Ya Win Some, Ya Lose Some: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Part 3

Or in the case of my Sunday, you do pretty well in a race, but you get a bunch more stuff stolen. It’s really getting a bit old actually. There’s not really too much I have left to take—although I dare not say that—and of course I still have my health. I had a really nice weekend going out with some friends on Friday night, then going to a film festival on International Human Rights Day (tomorrow, December 10th) that my friend helped organize, and then going to a dinner party.

This morning I woke up bright and early at 6 am to try and meet up with some other friends who were taking a special hire cab to the starting line of the MTN Marathon/Half-Marathon/10K. Cell phone service has been particularly bad here as of late, with the various networks failing, texts not being delivered or delivered days later or 10 times in a row. So instead I hopped on a boda and met up with a friend who I’ve been training with because we had plans to run the race together. I had brought my backpack containing a change of clothes, glasses, etc. assuming they’d have bag check like they have at all the races in the States. Not so I learned, and here begins one of those “why didn’t I just” moments of why didn’t I leave my bag at home. But there I was with the race starting and still caring my backpack, and you better believe I was not running 21K with that on my back. Due to earlier barricades, after the gun went off just past 7:20am, we dashed the 50m off the course to put my bag in his car that was in a lot with one gate and an armed guard. We ran the race, which was actually quite grueling with lots of uphills and what never seems like as many downhills.

So the Bad: Let me tell you this was no New York Marathon. First of all there were only 300 or so marathon runners and about the same number of half-marathoners. Then, the course was not exactly defined in many parts, with us dodge between crazed matatus and bodas at many intersections and along the roads at the marathon marshals tried to create a organized course in the mayhem that is Kampala. There was also the open sewers which is used at a truck wash that we got to run by, and the constant muzungu jeers—although there were an equal number of waves and smiles from all the adorable children. Despite the lack of organization, it was definitely unique to be running a big race in such a different environment than my previous ones so I tried to take it all in—except possibly the sewer.

The Good: We did really well. It wasn’t my personal best—I think that happened last year at the Brooklyn Half and probably will never be repeated, which I feel pretty okay with. But each course is different, and this was definitely a tough one I think, and so I was happy with my finish time which was 2:12:05. I came in sprinting at the end, although there was a cruel fake finish line half a kilometer before the actual finish. There was a great moment at the end where I heard some friends cheering for me (who had run the 10K, as most people did) and I sped up to beat this guys just about 10m from the finish. He saw pass him and I think kicked his heels up in time to best me in the end, but it was one of those fun camaraderie things and he congratulated me at the finish for my efforts. I was tired, but I felt good, and it was good to know I could still run a distance after taking some serious time off since the summer. I may not have been that fast—especially against all those Kenyans, etc, but I didn’t walk once during the race and passed people more than they passed me!

The Ugly: Unfortunately, on our return to my friend’s car for warmer clothes, I was about to discover theft #3—UGH. His car was nicely locked, but as I unzipped my backpack to pull out a sweatshirt, my phone’s tiny sim card was lying neatly on top—a clear sign immediately that someone had taken the phone so it couldn’t be tracked. Next, missing from the front pocket was the equivalent of $10 in cash, my beat up cheap sunglasses (glad I never trust myself to invest in nice ones!), and saddest of all—my beat-up old iPod mini that I adore—and they don’t make them anymore! It had been a birthday gift from good friends a few years back, and while it was definitely on its last legs, it’s never fun to lose one’s music supply. What a downer. However, I don’t know if it’s the sheer number of times, or the fact that with each theft I’ve had to learn to let go of my possessions a little bit more and more, but I think I handled this one the best of all by far.

After a few Debbie-downer moments, I assessed that I still had many important things that they had miraculously not stolen, such as the whole backpack for one—which had among others, a bracelet, my eyeglasses, house keys, an ATM card, and another 20,000 Ush ($10) stashed in a different location in the backpack (at least I’m learning!). My friend ran off to get me a new phone from the Shoprite near the finish line for, get this, 49,000 Ush ($25)—can’t get that cheap a phone replacements in the States, trust me I know! I’ve got it up and running, and for anyone who wants to give a call (um, my parents/Rach) the new number is 0775-888-333—a cool number as my friend tried to uplift my spirits. Um, I think I could have passed on that, but I’ll take what I can get.

The rest of the day shaped up better. I managed to recover most of my phone numbers from a little magic link called Facebook. I had some much need lunch at a pub with a couple friends, and now I’ve been lounging at the pool at Kabira Country Club. And then have a Hanukkah/holiday party to go to--yes, I've found other Jews here! And luckily, my parents are coming in just two days which is keeping me in high spirits—and they can bring me things! Mom, Dad, if you’re reading this, how do you feel about an iPod for Hanukkah? Okay, okay, we’ll talk... ;)