Kilimanjaro Half Marathon

For the past two years, Christina Baladi, Alicia Ranney and I have been participating in the Kaiser Half Marathon in SF.  We had a blast running our hearts out and then proceeding to Kerry and Chris’s to gorge ourselves “all-American” style at their Superbowl party.  Needless to say, I missed it this year! 

However, I did have a replacement activity to console me.  When I thought I would be headed to Moshi, I read the blogs of the current volunteers and saw their pictures from the Kilimanjaro Marathon held in town.  Obviously, I thought it was the coolest thing ever and couldn’t wait to participate.  Luckily, a little re-location to Dodoma wasn’t able to stop me… 

Cristina, Laura, and I did it!  We traveled to Moshi for the Kilimanjaro Half Marathon where we were warmly welcomed by Moryah, Andy, and Liz, or as I like to call them, my surrogate community.  We had 100% participation in the event, with Andy running a FULL marathon.  I still can’t believe it.  Everyone did great, with Cristina and Laura both completing their first half marathons!  What a way to do it.

Rain clouds obstructed the views of Madam Kili during the race, but honestly, I was thankful.  The race was exactly half up, and half down.  Literally.  (j-sway… it was kind of like our extreme hiking experience…)  I’m not sure I would have made it in the African sun.  One of the greatest parts of the out-and-back course was seeing the lead pack coming down the hill as I was on my way up.  INCREDIBLE!  I don’t know how they do it, but the runners are so graceful and make one of the most challenging feats look simply effortless.  I gave a few extra fist pumps and “tuende dada!” cheers to the lead ladies as they held their own with the men in front.

The event organization was not the greatest, so I never found out my time, but I think it is for the best.  It certainly wasn’t my fastest, but I felt so accomplished, and maybe even a little bit cool, having just crossed the finish line.

After the race I ate a bunch of mangoes from the trees in the Moshi house’s yard and lazed about nursing a decent blister.  I wore my medal the whole time, of course.  After a little rest, we headed back to the stadium for a beer (Kilimanjaro!  For the picture, really.  Not my fave beer here.)  There was live music playing, and there were lots of people enjoying the festivities. 

When we got back to the house we chowed down on a “chips mayai” (this french fry omelet delicacy best enjoyed with chili sauce and ketchup).  Then the Moshi folk shared the secret of their favorite treat:  CHOCOLATE MICE.  I’m not really sure why it is in the shape of a mouse, but I do know that it was delicious.  I might compare it a brownie, sort of, with the taste of a ho-ho. 

Exhausted, we set off to bed.  Thinking in advance, I popped a couple Tylenol PM, so sleeping in a tent on the floor and getting eating by some bug that snuck in didn’t phase me.  Cristina was not so lucky.  Though both of our legs were riddled with bites, at least I slept through it. 

The next day we set off for the 12 hour bus ride home to Dodoma.  Definitely not the best way to recover after running thirteen miles the previous day.  The three of us were walking pretty funny, but we survived.  During the bus ride I had my first glimpse of a wild animal.  I SAW MONKEYS!!!!!! They were just sitting there on the side of the road.  It felt a liiiiittle surreal. 

Overall, the weekend was a much needed respite from my normal day-to-day here, and an absolutely great time.  

P.S. The T-shirt for the half marathon says "If you can't run it, drink it."  The full marathon tee says "If you can't climb it run it."  Love it.