infractions. You can stop only for a short time to run for natural reasons or to drink a glass of water from the hands of volunteers. Many of the untrained participants will be removed from the race, as they will not have time to finish in three hours. The ascent ends at the Presidential Park and the stream, stretching for kilometers, goes down Sain Street. I keep an increased pace, going around dozens of people, and vigilantly watching my legs and heart - the slightest warning from there should be taken as an order to slow down. Otherwise, the consequences will become more severe, and a slight decrease in pace will not hurt much and will quickly lead to the restoration of strength. At the end of the 15th kilometer at the turn to ave. Abai, I saw Maira, my wife, who joyfully began to take pictures of us on a cell phone.

I continued to overtake the participants. But by the middle of the way to the Central Stadium, I slowed down, as the harbingers of convulsions appeared. I was gradually bypassed by about 50 people, but I took it calmly. A hundred meters before the finish line, I began to accelerate and finished to the noisy screams of the fans.

We are walking through the stadium. We were met by a group of volunteers who, with loud congratulations, put finisher medals around our necks. Noise and fun all around. They began to reward the winners of the age groups - the heroes of the competition. Among them are elders 70+, who took the distance in 1 hour 31 minutes, 1 hour 36 minutes. Hundreds of participants engraved their names on the medals. As it turns out later, I finished 1787th, i.e., overtook 1518 people in 2 hours 11 minutes, including 390 men under 30 years old. This means that I am in shape and cannot be afraid of the results of the latest health studies - I have proved to myself that I am most likely quite healthy.

I would like to have a group of marathon participants at our university. I would like her to grow and get stronger. I would also like us to raise a young marathon hero among us, who will be awarded separately. I look to youth. They are happy because they have won this fight with themselves, the fight against risks and weakness. They are different.”

KBTU expresses respect and gratitude to Beisenkhanov Nurzhan Beisenkhanovich. We wish him good health and continued success in the sports industry.