Ein Gedi Half

This past Saturday I ran my first 1/2 marathon. The race was located at Ein Gedi-- a small oasis in the Judean Desert, on the western bank of the Dead Sea. It's the lowest elevation on Earth, which made for a hot sunny run.

I regretted committing to the race until the second we started, and then again in the last 7 km of the race. However, I felt great post-race and I'm glad I went through with it. There were about 600 participants in the 1/2 marathon, and I came in about the middle of the pack. The winner of the race, an Ethiopian, ran a 1:04; the first place female runner about a 1:12. I ran a 1:50. Not stellar, but nothing to cry about.

Unfortunately, I pulled a tendon in my ankle and recovery may require an extended vacation from running and losing the base I've worked hard to establish. I'm hoping a few Ibuprofens and a heat pack will do the trick.

Here are a few pictures from the race.

Pre-race recharging session.

Waiting for things to get going.

With my training buddies.

Starting line.

Helicopter raising a dust storm on the runners while recording the race.

The elderly gentleman behind me in this photo
suggests that I was poking along, but he was pretty fast!