Boo just felt like runnin’

Before today I didn’t realize that it could be 95° and yet feel like 106°. Weather.com and then my breathing on my run confirmed that this could in fact happen.

The marathon in Ghana is about 2 1/2  months away, so I need to get serious about running. Even if it means sweating like Patrick Ewing. Even if it is exponentially easier when I get the chance to run with other volunteers.

Anyway, today the humidity made it really hard to breathe on my run from the start and I was struggling just a few minutes in. Even running through the streets of Kayes I was still greeted by Malians and expected to greet them as I went struggling by.

People greeting me, though, especially excited little kids gave me a badly needed burst of energy each time. Other young adults on many occasions wished “Du courage” which also helped me mentally.  Strangely enough on three separate occasions I was called David Villa by young boys. I’m not sure if they actually thought I was the Spanish soccer star, or more likely is that they thought I looked like him. Either way, it made me laugh each time, and I gave the kids a thumbs up on the way by. I also passed a few runners on my way (mostly going the other way to be honest) who also smiled and gave me a thumbs up.

So, despite running out of dry places to wipe my face on my t-shirt, I managed to make it back to the house. Not that I stopped sweating even after the shower.

Still, the feeling that comes after a completely taxing run is one of accomplishment. A run that really you have no business finishing, but only your mental fortitude has been responsible for finishing the run. Testing yourself like that, pushing yourself beyond your limits, is why running can be so amazing. There really is nothing like it.

People talk about a runner’s high, but generally that comes when you’re feeling great, or maybe you get a second wind. When you feel like that, it’s a fun run for sure. But my favorite runs are definitely the ones when I just feel like shit. When everything in your body (legs, lungs, feet) is telling you to stop, but you just don’t. Your mind overrides everything your body is telling it. That, right there, is my favorite type of run.

I was incredibly beat after that run. But, I needed to get off my lazy butt. I haven’t had too much to do these past few days. I’m just hanging out in Kayes waiting for my next move.

I had a great 4th of July by the Bafing River in Manantali with a lot of my best friends here. I then spent a couple days getting some official paperwork done in Bamako.

Anyway, my big news, the reason for my change in plans, is a huge project that is about to begin!

I replaced a volunteer named Andrew Wallace who had proposed a project way back in 2007. I just received word about a week or two ago that the project was approved. Meaning the US Embassy and their Self-help department will fund this project.

The project was the idea of both Andrew and his homologue Lamine Tienou. Essentially there’s this really old run-down building (think walls falling) that will now be transformed into a Self-Help Center or Study Center “Centre d’Etudes.” The idea is to have several rooms including a library and a conference room. Solar panels will power lights, and the kids will have somewhere to study at night. As opposed to sitting around with nothing to do when the sun goes down. Also, sewing machines will be put in, and women’s groups will flourish, both with the machines and a room to hold meetings.

I am incredibly excited about this prospect, and I realize how lucky I am that this project essentially fell into my lap. Every single person I talk to warns me however, that I need to very careful, on constant guard, if I want to see this project through. In so many positions in Mali, corruption reigns. I have been specifically warned to be careful in dealing with the mayor of Dialafara. Essentially if word gets out that the toubab has a huge check, I will surely find myself with a lot of new friends.

So, on the 20th, there will be a ceremony at the US embassy with my homologue (Tiokon Diarra), Mike Simsik (the country director), the US ambassador, and Boo Jordan among those scheduled to appear. I’m really looking forward to the ceremony, at which point we will be presented with the check and this project can get off the ground.

I understand that this will not be easy, but I think I’m up for the challenge, and the end product should be incredibly rewarding if it does work out. So, thank you to Andrew and Lamine for having the vision to come up with this amazing idea. And of course doing all the annoying paperwork!

So, it should be a fun day, and I’ll have pictures for you guys when that happy day comes.

Here’s another semi-useless poll:

http://poll.fm/22ijx

And I’m out.