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| Mommy's biggest fans waiting, and bored, at the finish line |
We came.
We saw.
We waited!
And waited...
Running, I've learned, is not a spectator's sport. Especially when you are confined and strapped into a stroller as thousands of people sprint by you as free as birds.
Worse still is the task of wheeling said stroller through blocked off roads for hours in order to reach a finish line to be further bored by the non-spectator sport. Therefore, the victory of marathon day goes to abba and Jireh who accomplished something more difficult than running a half marathon in Jerusalem: They carted Lucas and I to the finish line in time to welcome mommy. Nay, to wait for mommy. And then to welcome her.
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| Kudos to abba and Jireh for most successfully completing most grueling competition of the day: Carting two babies, two strollers, lots of baby equipment to the finish line |
But that's okay. After all in the last few weeks, she's run full 26.2-mile marathons daily just chasing Lucas and I around, and for that she deserves a medal.
Nevertheless, mommy was spurred on to continue running in the actual Jerusalem race thanks to two major inspirations: Team Shalva and - a recent addition - the esteemed Joules Evans.
Team Shalva was comprised of really cool people from around the world who decided to raise money for Shalva in exchange for the grueling opportunity to run around Jerusalem's hellacious hills. This year, Team Shalva more than doubled from last year! There were 250 runners including several of my friends from around J-town like Alisha Wallenstein, Kathryn Morgan, Steven Taylor and Mati Shoshani. Shout outs to them AND to all the people who supported mommy and these runners. You are all awesome! Shalva was able to raise 1.3 million shekels thanks to you! I think that's about $350,000. Wow. I will not take my superior care for granted tomorrow as I head to school at Shalva.
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| Here I am high-fiving Jacques Fragis of Team Shalva after he finished the half marathon! |
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| Abba and I |
Then there was Joules from Cincinnati, who we only met a few days ago but she is friends with my girlfriend Hallel and Gaby, her mommy. Joules proved to be a super-duper running partner and an inspiration on many levels to mommy during the run. First of all, it was like running with a celebrity since Joules' pink spiked hair was recognized by anyone who is friends with Gaby on Facebook (and there are many) or who read the Jerusalem Post that morning, where Joules was featured.
Secondly, Joules is an intrepid defeater of cancer. She is connected to a network of other conquerors who are now living large and sincerely. Therefore, running with Joules was an intentional enjoyment of every moment from soaking in the Jerusalem vistas, enduring the agony of the city's never-ending hills, and experiencing the sense of accomplishment of crossing a finish line simply because you could -because you are alive.
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| Starting line. |
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| Kilometer 15 (of 21) |
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| Kilometer 15 (way too much exhilaration going on here) |
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| Hours later, and still smiling! |
And that my friends all transpired on a sunny but cool enough day in Jerusalem. A perfect day for a race - whether in or out of a stroller.
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| Kathryn supported "Team Daniel" - a small part of Team Shalva. And I supported her in spirit, while asleep, in her first 10K! (Remember - not a spectator's sport!) |
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| Mati and Steven added some pride to Team Daniel. And their fans waited less than we did! |
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| The running continued right away as mommy chased Lucas around the post-race party. After 13 miles. Ouch. |
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