Race Day

In March, I participated in an area bicycle race. A week before the event, I was asked if I wanted to participate because people always saw me riding here and there to go to schools and other villages.
So I signed up.
The day of the event was energizing.
The atmosphere full of excitement.
The road lined with crowds.

After a briefing, we headed toward the landing to the starting line. I was the only woman among 28 other men. The only white person for that matter.
The man with the gloves and I for part of the race kept passing each other, until he got tired. Ha.

Raymond took care to have everything I could possibly need along the race course. Which was really great, cause I needed water. It was hot and dry that day.

Somewhere I didn't take a turn and ended up not where I was supposed to go. But I was determined to complete and show girls they can ride bicycles too and that bazungu are not lazy as it seems most people think to some degree. Sorry I didn't do much for people here to think I'm smart. Ha

Most of the ride was lonely except for the times when Raymond whizzed by on the dirt bike.
Speaking of dirt, I collected some on my almost 3 hour ride. You'd think I was wearing leggings.

I finished very much last, but I think finishing was really all I needed to do. After some investigating on the part of the race facilitators, I found out I am 1 of 5 people who completed the entire race legitimately. The guy in the orange gloves passed me on the back of a truck at one point. Although I was about 1 hour behind everyone else-getting lost was not fun, but it was nice when I finally found the correct way. It was also nice to see somewhere I'd not been yet; the forest was very pretty.

Well, I staggered home, bathed, rested, and then was called back to get my prize....
What...I get a prize.
But I was dead last.
Then again, only a handful complete successfully.
SWEEEET.

My prizes. I had my eye on that bicycle pump before the race too.
How did they know?