Tag Archives: Mizuno

Day 2.. We have arrived in Basse!

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This is the blog from yesterdays run that we were unable to complete on account of the poor internet connection. Blog about completing Km 50-75 today will be up soon!

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!

The team ready to begin Day 2!

A long and hot 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

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!

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!

Tricked by the Mayor!

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The Dinner Room

The Dinner Room

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend the annual NSGA African dinner and auction.  I was told that this would be a good opportunity to share information about my Love4Gambia campaign, and to enjoy a great meal and good company.  I was also told that there would be a brief presentation about Love4Gambia 2013, with a message

Olga Milosevich talking about Love4Gambia 2013

Olga Milosevich talking about Love4Gambia 2013

from the 2012 runner, Andrea Moritz, and a god luck wish from the Mayor of Halifax, Mike Savage.  I was told to bring my running shoes that were donated to my run in January by Aerobics First.  The mayor was going to hand them over to me as a symbol of good luck with my 424km run across The Gambia. Woohoo!, support from the Mayor, that’s pretty neat!  The only thing was that I have been running in the shoes since January (varying 60-85km per week), and they are quite dirty, stinky, etc.  Not exactly something I want the mayor to have to hold onto.  Nevertheless, I showed up with the runners in a grocery bag and gave them to the event coordinator to have ready.

New Shoes from The Mayor and Aerobics First!

New Shoes from The Mayor and Aerobics First!

The event was excellent: well organized, with wonderful food, entertainment, company, and auction items.  When it was my turn to come up on stage I was jittery nervous, hoping not to jumble my words, trip, and so forth.  The MC, Olga Milosevich, and the Mayor, Mike Savage, both had very kind words for me.  Then, quite unexpectedly, the mayor pulled out a new pair of Mizuno Wave Rider 16s!  Holy moly, I was expecting my regular old running shoes, not a brand new pair!  I was definitely surprised!  I would like to thank Mike Savage or his good luck wishes, and Aerobics First for donating another pair of running shoes to train in for my Love4Gambia campaign.  Thanks to everyone at the dinner for their

New Mizuno Runners!

New Mizuno Runners!

wishes of good luck.  It really means a lot to me to do this with so much support from Nova Scotia.  This event was definitely a great re-motivator to continue pushing in my training and fundraising efforts.

 

Thanks again to everyone!

 

Jennifer

 

 

If you would like to support my run and health for children across The Gambia, you can donate HERE.  Thanks!

Thanks for your support Mizuno!

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I would like to write a quick blog thanking Mizuno for their running apparel donations in support of my run across The Gambia.  I received the package of brand new running clothes to practice and race in about a month ago.  Mizuno generously donated 8 light-weight running tops, 8 running leggings, and a hat to top it off.  It was a pretty exciting thing to get in the mail.

Typically, I would run in the free race t-shirts I have collected and various running clothes I could muster together from the thrift store.  I thought these fancy, light-weight materials for athletic gear were over-rated and did not really make that much of a difference on the running experience.

Ultra light, ultra bright for The Gambia. Thanks Mizuno!

Ultra light, ultra bright for The Gambia. Thanks Mizuno!

However, after running for a month or so now in my fancy new gear, I realized I may have been wrong.  The light-weight, sweat-wicking material on all of the clothes is fantastic.  It will be awesome while running in 35 degree weather, and will weigh and chafe significantly less while sweating up a storm for my run.  Thanks again to Mizuno for their support of my run and the NSGA’s peer health education programs in The Gambia.  Part of running, is supporting those that are the fastest, and another part of running is supporting all of the good things that can come out of running.  I’m glad to wear the clothing of a company that supports both!

Please support me by donating to the cause and helping me to educate Gambian children on life-saving health skills.  Every donation counts and helps me to reach my goal of $15,000 for the NSGA.

Much love,

Jennifer

Final days – Vacationing on the Smiling Coast of Africa

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The patio at Leybato

I am writing this while sitting on the patio at Leybato looking out at the waves crashing onto the beach.  As always, there are many young man jogging up and down the beach or doing push-ups and crunches.  Young Gambians like to keep fit and there are gyms all over the place in this country.  There is even one variety of lizard that is in on the fitness craze.  This grey and yellow creature often stops running and then begins to pump out a few push ups, bending and straightening his front legs while in a perfect plank position.  I’ll have to look it up in a field guide to find out what prompts this curious behaviour – surely he is not trying to build up his biceps to impress the lady lizards!

I hope to join the active beach crowd to go for a short jog this afternoon, time permitting, but after our TV interview aired last night (3 minutes into the news cast), I doubt I will have company.  A lady that can run from Koina to Banjul is just too scary!  It seems lots of people saw the interview on state television last night and I have been getting many positive comments this morning.

A look at the equipment at the radio station.

The radio interview we had recorded on the beach when we finished the run has now also been on the air.  The microphone used on the beach was defective, so we had to go to the studio to re-record the piece.  This was an experience in itself.  The studio’s equipment was not exactly the latest technology, but it worked.  Well, at least when the power is on. We had just started recording when the lights went out and we sat in complete darkness in the studio.  This gave us some time to joke around and chitchat and we started over when the power returned.

During the broadcast people were asked to phone in with comments or questions.  The response was overwhelming.  Kebba tried to call, but could not get through.  People were expressing their thanks, others were asking if it really was in Koina on the border with Senegal that we started, and yet others questioned whether I was human or some kind of she-devil, since they thought it impossible for any human to run this kind of distance (ultra running is practically unknown in the Gambia).  Many people stated that they would like to have a chance to meet me in person and that what I did for their children will never be forgotten.  People also wanted to know about my husband and whether he ran. When they learned he had recently completed a 100 mile run, they said that our children would be able to run around the entire world.  The reporter asked why I wasn’t on the Olympic team given how strong I was and I explained that I was far too slow and too old.  But no matter what the International Olympic Committee may think, I know that in the hearts of many Gambians, I am an Olympian ;-)   The sincerity of the callers and their genuine appreciation for what our team had accomplished was moving.

And speaking of accomplishments, the total funds raised from this year’s Love4Gambia run currently total $15,500.  This money will allow the NSGA to keep the lights on for a little while longer and to continue providing life-saving health education programs to young people, while at the same time teaching them valuable leadership skills.  And just because the run has now concluded does not mean that you can no longer donate.  Our Donate Now button on the web site remains active and contributions will still gladly be accepted.

Can you spot the chameleon on the picture?

But my last few days in the Gambia are not all about interviews and NSGA business.  There is also plenty of time to relax and play tourist.  Pa Modou and Kebba picked me up yesterday morning to take me sight seeing.  We started our day at the Reptile Farm.  I am a big fan of snakes, lizards, chameleons, skinks and the like.  The farm did not disappoint.  Our guide walked us around and talked to us about the various reptiles they had.  She let us hold the chameleon, which sat on my hand with its tail curled in a perfect spiral.  We also saw scorpions, small crocodiles and many different kinds of snakes.  These reptiles were either in concrete enclosures that did not look high enough to deter a determined snake from leaving or they were in glass terrariums, some of which had inoperative locks to keep the gate closed.  Our guide reassured us, that no snake had ever escaped.

The beautiful egg eating snake!

We were joined on our tour by two young Dutch women and a family with two young children.  All had been eager to hold the chameleon and when the guide brought out and egg-eating snake, she also had some volunteers.  Egg-eaters do not have teeth or venom, so are completely harmless.  After holding and examining this yellowish snake for a time, I uncoiled it from around my right arm and passed it on the young boy.

The mighty python!

But when we came to the terrarium where the pythons were kept, I was suddenly the only volunteer to want to hold one.  Everyone else backed away just a step or two.  I took the snake from the guide and it started moving along my upper body, its tongue probingly coming out to get a sense of me.  It tickled my skin.  The snake wound itself around me and the other people gathered up their courage and came closer to watch or even touch it somewhere far away from the head.  When Pa Modou was near me, I took the snake’s head and waved it in front of Pa’s face.  His expression was priceless and he jumped back with a shout.  We all had a nice laugh at his expense, but then he manned up and even held the snake briefly, as did Kebba.  I got to keep holding it while we went along visiting some turtles, but then had to put it back in its terrarium.

A stall in the market in Serekunda.

We left the reptile centre and took a drive along the Senegambia area.  We stopped in a fishing village along the way and saw the fishermen repairing their nets and working on their boats.  The women were grilling and selling fish from today’s catch.  Pa Modou is a Serre and this ethnic group has traditionally been in the fishing business.  He enjoyed having a chance to speak in his own language with the people on the beach, as he doesn’t often have the chance to do so at work or with friends.  From the fishing village we drove to the market in Serekunda to do some shopping.  I wanted to pick up a few gifts and souvenirs.  Kebba negotiated hard on my behalf and my newly acquired fame from the media interviews contributed to getting decent prices rather than tourist pricing.

Shaking hands (paws?) with mama monkey!

From the market, we drove to the monkey park.  While travelling up country, we had often seen baboons and a smaller, light coloured type of monkey crossing the road.  I had also seen some red monkeys jumping from tree to tree chattering loudly.  Here at the monkey park, the light coloured monkeys came to greet us on the street to get their share of peanuts.  We had bought a couple of bags of peanuts and while I am not in the habit of feeding wild animals, there was clearly nothing wild about these monkeys.  One female who had a baby attached to her belly was not even concerned by the fact that I gently touched the little one peeking at me with enormous eyes.  The baby’s fur was so much softer than the mature one’s.  The little one was suckling simultaneously on the mother’s two nipples.

My new best friend forever!

The monkeys stood on their hind legs to reach up and take peanuts from our hands.  Some also followed us down the trail eagerly staring at our hands and occasionally grabbing.  We went deeper into the bush and then also saw red monkeys in the trees.  These ones hardly ever come down and are not easily bribed by food.  It was getting a bit dark and taking photos of these fast moving and shy creatures was difficult.  Further along the trail, a monkey was seated on a tree stretched across the trail.  I stopped and reached up while he extended his hand down to take a peanut.  I guess he decided it tasted like more, so he jumped on my shoulder and attempted to wrestle the whole bag out of my hand.  We had a short tug of war, which I won.  Yet he stayed on my shoulder for a little while longer.  We were followed by a small group of monkeys and I handed out peanuts.  Every now and again there was some screeching as the primates chased each other away to get the choice morsels.

Following all that monkey business, Kebba dropped me back off at Leybato.  I went to the beach restaurant and ordered some food and a glass of wine.  After dinner, Leif, who manages the resort with his wife Sussane, invited me to a glass of cognac in celebration of their 27th wedding anniversary.  We had a few drinks, ate Crepe Suzette as a midnight snack and talked about the Gambia, Europe, travelling and the challenges of running a business in the Gambia.  They told me that when they began managing the hotel, staff had not been paid in over a year, but showed up to work anyway, as they would get some food and the occasional tip from customers.  Now they were getting paid again and everyone at Leybato seems quite happy to be working there and takes pride in their jobs.

Morning came early after a late night and Kebba and Pa came to pick me up to go to the Crocodile Pool.  I visited the museum first, where I learned about traditional celebratory masks of the different ethnic groups, musical instruments used in the Gambia, as well as about traditional household and farming implements.  Then it was time to visit the crocs.  Even though the big animals were walking around freely, I was less worried by them than I was by the mosquitoes devouring my legs.  I had so many bites that I started jumping up and down, slapping my legs.  One of the staff had pity on me and poured some cold water over my lower legs.  What a relief!  But it was short lived and after snapping a few photos with the crocodiles, we were out of there.

At the NSGA office, we met the four Canadian volunteers who showed off the gorgeous dresses they had made at the market.  A lunch had been planned for us with the staff and after many kind words said about the dedication of the young women who spent a month here to teach peer health at schools and then to work in hospitals as interns, it was their turn to address the group.  Like I had done at an earlier occasion, they also stated that they had gained far more from their experience in the Gambia than they felt they had given.  They, too, were moved to tears by the kindness and spirit of the Gambian people and I know they also plan to be back and will spread the word about the good work  of the NSGA when they return to Canada.

Relaxing at Leybato.

I am now enjoying my last afternoon at Leybato.  I will lace up my Mizunos one last time here in the Gambia for a run along the beach and will then go for a swim before packing my bags for the trip to Europe.  Insha’Allah, I shall return to the Smiling Coast of Africa someday soon.  But first, a three week European adventure awaits!

Love from the Gambia,

Bintou

Day 9 July 3 – What a difference a day can make!

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Those who have been following this blog know that yesterday was a tough day for me.  The heat, lack of sleep, wear and tear on my body and likely also a shortage of calories the previous day had all gotten to me.  Only the thought that my pain was nothing compared to that of Saikou’s father, who died a painful and unnecessary death due to an untreated stomach ulcer and the pain of many other people in the Gambia who do not have access to health care, kept me going.  But what a difference a day can make!

love4gambia 2012 Progress Map day9

We had a big storm and lots of rain late the previous afternoon and this brought a welcome breeze and a slight drop in temperatures.  As a result, I was able to sleep well and even slept through my alarm.  I didn’t wake up until 6:45, more than an hour later than my usual time.  I had clearly needed the rest, so I didn’t mind that it would mean running in the hotter part of the day.  We got on the road quickly after I taped my feet and knee, and to give myself a boost, I broke out a brand new, never used pair of Mizuno Ronins.  Following a 20 kilometer drive back on the road from Soma to where I left off the previous day, we began to run.

Team Love4Gambia 2012 is reaching star status!

It was still somewhat cool, so the going was good.  But before we got far down the road, we came upon a village where a group of men were sitting by the roadside.  One of them  asked me to where I was running and when we told him we were heading from Koina to Banjul, he wanted to know my reasons.  He had never heard of anyone running from Koina to the coast and pulled out the latest and greatest iPhone model to record us and my response.  “I am running for your children,” I told him and explained that my run was a fundraiser for children’s health education programs. By now, lots of kids had come out of the village to see what was happening and to meet the toubab.  The usual fist bumps, high fives and smiles ensued, as did the photo taking and then showing the kids their pictures on the display of my digital camera.  But as always, there was one child that ran away screaming in fear of the strange white person.

I was feeling good and the first 10 kilometers went by quickly.  I felt relieved and grateful that this morning would not be a repeat of yesterday.  By the time we got to 15 kilometers, it was getting hot out.  But I knew that we would come through Soma soon where we could buy some ice.  I also looked forward to buying a cold Coke, which would be a nice treat.  A mass taxi came by and the driver honked a greeting as he went past.  When the van came to a stop at the police road block up ahead, I saw squeezed in the back, the man who had been video recording our conversation earlier.  He gave me a broad smile and a thumbs up.  Only 2 kilometers left to Soma now.

Once we reached the busy town, which is at the cross road to Senegal, I received lots of shouts of encouragement.  I stopped at a shop and bought a cold Coke.  The sugar, caffeine and cold liquid gave me a big boost.  I also purchased a banana from a woman carrying a tray full on her head.  Thus strengthened, I ran through the rest of the town before turning left on the road to Banjul.

Here the pavement ended and I was back on a bumpy dirt road.  Parts of the road were quite muddy from yesterday’s rain and my white, new Mizunos were soon coated in the red mud of the South Bank Road.  Over a week ago, when we drove from Banjul to the start point of the run in Koina, we had stopped at a camp to buy some water.  Three toubabs were sitting in the shade of a metal roof with some locals, tunes cranked and rocking out to Bob Marley.  I had gone over to meet them and learned that the toubabs were from Ireland, South Africa and Germany and were working on a road project.  They had not yet completed the work to Soma and from where I finished my run today, I will have approximately another 50 kilometers of dirt road ahead before I reach asphalt again.  The guys were impressed by our Love4Gambia venture and made a donation in the amount of 500 Dallasis (the local currency) on the spot.  But before getting back to the place I met them, there are still two more days of running.

Thank god for the shade of the baobab tree!

Since it was pretty hot by now and the heat was radiating off the road, I stopped under a baobab tree to enjoy its shade for a moment.  A boy came over with an open baobab fruit in his hand and gave me some to try.  Soon other children followed and I handed out some stickers.  The kids were so well behaved – there was no shoving or grabbing, but they all patiently waited their turn and then repaid me with big smiles.  Our next stop would be the finish of today’s run!  When we reached 20.46 miles, there was a nice big tree on the side of the road.  We set up our temporary rest camp under its canopy and called it a day.

The beautiful children of the Gambia. Help them by clicking the “Donate Now” button.

Across from us in a field some women were working.  They waved at us and we headed into the field to say hello.  It turns out, this same spot had been a rest spot for Erin when she ran across the Gambia last year and the women remembered seeing the team.  Following the introductions, the guys and I took the hoes from the women and worked the field for a little, bit by bit loosening up the tough ground for planting rice.  The woman sang and chanted while we worked.  They even composed a song for me and sang out my name as part of the lyrics.  There was also dancing in the middle of this field and spirits were high even though they were out doing back breaking work in the hot sun.  Some of the women had children in the schools that are benefitting from the health education programs of the Nova Scotia Gambia Association, so the women expressed their thanks for what the team was doing.  It was a touching and heart-warming meeting.

We then drove back to Soma where we will spend another night before moving on tomorrow.  We had lunch in town and rested in the afternoon.  Next, a group of teenage kids came over to take part in a drama class Pa Modou had offered to teach.   Theatre is storytelling and a significant part of the culture.  It is also an excellent way to communicate the important health messages the NSGA wants to share with youth in the Gambia.  It was fun to watch these teens engaged and performing their skits.  Even though I didn’t understand a word, as the plays were performed in the local language, it was obvious that a good time was had by all.

While I was watching the children, an SUV with a Gambian flag attached on the front drove into the courtyard.  The person inside was the Governor of the Lower River Region, the official representative of the President in these parts.  He heard about what we were doing and had asked to be introduced to me.  We had a pleasant conversation and he expressed his appreciation for the project as well as his promise to join part of the run next year.

As I am sitting here writing and sweating, the clouds are rolling in again and the wind is picking up.  Looks like we will get more rain and with that hopefully another good night’s sleep.

Thanks again for all the great and encouraging comments, as well as for the many shares of this blog on Facebook.  It is hard to put in words how much your support means to me! Please encourage your friends to donate to Love4Gambia through our website to help us make a difference in the lives of children here in the Gambia!

Talk to you all tomorrow.  Love from Soma,

Bintou

Days 6 and 7 – June 30 and July 1 – The journey continues…

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After the late night of our naming ceremony on the evening of my first rest day, the alarm sounded early.  I got up, packed my things, cleaned and disinfected my toes and knee and then we drove back to the point where I had left off running on Thursday.  We hadn’t been able to find any food in town to have breakfast, so I had a Honey Stinger waffle and was on my way on only 180 calories for the morning.  For the start of a new day after the rest, I put on a fresh pair of shoes – my Mizuno Mushas.  I was sleepy and worried about my blisters, but they didn’t hurt very much.  Yet my knee was quite stiff and achy and still hadn’t forgiven me the fall on day one.

love4gambia 2012 Progress Map day6

It was overcast and there was a slight breeze.  This helps my running a lot.  We had few stops as there were fewer villages along the way, so we made good progress.  The knee stopped aching about 10 kilometers into the run.  All systems go!

When we did come to a village, a group of women came over to greet me and asked me how my family was.  We all shook hands and they welcomed me to their village.  Before I knew it we were at the half way point.  In another village a boy started running with me and tagged along for a couple of kilometres wearing a smile on his face the whole time.

In another village, a young mother was out by the road holding her baby in her arms.  The infant boy, Moussa, was the first baby that didn’t cry in fright at the sight of this toubab.  In fact, he even let me hold him and happily tested his toothless gums on the tube of my hydration pack.  Surely there was a tooth breaking through soon.

Since I was feeling relatively good and the temperature was more bearable today I decided to get an extra couple of kilometres in and finished the day at almost 32 kilometers.   Over 150 kilometers had now been completed on the route to Banjul.  Following some stretching and rest on the roadside, we began the long drive back to Jan Jang Bureh where we had accommodations for the night.  A truck was broken down by the side of the road.  We stopped to see if we could help.  This is what people do in the Gambia.  There was no question of driving by with the “that’s not my problem” attitude or relying on the fact that someone else will probably help.  We gave the man a lift to the next village where he could find a mechanic.  I then fell asleep in the car, completely exhausted, and slept until we got to our accommodation.  I sat in the car while Pa Modou sorted out details.

While I was waiting, three girls came up to me carrying their exercise book and a notebook from school.  One girl asked me if I liked my job. She then wrote down my answer.  Next she asked me what my job was – not easy to explain to a 7 year old who speaks English as a second language.  But we managed and again she recorded my answer carefully with one of the older girls and myself helping her spell the occasional word.  I saw in her exercise book that her homework task was to “practice with a friend”.  The girls also wanted to know my name and I told them I was Bintou.

I settled into my room and following a shower, I began drafting my blog report from the rest day.   My room had air conditioning, so I was in heaven! I had not gotten very far in my writing when a voice called out: “Bintou!”  I answered the door and there were my little girlfriends.  I shared some of the cookies I had been munching on and we talked for a little while before I told them I had to continue working.  I also wanted a nap desperately.  But not 10 minutes later, they were back at the door, asking me if I wanted to join them to go to “the grave”.  How could I say no to these sweet little girls? So we started walking and I again petted the dog laying lazily in the same shady spot where he’d been since our arrival.  The girls took me to a graveyard to show me the tombstones.  While walking, we looked for lizards, talked about monkeys, scorpions and snakes, which they apparently often see in their compound.    We also talked about their favourite subjects in school.  Back in the yard of our accommodation, we said our good-byes and I again said hi to the lazy dog.  Then I finished writing my blog.  By now the sun had set.

In order to send my blog to Marc for posting, I had to go outside so I could get a network.  I put a chair on the path to my room and began the painfully slow process of logging on.  The lazy dog decided it was now cool enough to move and came over to me, tail wagging.  I petted him and talked to him while slowly going through the various log in steps.  He began to chew the USB key that connected me to the internet and then put his front legs on my lap to come closer for more love.  He licked my arms, then went around behind me, jumped with his front legs on my chair back and shoulders and then began to pull my pony tail.  Playtime!  When the prayers were starting to be heard from the Mosque, the dog turned in the direction of Mecca, crouched down and started howling at the sound.  I am sure it was the right direction, as Kebba was turned the same way saying his prayers.

Some young boys came over to say hi and when they saw that I liked their dog they asked me if I wanted him as a present.  The generosity of the Gambian people is just like that.  I wish I could have taken this funny dog with the chewed off ears with me and to accept the gift from the boys, but can’t even imagine the amount of paperwork involved in something like this, so this dog will have to keep providing his entertainment to the boys right here.

The Nova Scotia volunteers had now also arrived after their teaching day and we had a late dinner together.  Then I again collapsed into my bed to rest up for day six.

love4gambia 2012 Progress Map day7

On this day, we found breakfast in town and then took on the 30 kilometer drive to yesterday’s end point.  Once there, I got out of the car, stretching my tight hip flexors and hamstrings.  Kebba again joined me for the first part of the run and after the usual morning team photo, we set off to shouts of “To Banjul” and “Banjul calling!”.  Kebba stuck with me for a whole 15 kilometers today.  Then Spiderman took over and kept me company for 13 kilometers.  We stopped frequently today to speak to children, to run with a group of little girls.  In each village, I would greet people with “Salaam Aleikum” or “Nmumbara, nmumbara” people waved and returned the greeting.  Drivers of passing trucks, cars and motorcycles, as well as the mini bus taxis that were stuffed full of people and had loads of luggage and live goats strapped to the roof, would beep their horns and give a wave.

Girl power!

I always rewarded the kids who ran with me with some candy and stopped at our car to give some to three young girls who had joined me.  They then ran a little further with me and as I said my good-bye, they asked for another “sweetie” and I gladly obliged.  As I turned to put the rest of the package back into the car, one of them called out: “Toubab!” and when I turned around, added: “Very good!” with a big smile on her face.  It is these encounters with the kids for whom I am running that always get me through the day, no matter how tired or tight my body is starting to feel.

Some boys herding cows admired my hydration pack at another stop.  One of them had figured out that I was drinking from the tube and explained this to his friends in Wolof.  I only guessed at what he was saying because he was pointing and gesturing.  So, I decided to give them a demonstration, took a deep draught from the tube and then spat the water on the ground.  The crowd erupted in laughter and I had to perform my trick a few more times.

While on the road today, the guys picked up a woven grass mat and a small stool from an old man selling his wares by the roadside.  Now I have a place to sit when I change my socks and shoes partway through the run and a better place than the floor mats from the car to lay down and rest after the run as well as to do some stretching.  As I did so today, a group of children kept calling out to me, waving from a short distance away.  Since they kept calling and smiling, I thought I’d walk over and say hello.  This again prompted one little girl to run away crying.  The scary toubab strikes again!

I am now over 180 kilometers into the run and will reach the half way mark before the conclusion of tomorrow’s run.  We are now settled into our accommodation and I cleaned up with a bucket shower, as there is no bathroom in my room.  The bucket shower is just a stall in the courtyard with a corrugated metal roof and a drain in the floor.  A man brought a bucket of water and a cup.  I poured water over me, soaped myself, and then poured more water to rinse off.  When I came out of the shower, the boys were all sleeping outside on the porch in front of our rooms.  They work hard keeping me fed, running with me and looking after me!  Next we had lunch and I will now try to nap a little to help my body recover.  So much more running ahead…

Hugs and kisses,

Bintou

Day 4 June 28 – Over 100 kilometers done!

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We once again rose early to beat the heat.  There had been more rain during the night, so the morning felt relatively cool, albeit not in my room, where there was no power and thus no fan.  I got dressed, tended to the cuts on my hands and knees and then taped my blistered feet the way my friend Henri had taught me.  Then I waited for the guys to pick me up.

love4gambia 2012 Progress Map day4

6:00 a.m. came and went, but there was no sign of the guys.  I lay down on the bed, waiting and resting.  I was feeling tired and dozed off a bit.  6:30 a.m. and still no sign of the guys.  I began to wonder what may have happened to them, as they are usually punctual.  At just before 7:00 a.m. there finally was a knock on my door.  Pa Modou explained that the gate to the guest house had been locked and that he’s been trying to find a way in for the past hour.  Agghhh!  There was one hour of relatively cool weather gone and one more hour to run in the heat.  But it is what it is, so no use worrying about it.

To make up for lost time, I skipped making my coffee and we quickly picked up a few bottles of water in Bansang and were on our way.  I typically drink a 1.5 litre bottle of water from the moment I get up until we reach the start point of the day’s run.  While running, I drink 4 litres of water from my hydration pack and another 4 litres of Gatorade from the bottles in the truck.  After the run, I drink at least 3 more litres of water throughout the afternoon and evening.  That is a total of nearly 13 litres of fluids a day!  Strangely, it doesn’t feel like I am forcing it down, but the body wants and needs that much liquid given that I am always sweating.

To save time, I ate my breakfast sandwich wrapped in news print in the car while Pa was driving at top speed to our starting point.  I also mixed the Gatorade bottles and filled the hydration pack while we were driving – every minute saved was a minute less under the brutal sun.  When we got to the starting point, I handed what was left of my sandwich to Pa, put on my shoes, and then, with Kebba by my side, starting running down the road.

We had once again given a lift to a school girl who we saw in town while buying bread.  Upon climbing into the truck, she mentioned that it was a cold morning today.  I laughed.  The temperature felt bearable, but I sure wouldn’t characterize it as cold!

My hamstrings felt a bit tight and I was beginning to feel that my legs had been doing some work over the course of the last few days, but I soon got into a rhythm.  The first 10 km went by relatively quickly, especially since we had a landmark to celebrate when getting there – after running 30 kilometers each day for the last 3 days, the 10 kilometer mark today would mean a total of 100 kilometers done!  324 kilometers left to go toBanjul, but I don’t think of it that way – too scary!  Instead I take it day by day and one kilometre at a time.

We stopped to write 100 km in the sand by the side of the road and posed for photos before running on.  A few kilometres further down the road, we were met by a vehicle carrying a group of volunteers from Nova Scotia who are here to teach the water program at schools.  These volunteers spent a few weeks travelling from school to school talking about the importance of clean water for health, as well as about water scarcity and conservation.  Stephanie, Lauren, Katie and Pam, as well as Lamin and Oumie– the Gambian project leaders – cheered me enthusiastically.  We stopped to chat and a few villagers came out to see what all the fuss was about.  We all shared stories for a while and then it was time to keep going.  The sun was getting stronger and the temperature was rising.  The dreaded heat was coming back to full force and the going was getting tougher.

When we reached Bansang, a few boys started running with me and one boy, Muhammed, began to ride beside me on his bicycles.  We soon left the runners behind, but Muhammed stuck with me, later joined by another boy on a bike who was delivering bread to the next village.  I got the usual raised eyebrows and looks of disbelief along with an “ouiiiii” sound when I told them I was running toBanjul. A little later, when I stopped at the truck for some nutrition, I shared my Honey Stinger waffle with the boys and then they went on their way.

They guys had picked up a block of ice in Bansang, which I now needed to cool my core temperature down.  I would take occasional breaks in the shade of a tree and rub ice on my neck, face, legs and arms.  The guys also pour ice water over my body, which feels heavenly, but has one giant draw back: my shoes and socks get soaked and even though I put on a fresh pair of my Mizuno Ronins as well as dry socks part way through the run, these only stay dry for a short period of time.  Blisters the size ofTexashad started forming on my toes and the tape had rubbed off.  We’ll have to refine the cool down technique over the next few days.

The last few kilometres were tough but after 3 hours and 2 minutes of running, we had covered the distance of 19.24 miles.  If you wonder why I don’t run an even 19 miles or 30 kilometers: I usually carry on past 19 miles until I reach the next big tree that will spend shade, so I can escape the sun.  There also has to be some kind of landmark that will allow us to easily find the spot where we left off, so we can resume the run the following day.

I got into the shade, drank, grabbed the ice block and enjoyed the cold water running over my body.  I stretched and then lay down on the car floor mats the guys had put out for me and elevated my legs on a tree trunk.  I was hoping none of the black scorpions, of which I had seen a dead one lying on the road earlier, would be hiding out in the leaves where I was lying.  Apparently they are often out and about after the rains and their stings are excruciating.  When I asked Kebba the question if one may be hanging out here he said empathetically: “No, no,” and then he added: “Probably not.””.  Ha – not very reassuring!  We had a good laugh.

Spider than came over and gave my legs and shoulders a massage as I was lying down relaxing.  Wow, that felt great!  Then it was time to head back to the guest house, shower and eat.

The kids that are part of the extended family came over to ask me about my run and my morning.  We talked for a while.  I learned more about Saikou, the boy who already told me about his father’s death.  He proudly showed me his Red Cross first aid certificate for a course he had completed and told me he wanted to be a doctor.  Then he pulled another paper out of his file and handed it to me.  It was his father’s death certificate, which he had been given at the hospital the night his dad passed away.  It showed that he was admitted to Bansang Hospital with severe abdominal pain and that he died later that night of a peptic ulcer.  He must have been in severe pain for some time even before being admitted to the hospital and the thought of someone dying from a stomach ulcer is simply inconceivable in our word, but here this is an everyday occurrence.  Medical care and equipment are scarce and many people die of completely preventable and/or treatable disease.   I once again appeal to you to open your wallets and to donate.  Every little bit helps to make a difference and to save lives.  If only you could see first hand how much of a need there is and how appreciative people are of the assistance that is provided so they can help themselves.

I had my iPad on the table and they asked what it was.  I gave them a demo – showed them that I can put hundreds of books in this little machine, played them some music, showed them my Facebook page and email, then took our photo and finally shot a little video of us, which we played back to peals of laughter.

One of the girls, Sajou, then went off to do her laundry.  Later, Saikou made us some green tea – a strong concoction sweetened with loads of sugar.  The sugar is mixed in by pouring the tea from one glass to the other and back again several times until there is foam on top of the tea.  It was delicious.

Later in the afternoon, the volunteers from Nova Scotia returned, as did the team.  We shared more stories.  Spider had done the cooking – two chickens we met in a village along the way weren’t as lucky as the one the other day.  They ended up in Spider’s pot and were enjoyed along with some chips and a turnip/mashed potatoes mix.  Spider is a great cook and will be feeding us all the way to Banjul.

The guys all do a multitude of things – from running with me to organizing logistics, buying food, water and internet time, massage, entertainment, translation services, transportation and so much more.  No ask is too much and they insist on doing things even if I tell them it is not necessary or can wait until tomorrow.  They really are the best team one could ask for.

It was time for the soccer match, but the power had not yet come back on.  When it finally did come back, Germany was already 1:0 behind.  I had painted everyone’s faces with face paint in the colours of the German flag – kids, Nova Scotia volunteers, the team (including Pa Modou, who is a staunch England supporter) and even Fatty, the master of the house who was still dressed in the traditional Muslim clothing he had worn to the Mosque for prayer.  Yet, the Azzuri prevailed.

I stayed up late after the game, socializing and then reading for a while.  Tomorrow was my first rest day, so I could sleep in and relax.  Another great day in the Gambia!

Andrea

Oh, what’s a girl to wear? Gear list for a running expedition…

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Running Wolf Trail in Mizuno`s extra light shirt and shorts

Hard to believe that less than six weeks remain before my departure for the Gambia!

Now that the training is well in hand, fundraising events are organized and rolling out, and airline tickets are booked, I have started turning my attention to another important part of preparation – putting together a list of gear to bring along.  Having the right gear will be important to the success of my running expedition.  After all, winging it is not really an option when you plan to run over 30 kilometers a day for 14 days in some pretty extreme conditions!

By far my most important piece of gear will be my running shoes.  Thanks to the generosity of Mizuno Canada, I have quite a few pairs of the Ronin 4 to bring along.  I have run a few Comrades Ultra Marathons and a 100 km race in this shoe and know they will serve me well!  By bringing a few pairs, I’ll be sure to always have a dry, fresh pair for the start of each stage.

Mizuno also provided me with apparel.  The shorts and shirts I plan to wear are super light weight, breathable and oh so comfortable.  There are pockets in all the right places to carry nutrition and all the clothing looks amazing to boot.  A hat and buff will keep the sun off my head and the sweat out of my eyes and calf sleeves and recovery socks will round out my apparel to prevent swelling of the legs in the extreme heat and pooling of blood in the lower limbs.  Since I have a history of blood clots, this is a really important piece of apparel for me!

Another detail crucial to success is nutrition and hydration.  Thanks to Denis and Pepsi, I have a few cases of Gatorade powder that will keep me hydrated.  While I have an amazing crew travelling in a vehicle beside me, ready to provide me with whatever I need, I’ll also carry my small and light weight hydration pack.  This way I can take sips of fluid regularly while keeping my hands free to give kids I’ll meet along the road a high five.

As I’ll be burning a good number of calories running 30 km a day in the heat, I’ll also carry nutrition with me.  So, I am stocking up on Honey Stinger waffles and gels to keep fuelled during the run – yummy!

Diane and Andrea coming down Wolf Trail

To keep track of the distance covered each day, as well as of pace, heart rate, calories burned and other important info, I’ll be bringing along my Garmin GPS watch.  Thanks to the generosity of Chad, Luke and Aerobics First in Halifax, I have the latest and greatest model: the Forerunner 910XT.  This thing is loaded with features and will also beep at me at regular intervals to remind me to hydrate.

Other must have items are sunscreen and lip balm to protect my rather pale skin and Vaseline to prevent chafing.  And anyone who has been following this blog knows that I am a little accident prone, so my list wouldn’t be complete without a well-stocked first aid kit!  It will include tape for my feet, a needle to pop blisters, sterile wipes, nail clippers (just in the unlikely event that one of my toe nails stays attached), antibiotic ointment, bandages, Gastrolyte, malaria pills, bandages, band aids, and much more.

Since the power will be shut off for a few hours each night in the Gambia, I will also have to bring my headlamp and spare batteries.

And those are just the main items.  There are many details to consider and careful planning is a must!  I have put together an extensive list and will have it close at hand when the time comes to pack my suitcase.

In addition to the gear required for the run, I’ll also need to bring my camera and my iPad, so I can virtually share my experiences with you.  Since completing the gear list, I’ve been wondering if my arms will be stronger than my legs after the trip given all I’ll be carrying!

But before packing my bags for the Gambia, I will get ready for another trip – I am off to Halifax next week to run the Blue Nose Marathon as part of Team Love4Gambia!  It is not too late to support my fundraising campaign specific to the Blue Nose Scotiabank Charity Challenge.  Just click here to donate!

As always, thanks for your support!

Training Update

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With less than two months to go before my departure for the Gambia and with three great training races just around the corner, I thought it may be time for another training update to let you know how my preparation to run across the Gambia is going.

Needless to say, I have been running a lot!  After laying down a solid base in January and February,  I have spent the last couple of months increasing my weekly mileage to over 100 kilometers.  At first, this increase left me feeling tired and with heavy legs, but by now the body has adjusted and I am feeling fantastic!

Increasing the mileage also meant adding another running day.  While I often just managed to get out for five runs each week, I have been consistently getting six running days in each week for most of March and April.

On one of those running days, my workout consists of a 13 kilometer run to the office followed by another 13 kilometers at the end of the work day for the commute home.  Even on those days, my legs have been feeling good and I will now begin to add a second day per week to do this double workout.

In addition to running lots of mileage, I have also introduced some quality runs.  On Tuesdays, I either join the gang at the track or I do a solo tempo run.  It’s been fun mixing it up a bit!  Since the snow has melted in the Gatineau hills, I’ve also gone back to doing more trail running, which around here equates running hills.  At first, my body was not happy with this change, particularly since all the city running this winter was flat, but now I have started to adjust to this as well.

Next weekend, I am looking forward to heading to St. Catharines with Team Love4Gambia to run the Chocolate Race 10 miler.  Since this will be just a training run, there will be no taper and Sunday’s race will cap off yet another 115 km week.  Then on May 18th, we will be heading for Halifax to join the Team for the Blue Nose Marathon and the weekend after, I will also be taking in the Ottawa Race Weekend with Team Love4Gambia.  These two marathons will also just be training runs to get some long mileage in while in good company of a few thousand other runners, including our amazing team members.

Due to a shoulder injury from a silly fall at the start of the ski season, all my cross great cross training plans came to naught.  The shoulder is still causing pain and have not been able to ski or do yoga.  Even strength training options are limited, since many movements still cause discomfort.  The MRI I had last week should shed some more light on what’s going on, but fortunately this has not had an effect on running!

It is hard to believe that in two months from now, I will be running in the Gambia!  I really look forward to the experience and to meeting many wonderful people on the journey across the country.

I am really grateful that my body has adapted so well to the increased training load while getting little rest due to pressures at work and lots of time spent fundraising.  I am even more grateful to the support of the many donors, our Team Love4Gambia members running in the Blue Nose, Ottawa and Chocolate Race weekends, my amazing sponsors Mizuno, Aerobics First and Gatorade and to my training partner (and general partner in crime!) Marc!  Thank you for your continued support!

Andrea

Love4Gambia News – Save the Dates!

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It has been quiet on the Love4Gambia blog for the last couple of weeks!  But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been working away to cook up a few events and to spread the word about Love4Gambia! Lots of activities to come …

The Tooth Gallery's latest exhibition

Silent Auction and African Soirée

First of all, I am pleased to announce the Love4Gambia Silent Auction and African Soirée on Saturday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m..  The evening will be hosted at the Tooth Gallery, the office of dentist Dr. Jill M. Taylor, which does not only offer state of the art dentistry, but also regularly features the work of local, emerging artists.  Each artist is welcomed with a reception at the Gallery, which lends itself to entertaining and showcasing art.  Please come join me at this unique gallery that will challenge your view of dentistry.

Sacher Torte from Stubbe Chocolates

Not only will you enjoy the cool venue, but there are also amazing items on the auction block: would you like to see your Ottawa Senators in the play-offs (I have faith!)?  Bid on a pair of tickets courtesy of Bruno Paravan, Manager, Residential Mortgages with TD Canada Trust.  Need a day at the spa?  Treat yourself to a $250 voucher from Le Spa and The Hair Loft courtesy of Bruno Racine, the genius behind Ottawa Fashion Week. Then come home and curl up on the couch with a stylish quilt hand-made by Ottawa artist Cheryl Dollard. Also available are two framed photos by photographer Terry SanCartier, whose latest show Beach shirt by Dirty Runner“What we leave behind” was a smashing success. You can also score a painting by Geoffrey McGuire, a Stubbe Chocolates gift card, a $150 gift certificate from Bushtukah, passes to performances at the National Arts Centre and the Great Canadian Theatre Company, a Starbucks gift basket, cool running tops from Dirty Runner Productions, massage therapy from Balance and Motion, and much more!  There’s something for every taste and budget, so please come on out and join the bidding!   A huge thank you to all our generous supporters who have donated the items!  Tickets are $20 and include two drinks and hors d’oeuvres.  You can pick up a ticket by contacting me at andrea.moritz@rogers.com or by dropping by Sports 4 on Bank Street.

Love4Gambia Presentation at Sports 4

And speaking of Sports 4, check out their newly renovated store at 149 Bank Street, between Slater and Laurier!  Drop by on Wednesday, April 4th at 7:00 p.m. when I’ll be there to talk about my upcoming run across the Gambia, what motivates me to run 424 km in extreme conditions during my summer vacation and about my preparation.  Great door prizes will be available!  Hope to see you there!

Bushtukah’s S.W.E.E.T. Night

Ladies, please also drop by Bushtukah on Sunday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m. for the annual S.W.E.E.T women’s event.  Listen to motivating guest speakers, such as triathlete Jenny Hopkins, and mingle with experts.  I’ll have a table at the event and look forward to meeting many members of our Team Love4Gambia there!

Orleans Running Room Presentation

On Thursday, March 29, I’ll be speaking to members of the Orleans Running Room Marathon Clinic about Love4Gambia and will join the group for a run.  Look forward to meeting this gang of first time marathoners and to sharing running stories with them!

Your donations are appreciated!

Donation Banks

Thanks to Marc, we have also been distributing donation banks to a number of retailers in Ottawa/Gatineau!  If you spot one of these, please drop in a few dollars!

Recruiting for Team Love4Gambia

In addition, I am still recruiting runners to participate in Ottawa Race Weekend and the Chocolate Race to run as members of Team Love4Gambia.  With the exception of the marathon, Ottawa Race Weekend has now sold out and anyone who has not snagged a spot can check out the event’s web site to read about the transfer policy (transfers are permitted, i.e. you can buy a bib from a runner who is no longer able to participate – see terms and conditions at Run Ottawa’s web site).

Mizuno Sponsorship

Thanks to the support of Luke MacDonald at Aerobics First, I have received a sponsorship from Mizuno Canada, as announced on the Love4Gambia Facebook page last week.  Mizuno is generously providing me with apparel and my favourite running shoe, the Minzuno Ronin, so I can run across the Gambia in comfort and style!

That’s just some of what I’ve been working on over the last few weeks.  And of course, there’s the training!  Even though the runs are getting longer each weekend, running is getting so much easier now that spring is here!  Stay tuned for an update on training soon!

As always, thanks so much for your support!