Day 14 - the Great Race

Actually, I'll begin with the night before...
The "Great Ethiopian Run" is an event of national significance for Ethiopians and Ethiopia. Part of it is the foreign income earned by international competitors and importantly the international aid brought in by organisations who eais money for Ethiopian charities and also compete in the run.
We fitted into this category and so were invited to the pre-race pasta dinner at the Hilton Hotel. Some 600 Farenjis (foreigners) were invited, and we all had a good evening, with an energetic cultural dance show and the opportunity to be photographed with and shake rhe hand of the Ethiopian distance running legend Haile Gabriselasse. This year is his "farewell" race ss he (now a very siccessful local businessman) is retiring from competitive running.
The next morning we (among 40000+ others) set off at the appointed start time of 9.00 for the run. The crowd was so great that it took us over 5 minuted to cross the start line! We jogged some of the downhill bits and walked the rest, and completed the 10km course in two hours. I thrink the winner was under 29 minutes. We got a medal hanging on a red ribbon!
Being part of this major event was a surreal experience. I am not a runner, and to cover the hilly10km in two hours, at altitude, and in that unbeleivably huge crowd was quite rhe experience.
That night we had a farewell dinner hosted by the hospital staff and we said our good-byes to everyone. The dinner was held at an art gallery that is also a restaurant and a good night was had by all. We sat opposite a couple of board members from the UK fundraising arm of Hamlins and I enjoyed the conversation; and we bought some art as well!