What a load of ironic bull , alanbikehousten. Having worked 2 years for UNICEF in Kenya, I can assure you that there is very limited public transport, and the distances between bus stops is often very long, - thus walking a considerable distance and waiting for a bus, is what you in most likelyhood will do, if you are Kenyan.

Back to the discussion. Running is the only sport I have ever seen where the participant/s needs nothing. I ran a marathon in Kenya, where to my suprise more than half the people running with me, did so bare foot! Some were only wearing shorts...
As long as you need nothing to compete with, running will always remain popular amongst the poorest of the poor.