Jerusalem marathon – Page 7 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

15 Jerusalem Street Scenes at Year End

15 Jerusalem Street Scenes at Year End

December 27, 2017Sharon A

In Jerusalem, Israel,

every year after the holiday season,

I wait for things to quiet down.

However, it never seems to happen.

This year after the Trump Jerusalem announcement,

the mainstream media reports spewed forth about imminent unrest.

But the streets have remained “normal,”

as a huge US flag hangs on the Municipal building

together with flag of Jerusalem and the 50-year anniversary banner.

Before the recent drenching rains,

the weather was warm, almost like summer.

Friday morning, on a photo walk to Yemin Moshe,

there were so many photographers out

it was hard to get an empty street view.

Though weather had been dry for weeks,

the private gardens were beautiful,

with citrus fruit drooping from full trees.

Birds were perched above the synagogue door,

and on the bare branches in Teddy Park.

Fall colors are not easy to find in Israel,

but during a stroll through these Yemin Moshe lanes

you can find a bit of most anything.

But not all is a stroll through the park around here.

Much touted before it opened,

the cafe in Gan Haatzmaut, Independence Park,

is now an empty shell.

This new access ramp for the bank was just completed.

Now, after weeks of work,

one can enter without going up steps.

But so much for optimism about progress,

yesterday it was ripped out.

I have no idea why,

or how long will it take to rebuild.

At Municipal Hall there are large posters of photos

displaying future building projects in Jerusalem.

Any bets when they will be completed?

Walking yesterday I saw

a man sitting and reading,

against the walls of the Old City.

While along Jaffa Road,

people were sitting outside in cafes.

For winter, it was not such a bad day,

even though I was wearing a winter coat and boots.

This bloke in shorts said he was from Australia.

Well, it is summer there.

No time to fiddle away,

this was part of an art piece at Mamilla Mall.

There last week, but gone yesterday.

This large piano is still outside in Zion Square,

for the use of young and old.

It is still December,

but large signs are already up, this one in Tzahal Square,

near the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel.

The Jerusalem Marathon is set for March 9, 2018,

and tens of thousands from near and far,

young and not so young, are getting ready

to again enjoy and race through the Jerusalem streets.

Favorites from Jerusalem Marathon

Favorites from Jerusalem Marathon

March 20, 2017Sharon A

The International Jerusalem Winner Marathon 2017

was run on Friday morning, March 17.

The Jerusalem streets were closed and traffic was blocked

as 30,000 runners participated in the full marathon

and a number of other shorter races.

As the full marathon runners were going by

at least one man on the right wanted attention,

as did the two runners in tams and kilts.

Over 60 countries were represented,

but I only saw one French flag.

Women were in the crowd running the full marathon.

Tens of thousands ran through the streets,

as the route looped around and through the Old City.

Last year’s #1 was again #1 this year.

After kissing the ground,

full marathon winner Shadrack Kipkogey was congratulated by

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who was dressed for a 10 K run.

I took 500 photos and it was hard to decide which ones to share.

But thousands of selfies were taken at the starting line

and at the finish line.

One of my favorite photos and stories:

I posted a photo of a family from South Africa

dressed in red on Facebook at night after the race,

and by morning all the names had been tagged.

Water stations were located along the route,

plus this one where runners re-entered

Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, after their race.

Tens of thousands were in the park

enjoying music

and the activities provided.

There was new entertainment at the starting line,

but many participants were so excited they hardly noticed.

Just getting to the starting line took a long time,

because of security and crowds

walking anywhere took longer than usual.

The 10 K race had 3 different starting times and groups

for the thousands who participated.

Brightly colored shirts from dozens of charity organizations

were worn by thousands of runners,

and this woman who walks for Shalva,

was back again this year.

Remembe I commented how I never saw the mayor running?

Well, this year I saw him at the start

and again at the end of the race at the finish line.

I even spotted the man who wants to be the next mayor

at both the starting and finish lines.

The numbers attending the Jerusalem Marathon

have grown so large it is hard to find family or friends.

One of the reasons the numbers have grown

is the participation in a special Family Race.

At 10:30 am, 6000 were waiting to start the last race of the day.

I did not stay for the starting gun,

as I was racing back to the 10 K finish line.

But the family members I was looking for?

I did not see any of them!

While walking home, I passed those taking

a slower pace nearing the finish line.

Some streets opened early to traffic this year.

And there was Barefoot Rick,

still smiling as he finished up another marathon.

Not sure if this was 84 or 85, of the over 100 marathons

he has run without shoes to raise money for charity.

Tens of thousands ran through the Jerusalem streets,

millions of dollars were raised for charity.

There are people who still hate it,

but look for an even bigger and better one next year.

The date is set for the next Jerusalem Marathon:

March 9, 2018.

By then I had better get an app for my phone

so I can know how many kilometers I walked.

It could be way more than a full marathon.

To see more Jerusalem Marathon photos,

which were posted on Facebook,

please click HERE.

Jerusalem Marathon: Ready, Set, Go

Jerusalem Marathon: Ready, Set, Go

March 17, 2017Sharon A

The Jerusalem Marathon for 2017 was on March 17th.

One finish line has been up for days,

but there are at least three of these massive arches,

two over the street and another one inside Gan Sacher, Sacher Park

for the full marathon runners.

Signs and more signs are posted,

but it is not always entirely clear which way to go.

However,

one outside Beit Hanasi, the Israel President’s house

wishing runners well is very clear.

International participants have arrived.

At a press conference the day before the race

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat was introduced to Milind Soman.

I do not follow Bollywood stars

but now I am now a fan of Milind.

Soman spoke so emotionally about his first visit to Jerusalem.

Maybe we here take too much for granted,

and need a visitor to remind us how special these streets are.

International marathon runners posed with the Mayor,

with the Old City and Tower of David in the background.

Some of them looked familiar from past marathons.

For seven years, I have tried to catch the Mayor running,

and on this warm up day I finally succeeded,

though the guy in red jacket got a much closer shot.

And while they were running,

these fellows were standing on the walls at the Tower of David.

Never know who or what you will see in Jerusalem!

The Mayor led a group of international runners

through Mamilla Mall.

I wonder if this guy ever looked up and noticed.

The streets were filled with 30,000 runners,

and some streets were closed all Friday morning,

but you have to stop texting to see them as they whiz by.

Running in Jerusalem has come along way in seven years.

The Jerusalem Winner Marathon 2017 was great,

best photos in next post.

This time I got the Mayor at the starting line and finish!

If you missed being in Jerusalem, Israel,

put it on your calendar for next year,

it is truly a special experience.

March 9, 2018.

שבת שלום

Shabbat shalom