Benin Half Marathon!

My friend Ginger is amazing. She learned about the Benin Half Marathon while we were eating dinner in the dining hall the night before the event and said, "Hmmmm....I think I'd like to do that." With no training other than running up and down the dock a few times and a previous half marathon under her belt, this Chariot of Fire decided this was a once in a lifetime opportunity she couldn't let pass her by. Here she is lining up to register on the morning of the event, a female Yovo competitor a rare sight and attracting quite a bit of attention.



I was delighted to see this Greek representation all the way here in Benin.
The footwear for this event came in all shapes, sizes and styles. Some ran barefoot or in flip flops while others wore whatever sneakers they could borrow, even if this meant jamming their toes into shoes that were way too small with their heels squashing the heel of the shoes.

Imagine running 13 miles like this!
Mercy Ships was well represented and all runners finished the race despite water stations without water (ironcally the race was sponsored by a bottled water company) and without accepting rides offered along the way by motorcycle taxis.