High Mountain Coffee Run 5k and 10k

On the 27^th, there was the 30^th anniversary of the High Mountain Coffee 5k & 10k. It was held at the town just below mine. A big deal it was, let me tell you! I signed up for the 5k. I began training right away. From my house, you either go up the hill, or down the hill. About three times a week I would run up the hill to strengthen my legs. At first, I ran only 3 minutes before wheezing and walking. Then I continued up the hill for another 12 minutes. Every day I ran, the continual upward hills got easier. By the second and third days of running, children from my town began running with me too! That was cool. When I leave my house, I run a couple of minutes before reaching the next upward cluster of residential space. Small picknee are out playing and as they see him coming up, they join. The little ones run with me and we do sprints. Once they get tired enough (which takes time- they got energy!) I continue as older picknee join and we are all running together up and up and up! ( myself and fellow pcv who did the 10k)

On race day, I was nervous but ready! The 5k is mainly local high school track students. And me. When the horn blows, the HS’ers are gone- however by the first minute they slow down, and everyone is pacing. By the 2nd mile, there are groups of them walking. I ran the whole way. As they see me pass, they sprint forward and pass me. This happened all the way to the finish line. I was so annoyed! Either run or walk. Like any race you need to keep a solid pace. Not sugar crash. Sigh. I encouraged the walking HS’ers in good sport anyways.

I got 79^th out of 214, 9^th female to cross the line, and first female who was over the age of 20(like I said, highschoolers, haha). And I went a personal best of 23.38. I am proud of myself. Another PCV ran too. He ran the 10k. He did well, going 56 minutes. And the 10k has the steeper climbs in comparison to the 5k. Next year I will set my sights on that. 

After the race, there were booths set up from sponsors and vendors-galore. People from around the area came out, dressed up and enjoyed the social setting. There were students from my primary school there as well as teachers. Everyone had their family out and about on the field that had the festivities.

Jamaica Football Federation - Grassroots Festival

A couple weekends ago I went to a Grassroots Football Festival with my counterpart in Mandeville. It was great! I learned a lot. It was held at a large football field and Digicel (a phone provider) along with the Jamaica Football Federation and other supporters set up shop for the expected 100 children and 20 or so coaches/volunteers.

The coaches (including moi) had a little inspirational workshop on how to take what we learned of football and having fun into our own communities. Football should be fun…Especially at the primary level. Attract children to sports and let them develop the skills at a young age in a way that keeps them smiling.  As we were told:

I hear. I forget.            I see. I remember.                I do. I understand.

And that applies for everyone- but with children, the world is a big playground of experiences. As adults, we are there to guide them through that play field (below are the kids, myself, and my counterpart took from our primary school). 

and the mouse

Now I have a mouse living in my kitchen. I think we (my host mom and I) found its dwelling. There is a small hole in the doorway of my kitchen. I got rat block, which is a blue crumbly stuff that apparently tastes good to mice, but its poison. I suppose it would be like having free alcohol for people if people were mice. And then the mice ingest it all up and die.

While cleaning up my dishes from dinner, I saw the little dude lightly running behind my sink! The little punk! So I’m wondering if there is a team. Well it’s been a week and no show of any mice. So I hope those are gone too.

fin. 

Lentils and the Lizard

After cooking some lentils for dinner, I removed them from the pot and drained them in the colander. I placed the pot back on the stove to cool down. After dinner, I forgot to turn off the gas clasp on the tank. When I did, I saw a little lizard. It was unmovable by the tank. As if I didn't see it.

So here’s the deal Lizard, I was talking to the lizard, see. If you agree to eat the bugs that manage to get in to the house, I will let you live. Then I walked away. Not a minute later I hear a clang as it jumped to the mini oven. Then trying to see where it went, it sneaked up to my empty pot! The dang little dude was clasped around the edge. I talked to it again. Yea, you gotta go.

So as I reached toward it, it jumped to my kettle. I took the kettle outside and gave it a little shake. It jumped and that was that. 

The next day however, I found it again! This time it jumped on me after I got out of the shower. At that point -after I wrapped up in a towel. I managed to shoo it out of my bedroom. And thankfully I haven’t seen that one since.