Early to rise... therein lies the secret to effectiveness

Was up at 4am yesterday to give a couple of friends a ride to a road race about 15km out of town. It's amazing how much you can accomplish when you get up that early. Picked them up, took them to the race, at 6.30am the race started, they ran (I.. ahem... had... paper... work to do so... i couldn't .... join them...), got to finish line, socialized with other runners, and then I dropped them back home... all before 11am.

The run was sponsored by sportsman warehouse and they blew me away: first of all, their store was open at 6.30am! (unheard of around here) and second of all, they made breakfast (sausage, bacon, eggs, buttered buns... and coke) for all their employees 'cause they had to come to work that early! Last of all, their goodie bags really were full of goodies (at least for me).... I got one 'cause I pleaded "unsung supporter of runners" to those handing them out (made sure I did this waaay after all the runners were done... it would be criminal for someone running to miss out on the goodies just 'cause sedentary-me had taken them).

Now to the part where I brush my shoulders off (as a Kenyan/East African): First man in, a Kenyan. First woman in, an Ethiopian. Prize money? Not a bad take for a day's work. 3 Kenyan guys ran it and they were all top 10. The last placed among them said he'd only been training 2 weeks... after a year off.

The breakfast barbecque and frying pan being set up as runners assemble.

The remains of breakfast.

Police being briefed by their chief on how to escort the runners.

Driving home after the race.