Yesterday, I had the fun opportunity to join a women's edition of the Great Ethiopian Run in Addis with Meriem, one of the HOPE staff. As a women-specific event, the run was a platform to promote some womens' development issues, like within the Millennium Development Goals.
It was fun.. not a bad way to see Addis! And, just before the run, a crowd-cheering appearance from Haile, the fastest man on the planet! He's Ethiopian, and has set records for almost every distance there is... he can run 20K in about the same time I can run 10! Rightfully a favourite celebrity here in Ethiopia! He also mentioned that he ran 30K that morning before showing up at the event..!
A little pre-race aerobics
And, we're off - 9000 pink-clad women!
The competitive side of me wanted to make like Haile and run as fast as I could... but we walked, except for the last 50m or so from the finish line! But, that's ok.. it was a fun way to experience Addis, along with the lively singers, shouters, dancers, merry-makers that laughed and cheered their way to the finish line.
Professional runners warming up early before the race:
And getting their trophies and cash winnings from Haile!
I didn't catch what their time was, but I'm sure they were fast - they are world-class, record-holding athletes as well! I wonder if they were some of the Vancouver Sun Run winners!
Well, we did well too - earned ourselves our participation medals!
:)
until my next post.. ! xo
It was fun.. not a bad way to see Addis! And, just before the run, a crowd-cheering appearance from Haile, the fastest man on the planet! He's Ethiopian, and has set records for almost every distance there is... he can run 20K in about the same time I can run 10! Rightfully a favourite celebrity here in Ethiopia! He also mentioned that he ran 30K that morning before showing up at the event..!
A little pre-race aerobics
The competitive side of me wanted to make like Haile and run as fast as I could... but we walked, except for the last 50m or so from the finish line! But, that's ok.. it was a fun way to experience Addis, along with the lively singers, shouters, dancers, merry-makers that laughed and cheered their way to the finish line.
Professional runners warming up early before the race:
And getting their trophies and cash winnings from Haile!
I didn't catch what their time was, but I'm sure they were fast - they are world-class, record-holding athletes as well! I wonder if they were some of the Vancouver Sun Run winners!
Well, we did well too - earned ourselves our participation medals!
:)
until my next post.. ! xo
Super neat!!! Keep on running - and run a race with me when you get back! Miss you!
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a sea of pink!
ReplyDelete