A run like no other

March 21, 2007 - 9:22 AM by

Eliot, a runner (and finisher in good standing) in Monday’s Jerusalem Half-Marathon, jots down his comments on the event, especially for ISRAELITY… thanks Eliot!

Israeli jocks are often distinguished by their balding scalps. Whether at the
gym or increasingly popular triathlons, running races and other competitions
held throughout the year, it seems that the shaved head is a passage of entry
into the upper-tier of Israel’s amateur athletic world.

So when I arrived at Givat Ram Stadium for the 15th Annual Jerusalem Half
Marathon on Monday morning, I was more than a bit surprised to feel at home
with my fellow runners, who like myself, enjoy a healthy head of hair.

marathon
Photo courtesy of Sheryl Abbey – see more action shots here

Keeping in mind that Passover is just around the corner, that was just one of
the characteristics that made this race different from all others.

Take, for example, the mundane registration process. While standing in line to
sign up, the young woman in front of me started talking to me in her native
English. It turned out that she’s studying at Pardes, a modern Orthodox
yeshiva at which I had the good fortune to study. And then as I lined up to
await the starting gun, I bumped into several acquaintances I have made since
immigrating here over 25 years ago.

Oh yes, and when it came to the race itself the differences were as vivid as
ever.

First, the scenery. Jerusalem is a beautiful city, and even more beautiful to
run in. From the Valley of the Cross, through the Jerusalem Forest that
includes a spectacular view of Ein Karem, to the Biblical Zoo and its
surroundings, this run offers plenty of fantastic scenery to enjoy.

Next, the participants. Besides the hair factor, there are far more religiously observant runners than at a typical Israeli long-distance race. And as luck would have
it, I encountered a friend in the midst of the race and ran with him for a
good 10 minutes as we caught up on each other’s lives.

And finally, the atmosphere. The electricity at Givat Ram Stadium both before
and after the race – particularly when one enters the track to run the final
few hundred meters – is a memory I’ll cherish for a long time.

Tags: • Category: General, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Life, Sports 

Comments

2 Comments on A run like no other

  1. Katherine on Wed, Mar 21st 2007 10:26 AM

    2. yeah it’s nice there was a race and all (Israelis not seeming to really understand the point of running), but did it have to be on a monday morning in the capital city? Surely a friday morning would have been better? Those of us who sat in traffic for an hour and a half on monday morning, with runners in the car ahead who jumped out of their cars to pee on the side of the road, were a little less enthusiastic about the race. better planning next time please!

  2. ali mohammadi pak on Thu, Aug 30th 2007 10:41 AM

    3. Hello,my dear,i’ll be to hear the news about israeli supermodel,mrs. Bar rafaeli and photos about her.Thank you very much.

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