run the annual 10K run in Nov in Addis Ababa in 2008

Yup, did it. It was strange. It was a party. It was a protest. 32,000 registered runners, elbow to elbow through the streets of downtown Addis. But I think I’d like to do it again!!

I’m moving forward, in training now for a half-marathon in the fall. That should leave me well prepared for the 10 km in November, even though I’m still worried about the mountains and the altitude!

I have been participating in a 5 km clinic through the Running Room since the New Year. Joining the clinic was just the boost I needed: since I’ve put out some money for this, I have to show up; being part of a group makes me feel more committed, ie, shamed if I don’t show up; and chatting with group members as we run makes the time and km’s fly by so easily!!

It’s also a lot of fun to be a part of a group of wackos that run in this wintry weather, including snow storms, a full-out blizzard, minus 25 degrees C, etc. We must be dedicated athletes ‘cause a fellow felt compelled to roll down his truck window as he passed us in the blizzard last week to yell out what I thought at first was “Sweethearts”. Turns out he yelled “Retards”. Our group leader, Paul, apparently has better hearing than I do when the wind is blistering the skin off my face on the left going out, then on the right coming back… Oh well.

The fellow in the truck is probably a 2-pack a day smoker, drinks to excess, eats the typical North American Heart Attack-inducing diet, weighs 100 lb more than he should and watches 7 hours of TV each evening.

It’s easy for me to feel smug—tee hee hee. So “Sweethearts” it is!

I conscripted son-in-law to be my buddy/fire-to-my-feet in training for that 10k run. I asked my daughter and she’s thinking about it. And I’ve joined a gym, for those days when the roads are too icy and the weather discouraging (although I love running on a sunny winter day outdoors!). AND, I’m thinking that running for one of my favorite charities, Ethiopia Reads (http://ethiopiareads.org) will also keep me motivated!

I started thinking this might be cool when I read an online travel diary about a couple who cycled through Ethiopia and managed to be in Addis for the run two years ago now. I’ve been training on and off, with setbacks in getting the trip off the ground, the timing of my first trip to Ethiopia, injury and waning willpower. But hey, I still have the dream and I will do it!