Love4Gambia 2013

Are you watching this year’s Love4Gambia run unfold thinking “wow, this is amazing, I’d like to do that too?” Because if so, you’re in luck! NSGA will be proud to have runner(s) travel to The Gambia for Love4Gambia version 4.0 in the summer of 2014.

We look for runners who have a lengthy running background that includes successful completion of, at minimum, one marathon training cycle and race. The road to Banjul is 427km long and we need to ensure that a runner can make it.

Jenn, Spider and Kebba, 2013

Our official call for runners will occur in September, 2013. Dates will be finalized when our runner(s) are confirmed but must be scheduled around Ramadan.

Although we have recruited one runner per year for the past two years, we could accommodate more than one runner provided that multiple runners are a good fit for each other.

This run and the money raised by it support the health, education and human rights activities of NSGA in The Gambia. A runner will be asked to raise $5000 for NSGA along with money to cover their travel expenses, food and water totaling approximately $3500.  Fundraised donations > $20 are eligible for tax receipts, including individual (excluding the runner) donations towards travel expenses.

The NSGA Gambia office will coordinate travel, lodging and meals.  The runner(s) will be joined by the Gambian team: Pa Modou Sarr, Kebba Suso and Dodou “Spider” Bah.

Runners can bring along support people, provided they cover their own travel expenses, food and water.

For more information, contact Love4Gambia founder Erin Poirier @ erin.poirier@novascotiagambia.ca

The four 25km’ers

Talk show interview with a local Upper River Region (URR) Radio Station

So, day two was over, I was exhausted. Time for some rest and hopefully I am able to recover before the next 25km tomorrow…

Start to day three! Banjul Calling!

A quick photos with all of the students from the four schools in Basse that ran through town with us (3.5km!)

After leaving Basse, it quieted down quite a lot, we all got into our own rhythm and continued on, running a couple of kilometers, then rehydrating and refueling often. Because we started later today, the sun is blaring hot. We also made the transfer from dirt road to black asphalt after leaving Basse, and there is a noticeable difference. But, we cheer eachother on and keep going.

Proof of how sweaty and hot it is here – salt residue on the camelback after 2 days – bring on the gatorade!

href=”http://love4gambia.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/screen-shot-2013-06-17-at-6-00-06-pm.png”> Gels – gotta have them, but that doesn’t make them go down any easier – especially when you are stuck with one flavor for the entire run – peanut butter.[/caption]

Numuyel School running with Love4gambia in support of peer health education. (many wearing only sandals)

And off we went again. Soon enough, we had made it to kilometer 20 and it was time to rest for a while. We read and share messages from Erin, Cathy, and “Aunt Debbie”, which inspire us to finish the rest of our run – it really means a lot to us to have support from both side of the Atlantic.

We get back on the road with only 5km to go. At time, one of us needs to stop to drink, we all stop to drink, and when we are ready to run again, we all start to run again. We take one final last drink with 1km to go, then we all finish strong for a total of 25km for all four of us – such an amazing feat considering the heat of the mid-days sun (I have tan lines on my tan lines to prove it – going for a really nice bandana tan at this rate.)

And so, another day is over and we are 25km closer to reaching our goal. Tomorrow we will make it to 100km and then we will be able to rest the following day – something we are all looking forward to. I can’t wait to share with you how tomorrow goes!

Jennifer and team Love4Gambia

P.S: Still no wi-fi – GPS files to be posted soon!

Also, a special shout-out to Spider (now called “bug”) and Mama Cie for their help in getting us through the run today – we couldn’t have done it without their support!

“Mama Cie” is taking good care of me! COuldn’t do it without her!

Spider is now to be referred to as “bug”

Two days, 51 kilometers completed. We have all made it, but the kilometers are definitely not getting any easier as we continue down the long, hot, and dusty road. But, we shall continue; one day, one kilometer, and one step at a time until we reach our goal.

The team ready to begin Day 2!

A long and hot day 2

Today I woke up a bit sore and heat exhausted from day one, but still in good spirits and ready to conquer day two. I started out running with Cielianna and Pa. Right away, a side cramp steps in as if I had never stopped running from yesterday. So this is how its going to be today, I think (I’m still working on balancing drinking enough water (you can never drink enough water here) to stay hydrated, but not too much so that I cramp up. Not to mention trying to find some food that I am used to that is somewhat nutritious – I had some greasy fries with mayonnaise and coleslaw for dinner; its not the easiest place to be a vegetarian). I focus on my breathing and count my steps, the cramp eases. Then, as if I need another obstacle to deal with, my nose starts bleeding about 4km in. The team passes me some tissue, I stuff some up my nose (sorry for the graphic image) and continue running. Luckily, this does the trick and about 6km into the run I am cramp and nosebleed free. Phew – now I just need to keep my head down, my pace easy, and get through the rest of the day.

About 12 km in I am told that we are approaching another school in which the NSGA implements its peer-health education programs. A small group from the school had walked a distance to meet us on the main road on a Sunday to sing and cheer us on. Once again, this spirit from the Gambian community was amazing, and helped to inspire me and the entire team to continue our journey. After saying many thank-yous and shaking many hands, we continue. However, this time we have an addition to our team; a 15-year-old peer health educator named Abdoulie Baleeh from Kundank School had decided to continue running with us – and not just for a kilometer or two, but for the rest of the first part of the day. Not only that, he was also only wearing socks with sandals and blue jeans in 40-degree Celsius weather. He said that he really liked the NSGA peer-health programs and that they were really important to him and his school, and this is why he wanted to run with us. Pretty inspiring and motivating words to hear right when you need them.

Pa, Abdoulie, and I getting it done one step at a time. All for peer-health education in The Gambia

Finally, after many Gatorade and ‘cool down’ breaks, we make it to the 20km mark, which means it is time to rest. This is becoming the favorite part of the day. I am so hot when we first sop, I feel as if we may never cool down. Slowly but surely my heart rate lowers, I can feel a bit of a breeze, and I begin to relax. We are all a lot less talkative at the start of the break today than we were yesterday – the exhaustion from the travel, running, and heat is increasing. However, slowly, everyone returns back to life, begins making jokes, and I know it is time to grudgingly take a gel and finish off the last five kilometers for the day.

Kebba always has the strength to yell BANJUL CALLING!

I really hope I have been smart about my Gatorade/gel/water intake and that the same post-rest cramps from yesterday do not begin again. Being cautious, I start out with some drills for the first half-kilometer to ease my body (mostly stomach) back into running. I probably look like a crazy “touhbob” to the locals working in the field, staring questioningly at me. The drills really make me feel better and ready to conquer the final leg. I continue and feel much better, stopping less, and feeling (relative to the morning) strong. But, when we reach 25km, I am more than happy to stop and call it a day. Another day! It was slow, but we got through it and we are already on the outskirts of Basse. Tomorrow is going to be a crazy start – with the school in Basse, through town, and onward to Bansang. As Keba would yell when we pass people on the side of the road in an extremely loud voice – BANJUL CALLING!! (Fist pump encouraged ☺)

- Jennifer

Also, I would like to recognize and dedicate the run today to Mizuno Canada, who has generously donated lightweight clothing and shoes to me and the team. Although I did not have much of a chance to train in the lightweight clothing in Canada on account of the never-ending winter, it is so amazing to have it while in 40+ degrees Celsius weather. Thanks Mizuno!

This morning, we work up at 5:05am to the sounds of the Muslim call to prayer – they were much louder than I ever could have expected. I had had a hard time falling and staying asleep last night on account of the heat (my sister ended up sleeping face down on the tile without a blanket or pillow to try to stay cool), so felt quite groggy, but at the same time the adrenaline was starting to kick in. My sister and I met up with the team at 6:00am – an early start because of the long drive from Basse to the border and the naïve thought that it will be slightly less hot at an earlier hour). Similar to yesterday, as we drove west, I kept thinking: Am I really going to run all this distance? Really?

After a bumpy (as they call in Africa: “massage”) drive to the border down smaller and smaller dirt roads, we finally arrive to our starting point – a small concrete knob on the side of the path. (Luckily my team will be doing this for the third time this year, so they know where to go directly; unlike Erin’s run the first year where they had to search for a while to find the border)… So, we ate, packed, prepped, and took (many) pictures, and then, with Spider and Kebba by my side, and Pa and Cielianna blasting the horn, we began!

The run was quiet and meditative at the start. I think we were all thinking about the great distance to come and what these starting steps mean as we begin this long and challenging journey. In the first village we passed through, Pa and Kebba made sure everyone was “awake” by blaring the horn through the sleepy town on Koina. WE were all excited and shouted “alumbara!” (good work to people working) and “Banjul calling!” as we ran through the first village. Most were in disbelief when they heard that we intended to reach Banjul by foot.

As we continued, the team switched around who drove and who ran with me. Although I am normally a solitary runner, their company made each step so much easier and more meaningful. Today, I was lucky enough to always have someone (often many) by my side as I conquered the first leg. I started out feeling great (there was a ‘slight’ breeze), and, as per usual, a bit fast, but still comfortable.

About 14km into the run, we came across our first school in which the NSGA works (town of Fatoto). The greeting was incredible. The entire school had lined up on both sides of the road and were singing a welcome song as we approached. This was a major goosebumps running moment for me. I really couldn’t believe it. After we passed, the entire school followed behind the team chanting and singing for the following kilometer. I got to meet the teachers and a few peer health educators as well, which was an amazing way to connect this run with the purpose of the funds being raised.

As we continued on, I really began to notice the heat (40 degrees Celcius or more, unconfirmed). I slowed down a lot and attempted to think “happy thought” to get through the kilometers. Slowly but surely we reached the 20 km mark, which mean it was time to rehydrate, refuel, and rest before completing the rest of the days run. This was just what I needed – a forced rest to cool down and break up the run for the day. The team was in good spirits and we were able to cool down in a “slight breeze” under the shade of a giant tree. This was quite relaxing, and enough to make me feel ready to complete the days run – back to it! Banjul is calling!

We begin again, and about a minute in I get a really painful stomach cramp – too much water and Gatorade while sitting is not doing well. I settle into a hunched over run/shuffle position and try to breathe slow – in for 4 steps, out for 4 steps; but its not helping. I try not to look at the km’s on the GPS watch too often so hopefully they will go by faster; this also doesn’t help. After about 3km, we begin to approach another village where the NSGA works and in the far distance I could see hundreds of children lined up on the side of the road. Alright, I think, I can push myself till we get there.

When we got there, the greeting was unbelievable. We stopped to receive the welcome and were immediately surrounded. People had made signs with Gambian and Canadian flags, and there was even a sign saying “Go Jen, Go!”. It was absolutely incredible to meet so many people who are benefiting from the NSGA peer health education programs and to see how excited they are for the Love4Gambia run. We take (many) photos and shake many hands. We are invited to stay in their town, but say that we must continue to finish the last of the run.

The last couple kilometers were relatively quiet. I kept thinking to myself, did that really just happen? Again, I’m blown away by the excitement and kindness of small Gambian villages, and feel so lucky to be able to run to support education programs for them. Soon enough, the first day is over. We all hug knowing that a large part of the journey is complete, but a huge space still rests between us and Banjul. 26km done, and only 398 to go!

- Jennifer and Team Love4Gambia

PS: Thank you to everyone for the thoughtful good luck and inspirational messages on the blog/facebook/twitter. They mean so much to me and the team (we were able to read a couple during the rest stop and the messages really touched all of our hearts).

On behalf of Team Love4Gambia, I would like to dedicate today’s run to Luke and Aerobics First. Amongst other things, Luke made sure we all had new running shoes to begin our journey today, and will take us the rest of the way across Gambia. A big thank you from Team Love4Gambia to him!

Lastly, I am currently unable to upload the GPS file for the run because the internet stick takes up two USB drives and I need to go through the internet via the second USB drive to upload the GPS files. I will add them when we are able to find a wi-fi location…

We arrived (me and my sister, Cielianna) in The Gambia on Wednesday afternoon after a long (long…) trip from Halifax to Montreal to Washington DC to Dakar (7 hour layover) and finally to BANJUL, The Gambia. I had such a feeling of elation when our plane finally touched down in The Gambia. A feeling of ‘wow, this is really going to happen now…we have arrived’. We were greeted with big hugs from the Love4Gambia team and taken directly to where we were staying in the area. They are used to Canadian volunteers arriving and knew we just needed to clean up and rest at that point, and, lucky for us, we were staying right on the beach in Fajara in a lovely apartment a Canadian ex-pat generously let us crash in. Phew – made it to the Gambia with all of the luggage, relatively few hiccups, and connected with the team – now it was time to get some rest. Ahhhhhhhhh.

The next day we slept in and felt refreshed and ready to get everything organized. The team picked us up

and we headed to the Gambian Nova Scotia Gambia Association Office. It was pretty neat to finally meet the “sister” office of the NSGA after only knowing the Nova Scotia side of the organization. We were generously greeted and welcomed by the entire staff who were all working hard in their various offices when we arrived. I like how a friend described it: “when you walk into most international nonprofit offices, you see a bunch of foreigners working on projects they designed, and a couple locals helping the foreigners. But when you walk into the NSGA office, you see all Gambians, all working hard for health education programs in The Gambia. This is an approach that makes sense.”

In the afternoon I had a skype interview about the Love4Gambia run with Heidi Petracek of CTV Morning Atlantic News. Luckily, the power was working. However, at the start the skype image was not coming in clearly. The tech guy ran to each room in the office and asked everyone to log off the wifi. Sure enough, skype started working clearer and we were able to get an interview in. (It should be airing in the Maritimes on Monday around 8:30am, which is when I will be approximately 75 km across the Gambia). I thought this eloquently summed up business in Africa – it’s not perfect, but you do what you have to do to make things work. The rest of the day was spent doing last minute errands – cell phone sim card, bank withdrawal, mango bartering, and so forth. Also got to sneak in a quick loosen-up run along the beaches of Fajara just before the sunset. A successful first day in the Gambia.

The next morning (today) was leaving and driving time. The team met us at the apartments and we packed up the car to go for a long journey across the country. We also had some window paint and made sure that everyone sees us pass knows that we are team Love4Gambia of the NSGA. And without further ado, we left on our long drive across the country.

We saw so many things, from markets to forests to livestock, even to the Gambian President. It was quite the daylong adventure. It was also a great time for the team to get acquainted – with Mama C (Cielianna) keeping Pa and Spyder in line, and Keba yelling “BARBEQUE!” every time we saw a goat, cow, mule, or person on the road. He’d start charging to hit the future barbeque (to be roasted on the melting hot dashboard), only to swerve away at the last minute saying “that ones too dirty, too small, too stupid,” and so forth. I feel like this may become a trend for the rest of the trip.

The main thing that kept popping into my mind as we drove east across the Gambia today was holy smokes, this is going to be one long run – am I really going to run this whole distance? It was really hard to believe when you put it all together and drive the entire distance all at once. Then, at the same time, I’m thinking holy smokes, this is a huge distance and area for the relatively small NSGA to implement its programs. A small staff of 22 in the Gambia is ensuring that youth across this country (that may seem small on a world map, but is quite large when you have to run across the entire thing) are educated about their health. If the modest NSGA can implement it’s life saving programs across this great distance, then surely I can run across it to raise awareness and money for them. I know I can do this, and I am more excited, pumped, and motivated to start running tomorrow. I can do the running to make a difference, and hopefully this will inspire others to support the NSGA by donating towards the Love4Gambia campaign. Tomorrow the run of a lifetime begins! You can follow my progress as I run 25 km per day with my team on this website.

BANJUL IS CALLING!

Jennifer

With that in mind, I’d thought I’d write down some common questions I have received over the past couple of months when explaining why I have decided to run across The Gambia and how I plan to do it.  (Also, I need a break from writing my thesis today…)

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Common Questions about Love4Gambia and the run across The Gambia

Why are you doing this?

I am doing this because it is for a good cause.  I strongly believe that health promotion programs are efficient and effective at helping people to live longer, healthier lives.  I am running in support of the Nova Scotia-Gambia Association, a local non-profit organization that organizes health education programs throughout The Gambia on essential topics such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, gender equality, water sanitation, environmental sustainability, and landmine awareness.  I have been extremely impressed by the programs efficiency at reaching an entire generation across an entire country, and its ability to adapt its program to the needs of each community.  The Gambia has a physician/patient rate of 0.4 doctors to 10,000 people.  Therefore, health promotion programs that educate people about key health issues before they get sick are essential and saving the lives of many Gambians today.  It’s an approach that makes sense, and I am more than excited to be running for such a great cause.

How long will it take you?

I will be running for 17 days to cross the country.  I will also have three days of rest scheduled into my itinerary, which means I will start running on June 15^th on the Senegal border and finish on July 4^th in Banjul in the Atlantic Ocean (20 days total).

My route, starting on the Eastern border of Senegal, running 427km to the Atlantic Ocean on the Western end.

How far will you be running everyday?

I will be running approximately 25km for every running day in order to complete the total distance of 427km in 17 days.  I plan to break up the running into two runs: 20km and 5km.  I will start out with a 20km run each morning.  Then I will rest for about an hour to rehydrate and refuel.  I will then run the final 5km each day easy with the goal of flushing out the soreness and lactic acid in my legs from the morning run.

How have you been training?

I have always been a runner, but began training specifically for this run around December 2012.  You can read the training plan I followed here.  I think the most important part was finding a coach and a group of runners to train with.  This really has made a difference as it has allowed me to track my progress, receive support, and meet some really neat runners in the Halifax area.  I found this especially helpful in the winter – if they are out doing the work on those miserable days at the commons with gusting sleet, then I can also get through the same workout.  Thanks to the training program, my coach, and the runners, I can confidently say I feel prepared to run 25km each day in The Gambia.

 Won’t it be hot?

HOT!

Yes, it will be hot and humid and this will be the most challenging part of my run.  On average, temperature will be around 40°C with high humidity.  It will be hottest at the start of the run, on the Eastern side of the country, and will cool down slightly as I approach the coast.  Dealing with the heat will mostly consist of making sure I stay hydrated and sufficiently “salted” to replace all of the electrolytes I will be losing from sweating so much.  Also, I will be running slow, making sure my heart rate does not get too high and I do not overheat.  After that, it is mostly a mental battle to keep me positive and not negative about the heat and humidity.

What about wild animals?

Yes, there will be wild animals.  No, there will not be any lions, leopards, or any other predatory carnivores that I will have to worry about stalking me.  The main large animals I will have to worry about will be hippos and crocodiles, which can both outrun a human.  Fortunately, so long as you don’t surprise them or get in between them and water or their young, they are unlikely to attack.  So I am not too worried about larger animals.  I am more concerned about smaller reptiles, notably poisonous snakes, spiders and lizards, but mostly snakes.  Growing up and running in the desert in Southern California made for a few close encounters with rattlesnakes, and I definitely have a (slight would be an understatement) fear of snakes.  However, so long as I avoid the tall grass and keep my eyes open, I can feel comfortable knowing that the snake or lizard probably wants to avoid me more than I want to avoid it.

Will you be alone?

For the most part, no.  I am so lucky to have an amazing support team of three native Gambians – Pa, Kebba, and Spyder- with me for the entire journey.  They have all been training throughout the past couple of months and will be running with me for parts of my run each day.  I will also have my younger sister, Cielianna, along for the entire journey and will be meeting up with my mom, Rita, and boyfriend, Steve, about 15 days into the run.  I will by no means be alone, but will have this amazing support crew to help me across the country.  From driving to mixing Gatorade to running by my side, I know they will all really make a difference to help me run 427km in a foreign country.

Will you be camping?

Luckily, I have the luxury of staying in hotels and guesthouses each night.  I will not have to worry about setting up a tent, finding electricity and so forth at the end of a long run each day.  The NSGA support team in The Gambia is booking all of the accommodations, and though they will be simple, they will have electricity, a bed, and some privacy to relax and recover at the end of each day.  Looking forward to it!

Can I follow your progress?

Yes, you can and I encourage you to follow my progress as I make my way across The Gambia.  I will be uploading my GPS running files daily (internet and electricity dependent) onto my website: www.love4gambia.com.  This is a great way to see how the journey is going and to see the villages and school that the NSGA is implementing its health promotion programs in.

Why are you doing this again?

Like I said before, the programs the NSGA implements in The Gambia are effective, efficient, and have been working for the past 25 years to keep Gambians living healthier and longer lives.  Here in Canada, we have the internet/doctors/teachers available to inform us about essential health information.  Many Gambians are not so lucky and rely on the information from the NSGA to stay informed about their health and how to keep their communities healthy.  These programs are essential and need to continue to operate in The Gambia to keep the people there happy, and healthy, and alive.

How can I support you?

This is my favorite question because it means that the hours and days and months or training, running, and fundraising are worthwhile, and people are responding to the effort I have been making to support the Nova Scotia Gambia Association.  The easiest and most straight-forward way to support me is by making a donation.  Big or small, everything raised helps make a difference and will help me to reach my goal of raising $15,000 for health education in The Gambia.  In addition, you can support me by sharing what I am doing with other people, and spreading the word about my run and the Nova Scotia Gambia Association.  Lastly, you can support me by following my blog and cheering me on from wherever you are.  The comments mean a lot to me and I know they will be especially helpful on those hard, hot, and humid days in The Gambia!

Thanks for your support! Can’t wait to get started!

Jennifer

Hope you are all recovering from the Bluenose or Cabot Trail Relay Race and slowly easing back into training for the spring season!  With that in mind I decided I’d like to share a great power-bar recipe I found on the world wide web.  I went on a power-bar making spree last week before I left to plant in Cape Breton for a couple of days.  I figured they would be quick, easy to store, and would help me get a variety of nutrients to keep me going when I didn’t feel like using the old camp stove.  I tried four different recipes (now my freezer is packed with a variety of power bars), but one stood out in particular, because of the unique ingredients and it’s extreme tastiness (for a power bar that is…)

I wasn’t too sure about how this recipe would work out – I thought it could go either way, awesome or disgusting.  Luckily, they were awesome, and actually pretty cheap and flexible (in terms of ingredients) to make.  I was really imporessed and will definitely be making these again – they are great for running, tree-planting, hiking, or even a quick breakfast. Yum!

Power-bar s galore!

I found the recipe on this website: http://www.nomeatathlete.com/homemade-energy-bar-recipe/

It gives you a variety of options in terms of how you can mix and match the various ingredients.  Here is the recipe to the ones I made, they were chocolately, but not too sweet and not too bland, just right:)

Chocolate Power-Bar Recipe

1 1/2 cups Black Beans

1/2 cup Peanut Butter

1/4 cup Honey

1/2 cup Applesauce

1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour

1/2 cup Cocoa

1 1/2 cups Oats

1/4 tsp Salt

1 cup Chocolate Chips

Directions: In a food processor, mix beans, peanut butter, honey, applesauce, and salt. Pulse until smooth.  Add oats, whole wheat flour, and cocoa and pulse until smooth.  Finally add in the chocolate chips and pulse to combine.  Grease a 13×9 inch pan and put in 350° for 15-18 minutes.  Once cooked (toothpick comes out clean), let cool, then cut into 2 inch cubes.  Enjoy!

This year was my second year running the Bluenose marathon.  It was really nice to know ahead of time what to expect in terms of the course, venue, etc.  Here’s a quick debrief of some of my Bluenose 2013 highlights from May 19, 2013:

5:00 – Wake up, shower, make coffee and breakfast, pack bags, get dressed, double and triple check everything. Take deep breaths.  It’s looking like it’s going to be a beautiful day to run outside.  Try to remain calm and save the adrenaline for the kilometers to come.

6:00 – Wake up Steve. Jump on the bed yelling “It’s your first 10km race today!  You’re going to run 10km! Time to get up! Time to get ready! Aren’t you stoked!” Only to get the following response: “Why are you so chipper; You’re more excited that a kid before Christmas”.  Well, of course I am…it’s THE MORNING OF THE BLUENOSE!!!

Steve and I before the run

7:00 – Get bikes and pedal to the race start.  Luckily, clean NS was even providing VIP valet bike parking services to park bikes in front of city hall – they even fixed up my brakes a bit while I was running .  Take a last pre-race pee, do the nervous/happy dance to loosen up/question why I signed up for this race again/ the usual pre-marathon nonsense.

8:00 – Race start!  Woohoo, a bit sore from tree planting earlier this week and biking yesterday, but overall I feel well rested mentally and know that this time I have done the training to prepare me for the long run ahead of me.  After a few km’s of going a bit fast, I settle in on the pace I talked about with my coach, about 5-5:10 per kilometer – a bit slower on the uphills, and a bit faster on the downhills. Nice and calm.

9:00 – The kilometers are going by surprisingly fast and I still feel good.  The course is a lot hillier then I remember, but there are so many people out to cheer it is hard to be too negative about anything.  I think this part (Shubie Park) is my favorite part of the marathon- for a few minutes I cannot see anyone ahead or behind me and can just relax and feel like I am on a long practice run.  It gives me a sense of calm and time to just run before returning to the crowds on the streets.

10:00 – Run up Maple road hill, that’s right, I actually managed to run up the whole thing.  During the marathon last year, I remember walking up the never-ending hill, with people yelling at me, “you can do it” and “stay strong”, but this year heard “you’re killing it” and “looking strong”.  Definitely had the training behind me and felt a lot better throughout this section of the run, and that hill wasn’t nearly as bad as I remember it.  In this way, the marathon this year was a great confidence booster that really helped to show me how the training is paying off and just how much my running has improved throughout the past six months.

One kilometre at a time…

11:00 – alright, this is where it gets tough, 36km, about 6 kilometers to go, and at this point I was feeling it in my joints.  And the course definitely stays tough throughout this part, including the hills of Point Pleasant Park followed by the gradual uphill up South Park road.   A fellow marathoner (Kirk?) caught up to me around km 41 and shouted, “you’re effing fast – I’ve been trying to catch you this entire race, let’s finish this together”.  It was really just the push I think we both needed.  With this we got through the last 2km together to finish strong.

11:42 – The finish!  It is hard to explain the emotion that comes with finishing any marathon.  So many people help to get you through the 42km and it all comes together for that final moment.  It’s pretty spectacular, and I’ll leave it at that.

12:00 – So stiff – attempt to stretch and talk about the run; mostly try not to think about how much every joint hurts.  Attempt to bike back home (mostly me walking my bike at a very slow rate, stopping to ‘stretch’/lay down in various grass patches along the way).

2:00-4:30 – Recover- shower (very painful with the random chaffing marks acquired during the run.  I kept jumping around yelling when the water would hit a different spot, washing the salt from my accumulated sweat into the sore – this might be the worse part I foresee about running in The Gambia), followed by eat, rest, eat, rest, and enjoying the feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing a tough marathon.

5:00 – Team Love4Gambia supper at the Armview.  This was one of my favorite parts of the day.  Because I started at 8:00am and finished around 11:30, I started before most people arrived and finished after everyone had left.  This post-run celebration was a great medium to catch up with other runners and to do the runner talk about times, how you felt during the run, and of course, how you could have “pushed just a little bit faster”.   Everyone on team Love4Gambia did an amazing job; many people completed a new distance for the first time, and many people helped to fundraise for the health education programs for youth in The Gambia.

Some Team Love4Gambia at the start

In summary, it was a pretty epic, wonderful, awesome, and “Christmas-like” day in Halifax to be a runner!  It really goes to show that it is the more simple things in life that count: running, community, being outside, and so forth.  What really made this experience different for me from last year (besides the training) was being apart of team Love4Gambia.  This was an amazing group of over 60 people that participated in events ranging from the youth run all the way to the marathon.  It was great to see the green team t-shirts throughout the day and just to yell “go Gambia” and get a positive response in return.  This also gave me a lot of purpose in my run; I believe running can be used to accomplish great things, as an individual and as a community.  I believe this was exemplified through the Bluenose yesterday and the sense of community and pride it sparked throughout Halifax and Dartmouth.  So many people pushed their individual limits to run new race or run faster times, and the community pushed it’s limits by organizing the largest event to date with over 14,000 participants!  This is also what I hope to do with my run across the Gambia, (on a smaller scale of course).  Yes, it is an individual run, and I will challenge myself physically and mentally on an individual level to overcomes the challenges that come with running across a country.  At the same time, I hope this run will bring communities in The Gambia and Canada closer together through the universal sport of running.  We ran as a team in support of the NSGA this past weekend here in Halifax, and I will be running with children in The Gambia who are the recipients of the NSGA’s life-saving programs.   Please support me (Click the donate button on right and select love4gambia), as I use running as a means to connect Nova Scotia and The Gambia in order to promote health in both location.

Also, check out Love4Gambia on the CBC!  Tv link (love4gambia is about 9 minutes into the show) and the newspaper article.

Much love,

Jennifer

Today, i would like to introduce Dr. Megan Aston (MA), a NSGA Board Member and love4gambia team runner who will be taking part in the Bluenose this weekend.  She has done a phenomenal job fundraising, and we are so lucky to have her apart of the team!

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JP: So Megan, how did you become affiliated with the NSGA?

MA:  I became involved with the NSGA through both my work as an associate nursing professor at Dalhousie University and my involvement with Bedford United Church. Many of our nursing students travel to the Gambia through their summer teaching program and I personally began working with the NSGA in 2008 when I travelled to Sierra Leone a part of an HIV/AIDS screening and education program. My husband and daughter travelled to the Gambia with Bedford United church in 2009 and we were involved in lots of fundraising. Since then I have been a board member.

JP: How long have you been a runner/walker?

Megan with team Love4Gambia in 2012

MA: I began running three years ago with my neighbor. My first event was the 5km resolution run in Halifax, and my second was with Team Love4Gambia 10k, BlueNose marathon. Since then I have run two half marathons.

JP: How did you become involved with Team Love4Gambia?

MA: I was inspired by Erin, who first ran across the Gambia in 2011. I knew her as a nursing student at Dalhousie, then an accomplished youth health nurse, and finally an amazing runner.

JP: Why is it important to you to run for The Gambia as part of Team Love4Gambia?

MA: Running/walking for Love4Gambia is a way to ‘advertise’ our cause as it is a common activity that most people can do. It connects people between the Gambia and Nova Scotia as we now have runners on both sides of the ocean who run for Love4Gambia every year.

JP: If you ran or walked in the Bluenose run last year, can you share a highlight of your race?

MA: I first ran in the Bluenose in 2011. I ran 10km that year and the highlight of my run was running towards the finish line with a group from Love4Gambia standing on the sidelines cheering me on and giving me high fives. I ran across the finish line crying I was so happy… happy to be part of this amazing experience and Love4Gambia. I raised about $500 that year. Last year, I ran a half marathon for Love4Gambia and raised over $1,000. This will be my third year running for Love4Gambia and I am so excited.

JP:  What?s been the easiest part of your training this cycle?

MA: It is so easy to train as I run with my friends Jennifer and Kathy three mornings a week.

JP: What?s been the most challenging part of training?

MA: It has been challenging running in minus 10 degree!!

JP: What is your favorite part of running/walking?

MA: I love running with my friends and being part of Love4Gambia on race day. Our T-Shirts are awesome and they help us spread our message all over Halifax!

JP: How do you keep motivated?

MA: I am motivated by thinking I am privileged to live in Canada where I can run every day and stay healthy and strong. Being healthy in mind, body and spirit is important for all of us. Being able to ensure all of us have the opportunity to live our lives like this motivates me to keep going so I can raise money to help Love4Gambia. My friends and family are awesome and really keep me motivated… they are donating a lot of money…. And all I have to do is run!

JP: What are you most looking forward to on race day?

MA: I am looking forward to seeing our Love4Gambia supporters along the race route cheering us on as well as running with other runners in Love4Gambia and my friends.

JP: What advice would you give to other runners to assist them in their training for the Blue Nose Marathon?

MA: Remember that every time you run, you are running for Love4Gambia, no matter how fast or how slow your run! Enjoy each step, be very proud of yourself, and get ready to celebrate with other Love4Gambia supporters and runners on race day, at the beginning and end of the Bluenose marathon!

JP: Great!  Thanks for that Megan! Having a significant reason to run definitely makes it a lot easier and has been motivation for me as well as I prepare for the Bluenose and for Gambia.

To support megan, please click here!

For more information about team Love4Gambia at the Bluenose or to sign up to run with up, click here!

Looking forward to the Bluenose 2013!  Go team Love4Gambia (team green!) and have a great race!

Love4Gambia 2013 Tees

First, the Love4Gambia t-shirt design is in!  They are green, bright, and will definitely make all love4gambia runners stand out on race day!  Can’t wait to cheer you all on and be cheered on right back. All love4gambia runners that raise over $50 automatically get a tee!

Second, Team love4gambia will be having a post-bluenose celebration event at the Armview, Sunday, May 19th at 5:00pm.  It will be a great way to meet other like-minded runners on the team and to enjoy some good food and drinks (you will certainly deserve it after running in the morning).  I even hear there will be a special Gambian cocktail.  Mmmmm.  Anyone can come and the Armview has generously agreed to donate 15% of the bill back to Love4Gambia.  So the more the merrier!

And now, back to meeting Kristen, who will be running her first half marathon on May 19th:

JP: How long have you been a runner?

KC: I’ve been involved with sports all my life, but I only started participating in races during university, now that I’m not playing any organized sports.

JP: How did you become involved with Team Love4Gambia?

KC: Erin is my sister- she created Love4Gambia and completed the first run across the country. Joining the team 2 years ago was a given to support her.

JP: Why is it important to you to run for The Gambia as part of Team Love4Gambia?

KC: Although I originally joined the team to support my sister, it didn’t take long for the cause to become important to me too. After hearing her stories, I quickly understood how important NSGA’s work is to all Gambians and wanted to do my part to help.

Kristen and her niece at the 2012 Blue Nose

JP: You ran the 5km as part of Team Love4Gambia last year. Can you share a highlight of your race?

KC: The last two years I was impressed by not only the enthusiasm of the whole city during the Bluenose, but also the team itself. People I never met before were cheering for me just because they recognized my shirt. Last year’s highlight was being able to do the run with my sister- only 4 weeks after her daughter was born. She is the best role model around!

JP: What’s been the easiest part of your training this cycle?

KC: Getting out on the road to start running. I know that I need these training runs in order to finish my first half marathon.

JP: What’s been the most challenging part of training?

KC: One thing I’ve learned training this year is that intervals (800s, 1000s etc) are a lot harder than you expect!

JP: What is your favorite part of running?

KC: The feeling of accomplishment after you improve your time, or finish a long run you weren’t sure you could do.

JP: Where is the most unusual place you’ve run?

KC: No memorable unusual places. The boardwalk by the water in Charlottetown is one of the prettiest though.

JP: How do you keep motivated?

KC: The goal of completing my first half is pretty good motivation- if I need any more, Erin is always great for support and answering any questions I have.

JP: What are you most looking forward to on race day?

KC: Running as a part of the team with both of my sisters and knowing we are doing something important for a great cause.

JP: What advice would you give to other runners to assist them in their training for the Blue Nose Marathon?

KC: Find a family member or friend who supports you that you can share your progress with. Having your own cheerleader sure helps!

JP: Thanks so much Kristen and good luck with your first half marathon.  Looking forward to seeing you and cheering you on in your love4gambia t-shirt!

You can click here to support Kristen’s run for Gambia.

Also, if you would like to join team love4gambia at the bluenose, please click here.

Thanks and good luck to all Bluenose runners!  Enjoy the taper week!

Jennifer