In Jakarta on Sunday, September 2nd, I completed my first ever road race as part of the the 2007 Jakarta Race Against Cancer Everyone (RACE), the annual Terry Fox Run. I didn't plan it that way - I had intended to bike the event (thinking that my legs probably weren't ready for the running yet). The fun-run allows the participants to run, walk, cycle, roller skate or use a wheel chair to cover a distance of 5 or 10 kilometers. But, on the morning of the race day, I had a problem with my bike. I thought to myself, "The guy this race is named for did marathons across Canada with one leg and lung cancer; I can do this." And, sure enough, I could and did.
The top photo shows the racers getting underway. The second picture is an image that too few people saw; it took me nearly an hour to cover the 5K, a time I hope to improve greatly with further training and weight-loss. The third picture gives a sense of the crowded conditions and nasty smog even though the race was early Sunday morning. And the last photo shows me cruising down the streets of Jakarta, jamming to Nike+iPod tunes.
In case you are wondering about the background, the Terry Fox Run events have raised more than $400 million worldwide to fight cancer through research since 1981, following the inspiration of Terry’s Marathon of Hope.
The next step is the Singapore 10K in December. Much work to be done before then, so I better get on it. Off to the gym.
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