Accra 10Km

On Sunday Tim and I took part in the 10K race of the Accra International Marathon along with 6 friends. 'Took part' is a generous term for Tim, who drove support car from the start line to the finish line, but like he kept saying, 'someone had to do it'.

We got up at 4.30am to make sure we arrived at the start line in plenty of time for the 6.30am start.  As we arrived the sun was starting to rise. 

At 6.30 we were all called together by the race organiser,  the announcement went something like this:

"Welcome all... Now this is a running only race, there is to be no walking"

"NOOOO!"... cried the team of donut lovers in the crowd, "We were told we could walk it!".

"And also, the race is delayed to 7am"

An interesting introduction for an 'international' marathon, excited and burning nervous energy they delay was not ideal.  Of course it was too much to expect that something in Ghana would actually start on time!

By 7am it was starting to get hot as we lined up on the start line.
 
 
 
I couldn't help but notice the footwear of the girl standing next me.

"OK the race is about to begin" cries the race organiser. "Now we have decided this will be a walking only race"

  

WHAAAAAATTTTTTTT!!!!!! Uproar for about 30 seconds.

  

"OK! we have decided this will be an walking and a running race, some will walk and some will run".

   

Well I'm glad we cleared that up.

   

Soon enough the race was underway.  

It was hilly and hot.  Some of the race was on tarmac roads, the rest was on potholed dirt roads, which was a nightmare for the wheelchair racers.

The last 5 km was along the side of a busy road where it was necessary to keep an eye on the large number of tro-tros that regularly pulled in just in front of you!  It was hard work but I made it in 1hr2mins J  The girl in the flip flops beat me!

As an après run treat we went to a hotel for breakfast and spent the day hanging out by the pool with our friends.  It was a good day but I think it will be a while before I run for an hour in the Ghanaian heat again!

Love Tim and Lyd x