As we arrived, we saw a few people with gorilla masks, and even a couple with full suits! Upon registration, we got our race numbers as well as a mask each. We were even surprised with two zoo tickets in the bags! The entrace money, almost 200,000 CZK in total, was donated to charity: African gorillas. A fun way to make a difference.
We started our stretches and soon encountered numerous photographers, who seemed especially keen to photograph Angela stretching! We were called to the start line, somehow we managed to be at the front, so in direct view of the photographers.
Wearing the full-head mask was difficult in a number of ways - firstly the obvious limited visibility, no peripheral vision and especially challenging considering the cobbled streets, the proximity of the other (approximately 200) runners, and the steps we had to run down just after the start! Secondly the heat, which, although not particularly high, was compounded by the hot air I exhaled remaining within the mask, condensation everywhere! Wearing the mask was not compulsory, although I challenged myself to do this, pausing only towards the end to eat at a banana stop - one of five such stops on such a short course, which only added to the hilarity of the occasion.
We received a fair few looks of amazement from bewildered onlookers, many of whom stopped to take photos. As we approached Old Town Square after about 20 minutes, it was high time for a rest, more bananas, and finally the opportunity to remove my mask! We had done it, and the course was much shorter than we had anticipated. Now another great day out lies in wait as we put those zoo tickets to use!
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