Tanzania Marathon
Tax deductible
Tomorrow I am running 26.2 miles at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Up until 1 month ago, I hadn’t run 5 miles in one go, ever. Though I will say - I did run a 6:30 minute mile at 6,000 feet in Colorado wearing jeans, that was special. I went for a run in Mexico City just under a month ago, my mom and sister needed to hash out some wedding details, you could say they needed some space, totally natural, so I went for a run. I love the city, I had fun, towards the end I kind of interpreted it as an analogy for learning, and how different approaches can render different outcomes. Meaning I actually enjoyed the process, contrary to any reasonable thought I think I had ever had, of which there has been few ;) So I thought then and there, I’m going to try for more the next day, and so on. So I did, every run has been a different route, and a longer distance, that’s not entirely true but makes for a better story. I trained in 6 cities over 30 days, probably not enough time based on my internet learnings, referring to time not cities. I hit 10.5 miles in my home city of NYC, longest run in my life, no water, no bars, and I honestly felt ok, I almost walked into McDonald’s after in Washington Heights, but thought I should probably wait on that, and I just said I’m going to run a marathon. I called my mom, she said yeah go for it, but maybe consult someone, I kinda thought that’s what I was doing, but she was supportive. I also thought I may have broken my foot, so I visited the podiatrist after taking a few days off, I had mere extensor tendonitis, Ice + Aleve, back to the streets. I also went to the Adidas store and bought real running shoes, who would have thought those foot cocoons could make all the difference. Then I went to Google, nothing in the states was happening mid winter, nor was it particularly fun to train in, so I figured warm weather locales may be the best bet, so that’s pretty much how the pin landed where it did.
In honor of my Grandpa who recently passed away, and my pops whose birthday would have been two days prior to my first long haul, and the array of physicians in the fam (mom - uncle - grandma). I’d like to raise some $$ for Medecins Sans Frontieres - Doctors Without Borders. It’s a bad ass operation riddled with smart people doing insanely complex work where it’s needed most, the principles they stand behind are: Independent, Neutral, Impartial, meaning they help who needs it, no questions asked. The world needs a bit more of that. Health is a baseline, and honestly I think the work they do, goes well beyond suturing a wound, it’s therapeutic to entire communities, it’s a fine form of diplomacy in an altruistic format, with a little less sheen than I often see, well trained people in the trenches not necessarily their for the candid camera.
What I have learned:
Your approach can make all the difference. I don’t even like running, really, for 10 years in NYC, I went to the gym maybe 5 times, prior to a few months back, when I started to train with my friend Corey Lewis, he whipped my ass into shape, taking into account a rather raucous life style we did a pretty decent job, you should call him. So I’m on the road you could say, and I wanted to find a way enjoy something I didn’t find particularly entertaining, how to seek the rewards along that road that aren’t necessarily the finish line. I found this process only to be beneficial to mind if running alone, so that’s what I did. Every mile, was me myself and I.
I miss a lot of life staring at a small screen - in running I observed more humanity in a month than any other consolidated chunk of time in my life. Hilarious things, sad things, beautiful things, and inspirational things. Example given: phone use is down 25% - how could that time be better used, I think that’s a subject matter we’re all throwing around, but it’s an issue.
Why:
I want to actually believe anything is possible, because I like to say it. And honestly it’s been fun - funny. I missed a flight in Miami because of a traffic jam, I Ubered back to south beach and just ran 16 miles in the blaring heat, when I picked up my sweatshirt from the kind lady I asked to watch it, she said she thought I had died, with a smile.
For:
Really myself. What is the mind and body capable of when working in close collaboration.
AND:
The starting line for humans most certainly isn’t equivocal, without simple health care their may not even be a start.
Life’s about finding your lane. Everyone deserves a chance to enjoy that hunt.
(Caveat and Acknowledgement)
Me even being here is beyond a luxury, and I don’t pretend to even think my little jog can save the world, but I do think travel and diverse human interaction is important for perspective.
Lastly, part of the intrigue in this journey is to expose myself more to a continent that has huge potential, and in many ways is already thriving. Africa has a massive youth population, a burgeoning middle class, and more and more opportunity is arising daily. It should go without saying, but to be clear, it’s not all tears and poverty, awesome things are happening. I think more light should be shed on those things, the art, the music, the entrepreneurship in many places. Often times you see a nation or body of people depicted in a certain way which in a lot of ways is actually harmful to real growth. Of course lend a helping hand is helpful, but show love and shed light on people, communities, and enterprises doing great things, of which their are many, and it’s not just foreigners.
So that’s why health care makes sense to me. Give the youth a shot, they will make the difference in the long haul.
If you read that you whole mambo jambo you can probably run a marathon too :) try!
In lieu of donations:
I take horrid photos - so I shouldn’t celebrate this offering too much, but any donations will rewarded by a print of what I’m about to see in the Serengeti. So if you want a black box on your wall because I forgot to take the lens cap off, share a shilling or two.
Love,
Brett
More information about Doctors Without Borders: Doctors Without Borders is an international independent medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters, and exclusion from health care in nearly 70 countries.
In honor of my Grandpa who recently passed away, and my pops whose birthday would have been two days prior to my first long haul, and the array of physicians in the fam (mom - uncle - grandma). I’d like to raise some $$ for Medecins Sans Frontieres - Doctors Without Borders. It’s a bad ass operation riddled with smart people doing insanely complex work where it’s needed most, the principles they stand behind are: Independent, Neutral, Impartial, meaning they help who needs it, no questions asked. The world needs a bit more of that. Health is a baseline, and honestly I think the work they do, goes well beyond suturing a wound, it’s therapeutic to entire communities, it’s a fine form of diplomacy in an altruistic format, with a little less sheen than I often see, well trained people in the trenches not necessarily their for the candid camera.
What I have learned:
Your approach can make all the difference. I don’t even like running, really, for 10 years in NYC, I went to the gym maybe 5 times, prior to a few months back, when I started to train with my friend Corey Lewis, he whipped my ass into shape, taking into account a rather raucous life style we did a pretty decent job, you should call him. So I’m on the road you could say, and I wanted to find a way enjoy something I didn’t find particularly entertaining, how to seek the rewards along that road that aren’t necessarily the finish line. I found this process only to be beneficial to mind if running alone, so that’s what I did. Every mile, was me myself and I.
I miss a lot of life staring at a small screen - in running I observed more humanity in a month than any other consolidated chunk of time in my life. Hilarious things, sad things, beautiful things, and inspirational things. Example given: phone use is down 25% - how could that time be better used, I think that’s a subject matter we’re all throwing around, but it’s an issue.
Why:
I want to actually believe anything is possible, because I like to say it. And honestly it’s been fun - funny. I missed a flight in Miami because of a traffic jam, I Ubered back to south beach and just ran 16 miles in the blaring heat, when I picked up my sweatshirt from the kind lady I asked to watch it, she said she thought I had died, with a smile.
For:
Really myself. What is the mind and body capable of when working in close collaboration.
AND:
The starting line for humans most certainly isn’t equivocal, without simple health care their may not even be a start.
Life’s about finding your lane. Everyone deserves a chance to enjoy that hunt.
(Caveat and Acknowledgement)
Me even being here is beyond a luxury, and I don’t pretend to even think my little jog can save the world, but I do think travel and diverse human interaction is important for perspective.
Lastly, part of the intrigue in this journey is to expose myself more to a continent that has huge potential, and in many ways is already thriving. Africa has a massive youth population, a burgeoning middle class, and more and more opportunity is arising daily. It should go without saying, but to be clear, it’s not all tears and poverty, awesome things are happening. I think more light should be shed on those things, the art, the music, the entrepreneurship in many places. Often times you see a nation or body of people depicted in a certain way which in a lot of ways is actually harmful to real growth. Of course lend a helping hand is helpful, but show love and shed light on people, communities, and enterprises doing great things, of which their are many, and it’s not just foreigners.
So that’s why health care makes sense to me. Give the youth a shot, they will make the difference in the long haul.
If you read that you whole mambo jambo you can probably run a marathon too :) try!
In lieu of donations:
I take horrid photos - so I shouldn’t celebrate this offering too much, but any donations will rewarded by a print of what I’m about to see in the Serengeti. So if you want a black box on your wall because I forgot to take the lens cap off, share a shilling or two.
Love,
Brett
More information about Doctors Without Borders: Doctors Without Borders is an international independent medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters, and exclusion from health care in nearly 70 countries.
Organizer
Brett Kincaid
Organizer
New York, NY
Doctors Without Borders
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
