Positive Role Modelling

At the start line, Sunday morning 7:55 AM in downtown Beirut (May Khalil in pink)

 

On their way

  

While most people were still in their bed this Sunday morning at 8:00 AM. Aregu Sisay Abateh won yet another race, 5 kilometers this time, in 19 minutes and 23 seconds. The Bayroutya is a women’s race organized by her club, The Inter Lebanon Road Runners, and this was its 7^th edition.

Almost flying. It's funny but in all the pictures I've got of her, both feet are off the ground

 

A few ladies came up to her afterwards, asking if they could take her picture. Aregu though that quite curious. What could someone possibly want with a picture of her when they don’t know her? Turns out that several of the runners have Ethiopian housekeepers, and they want to encourage them to run. Well, I am all for positive role modeling. “Not everyone in Ethiopia runs, you know,” she replied.

Saria Traboulsi (Lebanon), Aregu Sisay Abateh (Ethiopian) and Nadine Kalot (Lebanon)

Haha, I thought that remark quite funny. I can just envision this scenario. All these housekeepers are now going to be whipped into shape because, since they're from Ethiopia, therefore they must be good runners. But she's right. That just shows you. Even when you think you've got things figured out, turns out you haven't .

It is good to see many ladies over 50 and even 60 run.