How I became the first Nigerian to hoist the Nigerian flag at the North Poles -Marathoner, Tuedon Morgan

How I became the first Nigerian to hoist the Nigerian flag at the North Poles

-Marathoner, Tuedon Morgan

On April 9, 2015, British-born Nigerian marathoner, Tuedon Morgan popularly called ‘Tee Morgan’ by her admirers alongside 45 nationals of other countries participated in one of the world’s most challenging sporting competitions. It was the North Pole’s 2.62 mile race on frozen ice of the Arctic Ocean and on completing the race, she proudly hoisted the Nigerian Green-White-Green flag at the North poles thereby becoming the first Nigerian to run the race. This was despite the presence of pole bears and other wild animals, though protected by snipers.

In this interview, the marathoner speaks with EMEKA ESOGBUE, Associate Editor of ANIOMA ESSENCE MAGAZINE on a number of issues. She opens up on her marathon experiences, neglect by the Nigerian government, her humble background and future plan for marathoners in the country. Excerpts.   

Essence: Since the news reached us that the Nigerian flag was hoisted at the North Poles by a Nigerian, we have been on the look-out to know exactly who was behind the feat and how it happened. Happily, you are here, kindly tell us how you did it and what the experience was like?

Morgan: (smiles) Thank you very much, Mr. Emeka Esogbue, I honestly have to say that when I contacted the race director in February about the race, I never gave it much thought. People spent months training for this race. Since the underfoot terrain is very trying, every step was energy sapping. It was like running on sand. Then there was the cold, and what the wind was doing. That really slows you down. Standard running kit doesn’t quite cut it in temperatures below -42C. The trick was to create layers effective for warmth but also light enough for exertion. There is no land, just the frozen Arctic Ocean. The sun comes out at the North Pole by the end of March. There was a special logistics company that flew over the ocean to find a suitable place for landing where they dropped logistics and manpower. Well, the engineers and specialists assessed the track and created a run way. They did a test landing on the runway and after ensuring that everything was fine, they came and picked us (the athletes) from Svalbard which is 78 degrees north, right at the top of Norway.

Essence: That’s so amazing, Tee Morgan. Now, if one may ask what really motivated you to venture into this grueling race?

Morgan: (smiles) I think the more you believe in your own ability to succeed the more likely it is that you will. I ran this race to raise awareness and funds for the National Black Marathoner Association. We encourage distance runners through living a healthy lifestyle and we give scholarship funds to college students. I really wanted to see if I could. I was my own motivation.

Essence: As you raced in the snow, did you ever for a moment think you were going to stop the race?

Morgan: Well, the last 4km were the hardest. At that stage, I would have given up. But I kept telling myself this isn't just about me and how I was feeling but about the people I was trying to inspire and my country, Nigeria. I kept telling myself I have to raise the Nigerian flag and that kept me going. I kept saying Tee, this too shall pass. It is well with you. You will finish. Don't give up. Sometimes you just have to encourage yourself and that's what I did. I know God was with me.

Essence: Tee, good to know that raising the Nigerian flag in the end was a chief motivating factor. But personally, as a marathoner, what does this great athletic feat hold for you?

Morgan: I really don't know maybe because I haven’t given it much thought. But I know one thing and that is my purpose in life, is to go places where others think impossible so I can make them believe that ordinary people do extraordinary things. I have become the first Nigerian to run this race. I raised my country’s flag at the finish line. No Nigerian has ever ran a race on the North Pole. I want to see more Nigerians run it because I went there to prove to others that it can be done.

Essence: With this surprising gift for Nigeria, which demonstrates unique talents, Nigerians will like to know how athletics, all started for you.

Morgan: (smiles) I wish I could tell you that I ran tracks back in school or I made it to the podium. I didn't start running till October 2011 and ran my first 10k that month. Running just felt like that a missing link. I felt reborn and alive. It felt like I was just existing and then running gave me a purpose. I seriously think that running has given me a glimpse of the greatest freedom a man can ever know because it results in the simultaneous liberation of both body and mind. The potential for greatness lives within each of us. If you tell your story enough, even you will eventually begin to believe it. I remember when I told someone I wanted to run a marathon someday and to be honest I just finished running 5km on the road. Not the treadmill on the road. That was big for me. The first question the person asked me was do you know what a marathon is? He said I have been running for ten years and never considered running a marathon. I said to him someday, I will run Boston too. He fell down laughing. And guess what? I have ran Boston twice.

Essence: … And you said that previously you didn’t have any training for this?

Morgan: (laughs) No! Not for the North Pole marathon. I live in Doha Qatar and the temperature is 42C. So to run in -42c was really hard. I couldn't even test out my new shoes with spikes. I ran with new shoes now you all know that's crazy. It is really the world’s coolest marathon. You run on top of the world- the geographic North Pole. I kept asking myself if I had the nerve and drive to travel to the North Pole and run on the Arctic Ice Floes, with 6 to 12 feet separating me from 12,000 feet of Arctic Ocean. I live in the Middle East and training for that race was impossible. This Marathon is not ran on land but on water.

Essence: Let me ask you this particular question that Nigerians will like to hear, did you before or after the race receive any support from the Nigerian Government or any of its sports agencies especially the athletic federation?

Morgan: (cuts in with surprise) No I didn't. I tried to get sponsorship and a few people promised me but nothing was ever said or done. I even contacted some officials from the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration but they totally ignored my request.

Essence: Not even Delta, your state government reacted to what you did or tried to reach you on hearing the patriotic feat?

Morgan: (cuts in) I wasn't celebrated if that's what you mean. Like I said the outgoing administration didn't react to what I did.

Essence: Well, despite this situation from the Nigerian government, are you hoping to return home someday so that Nigerians interested in marathon as a career will benefit from you?

Morgan: I organized two races in December 2014, one in Lagos and the other in Port Harcourt. I hope to organize more races in future. Yes, I will come back to Nigeria by God’s grace because this is my passion. More so, I have been trying to promote distance running for a while. I also run a weight loss group called Women Encouraging Women to live healthy and lots of women are running marathons. I want to be a part of it all. To help Nigerian runners achieve their greatest potentials. We are a great country and we can achieve great things.

Essence: Your display of endurance in that demanding race throws up the question of what growing up was for you. Can you share this experience with us?

Morgan: I hail from Delta State and went to boarding school in Nigeria. I grew up with two sisters. You have no choice but to be brave. I had a great childhood that has nothing to do with sports though. It was all academics. I like to think I am a very determined person. I stay true to a cause especially when I put my heart and soul into it. In this world we live in one has to be brave. You stand for something or you die for nothing. People give up so easily these days and some expect it to happen like yesterday. Sometimes the process takes time. And you just have to step out in faith and trust God that this path will lead you somewhere.

Essence: Any more thing you want to share with us?

Morgan: My journey started from a decision to embrace change. I gained so much weight from having kids and with every child came the weight gain. I didn't start running marathons. I started by walking. I walked, I jogged then I ran. It all started with me with craving a different life. One that didn't involve pain or medications. My health was starting to deteriorate and it was like broken music in my ears and I kept hearing it over and over again that I needed to turn my life around. I have 4 boys 20, 18, 16 and 7. I just turned 42 and by God’s grace, this year. I will be celebrating my 22nd wedding anniversary. Life is all about perseverance and knowing exactly what you want from it. Whatever you do don't ever give up on yourself.

Essence: Tee Morgan, I must say it was nice speaking with you. Congratulations once more!

Morgan: Thank you Mr. Emeka Esogbue for sharing my story.

Originally published in Anioma Essence