The running part would have been much more enjoyable if I had been in shape - all the other aspects of the race were a blast.
I'm not sure who all sponsored the run, but the United Nations was heavily involved as well as "Joy and Hope", which was Jane's connection.
I've been to a lot of these types of events in the States, so it was fun to see how it's done in a different culture. There were tents and tables and banners and t-shirts, so things were very well organized. (But I had to laugh when we asked one of the organizers if there were any port-a-johns and he pointed us to the trees!) Still, who can complain when the race was free to participants?
We even scored some new shirts! They read "Peace - it's my choice. And you?"
The race staff was trying their hardest to make sure only runners received shirts, but this little guy came up barefoot and in a torn rag of a shirt and somebody gave him a new one.
Apparently, some very influential people were taking part in the morning's festivities - including the mayor of Cap Haitien who was signing certificates to give to each person finishing the race.
The course started out by some buildings belonging to the UN and wound down one street quite a ways and then ...
...turned onto the boulevard that runs along the waterfront. As you can tell, by this point, most of the other runners were far out of my sight. Mikenn and Johnny left me at the starting line and never looked back!
There were a few spectators along the route.
I am far from fluent in Creole, but I did understand one man shouting words of encouragement from the sidewalk ... to the Haitian man running beside me: "Keep going! Don't let the foreigner beat you!"
A bit further on, I slowed down to walk a bit and yet another spectator yelled, "Kouri, blanc, kouri!" ("Run, white guy, run!") It was all in good fun - even the guy closer to the finish line who looked me over and asked, "Ou mouri?" I must have looked like I was feeling at that point because that translates as "Are you dead?"
I wheezed, "Wi! M'mouri."
I did manage to run across the finish line ... eventually. I met my unlofty goal for the day: I didn't want to be dead last.
Jane (in pink) was there encouraging every finisher.
Jane's husband, Bud, was there after the race with little Sammy. I hadn't seen either of these two guys since before Christmas - so that was an added bonus to surviving the run.
After the run, there was entertainment provided by the Nepalese unit of the UN. The crowd really enjoyed the dances these ladies performed.
And the finale was a Haitian tightrope walker. He pulled himself up on a strap that was "taut" between two coconut trees at least 60 feet apart. He did some dancing and posing and walking up there while more VERY LOUD music played.
He made it look easy and so when he finished, a couple of other folks tried to copy him but couldn't even get themselves up on the strap, prompting much laughter from the crowd.
When we left, Jane was still on the job - in the midst of a group of a dozen men who were having a rather loud disagreement apparently over the finishing order of the fastest runners! I was glad to not be in her shoes!
There was a time not too long ago that 5 kilometers would have been a "short run" for me. Saturday it was painful.
That lack of physical training lately puts me in mind of Paul's words to Timothy: "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." (I Timothy 4:8)
How's your spiritual training coming these days? Are you able to run the race God has set before you?
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