I have never seen my son as
enthusiastic as he was Thursday nights!
Why?
He was thrilled actually not because
of a fun outing with friends
or a relaxed evening stretching on a sofa in
front of his favorite NBA channel.
But because Thursday night is Cairo
runner’s eve.
Abdalla had been playing basketball ever
since he was six. Basketball is part of who he is, it is his passion and dream,
his love and joy.
But he loves Cairo runners even more!
Friday after Friday, he returned home
with exhilarated spirits and a huge enchanting smile. The energy he brought home proved contagious
and soon Ali and Nora joined the fantastic event. Then all their friends joined. Their enthusiasm built up as Ali started to
proceed to the finish line earlier every week. The way they all described the
event made me feel I was missing a lot.
Yes, I admit... I am lazy, I have
always been and probably will ever be. As a young girl, I hated PE classes. I
never practiced any kind of sport; I would rather coil on a sofa and read a
book.
My kids kept teasing me every week.
They became Cairo runners’ advocates and fans. They wanted to spread awareness and joy. They
told family and friends it was not just for young people, that elderly men and
women joined, that all of them had fun.
They never gave up on me, they kept
nagging me about my laziness. Every single Friday they wanted me to join. They
said that four generations of families came together, shared the energy and the
fun.
I felt ashamed of myself, I felt like
a ninety years old lady afraid to set foot in the street that early in the
morning.
But I did it at last!
I wake up at six a.m. and joined the
Zamalek run.
What a joyous occasion!
Radiant positive energy sprinkled all
over the place as thousands of people gathered for warm up. Some competed for the long route, while others
chose the short route and were thrilled to complete it. I walked at my own pace like many people and
enjoyed every step. Young energetic
volunteers facilitated the whole thing. Some held route signs, others ran along
to help whoever needed help and ensure the safety of all runners. I was amazed
at the professional organization skills those young people mastered, at the
spirit of good will and enthusiasm they spread. The philosophy, the idea and
the timing of running Cairo on a Friday at seven in the morning are not only
original but perfect as well.
It had been such a long time since I
last saw our Cairo at its best, as it wakes up gracefully, cheerfully,
enthusiastically, to breathe unpiloted, or at least less polluted air. As I walked
by the Nile, I realized how much I had missed by not joining each and every one
of these events.
I invite everyone to join Cairo
runners, to seize the chance to have free quality time with family, friends or neighbors
who hardly meet in the business of our daily hectic lives in the big city.
All mothers, please accompany your
little ones to this fun-filled occasion. After all we all want our kids to be active
and keep a healthy life style and maintain good health.
We can all run this town with joy!
With Cairo Runners.
