The Team Tassy Support Crew’s Run Across Haiti
Our support crew for 2017′s Run Across Haiti is comprised of bus drivers, checkpoint crews, first aid and logistical coordinators. This year we hired three of our Team Tassy family members to join the crew.
Donate to the Support Crew here.
Day 1 Aka D-DAY, after being in Haiti for 48 hrs i could say I was getting the hang of it. Or so I thought, turns out I was severely wrong. I would say it all started when not even 5 mins into the first official day of the run, one of the runners informs me that I have a flat tire at the start line… so as I was crawling on my hands and knees at 4am trying to change the flat and make it to our 15 km checkpoint I thought to myself about how the little things like road side assistance and getting more than hours of 4 hours of sleep is greatly missed. Changing the flat was pretty painless (other getting than absolutely filthy).
Finally made it to our first post at km 15, everything was going smoothly. the runners were flying through; when the last runner completed our checkpoint we packed up only to find that truck #2 was completely dead and not going anywhere. After a few phone calls to Viv and Owen, the verdict pretty much was we were on our own to fix the situation.
About 20 mins passed with no solution, I must say that without our Haitian family member Josette, we would probably still be there. Josette quickly negotiated for cables from a nearby neighbor and with a little help from the local police we were back on the road.
It was amazing to see a bunch of absolutely amazing human beings push their bodies to a limit i didn't think was possible and to be there for them every step of the way was fulfilling. Team Tassy runners faced one of the hardest challenges of this Ultra with an elevation climb i have never seen before or thought possible to even run.
How they made it through this insane elevation climb on a path barley suitable for two side by side vehicles, massive semi trucks with overloaded trailers barreling down upon them, dodging thousands of scooters and motorcycles whizzing by them while they’re fighting to make each checkpoint is beyond me.
As a conclusion to day 1, I could say the start was a little bit of mediated chaos along with great team work and problem solving; not only by members of our organization but the amazing people of Haiti. i have never met more selfless people that are willing to help complete foreigners. All i can say is I'm blessed to have the opportunity to write about my experiences as they are so far from what the blogs and traveler websites write about, i would say it is one of the most beautiful countries with the most beautiful people i have ever come across. The potential in Haiti is endless, with help from organizations like Team Tassy, and the commitment of amazing people like i have met in Haiti will be a destination that you will have to visit in your life….
It’s been a month since I joined Team Tassy for RAH 2017. I must say I thought the emotions, the memories, the smells and the friendships would fade, but that's not what has happened at all. The emotions have become a fire inside of me, a passion, a way of life. It has turned into a relentless drive and desire to help people, not only the people of Haiti, but people in my everyday life. Every day I wake up and think of ways that the blessings in my life could help Team Tassy and the people of Haiti. I still get emotional thinking about the kids and their smiles, the pure joy that omits from them even though they might not have eaten that day. It makes me realize that no matter how bad of a day I could be having, someone is coping with a feeling I could not even imagine, yet they have a smile on their face.
The memories will never fade, things that were witnessed, positive or negative, will never escape my mind. From the the determination and will of the runners and crew members, to the fight and drive of the Haitian people to provide for their families on a daily basis. It didn't matter if they were up all night from rain assaulting their makeshift shelter. Even when cold, wet, sick and hungry, they don't have the luxury to call in sick. If he/she does not get up, they do not eat. The hearts of the people of Haiti are beautiful, we could all learn some things from them. Through most people’s eyes they look to have nothing, but from people that visit Haiti they have everything.......genuine happiness and thankfulness for what they have. I have recently read a quote online, "If you are more fortunate than others, build a longer table not a taller fence.” It reminded me not of my friends and family, but the people of Haiti. There were countless memories of Haitians stopping what they were doing to lend a helping hand or offer food or water to us, when we both knew they needed it more, but that wasn't the point. The point was that they appreciated us, appreciated the fact that we were there to help, not short-term but for the long haul.
I will never forget the sensory and emotional overload when I first arrived. I remember being in shock by the smell and feeling of carcinogenic smoke filling my lungs, mixed with diesel exhaust tearing at my eyes, the piercing sounds of never ending honks, chatter of the clustered streets. Coming from a Paramedic/Firefighting background our number one cause of cancer and health complications is carcinogenic smoke/ diesel exhaust , and I was taught to never put ourselves in situations to inhale it. Imagine being taught that all your adult life and then arriving in a place where you can’t escape the black plumes, nor feel the fresh air ever in your life, it was almost a suffocating feeling. I still remember repeating this question to Viv and Christina "How? How can it be like this" it didn't take five mins of being in Haiti to have the question answered without anyone having to say anything, you could see there was no way to get rid of waste other than burning the trash. Seeing five year-olds running around with bloodshot eyes from the relentless smoke, trying to make the most of being child in a place that doesn't allow it, broke my heart and right then and there was the moment I promised I wouldn't forget about the people of Haiti. I took a personal pledge to do everything and anything I can.
With the help of Team Tassy and ordinary people like myself and you, reading this, we can make a difference and build a longer table with the goal in mind of no grandfather, mother, father, son or daughter going a day without having a meal, or to go without the education and the tools needed to choose their own destiny, not have it chosen for them. Thank you Team Tassy for opening my eyes.
Here I am! This is my fourth trip to Haiti and I couldn’t be more excited. I am happy to be here on the run as a crew member to support all of the incredible runners we have changing the world. During this trip I hope to help out as much as possible, wherever possible. Through this run, I get to partake in so many things that I love: seeing beautiful scenery, supporting the people that I love, learning about a new language and culture, and helping a cause that I believe is justified.
I have been active with regards to Team Tassy for over 5 years and it has changed my life for the better. I truly believe in the work that Team Tassy does, and through my trips to Haiti have learned a lot about poverty and the journey out of it.
There are several amazing things about this team that draw people in and keeps them in. First of all, their plan of attack is efficient and effective. Rather than throw things at the people, they work specifically with them to find out what they need and how to help them get it. Health, education, and jobs are the main goals for the families that Team Tassy serves, and I believe that is the reason that it is really working.
Each time I return to Haiti, I see a difference in our Team Tassy families and it only encourages me to continue working towards the eradication of poverty with Team Tassy. Experiencing Haiti in general is extraordinary, but experiencing it with such a tight-knit group is life-altering. Team Tassy really knows how to make you feel as though you are a part of a team and immersed in the culture with the people that you are helping. For all of these reasons, I support and will continue to support Team Tassy as they make a difference in Haiti family by family.
As a veteran crew member after our very first day of my second year of the run today, I began thinking about what made me decide to leave my 2 1/2 year old son for 10 days yet again to support Team Tassy and this crazy ultra marathon across an entire country.
After much reflection, I decided there are many reasons I return to Haiti over and over after my first trip 17 years ago: the beauty of the country, the strength and resilience of the people, and the pure satisfaction and happiness that Haitians find in the things in life that really matter.
I could easily come back and do things with Team Tassy that doesn’t involve things like no sleep, sore feet, and leaving home for almost two weeks. I come back for the run for one specific reason - it is simply magic. The bonds that were formed and the almost “camp-like” feel that develops through these days is beyond measure. There is something that happens when you go through this experience with complete strangers that bonds you together and you are almost sad when it is over. Being inspired watching people push them to their limits, taking pride in supporting them, learning about their lives and families, exchanging stories, talking about where they hail from, sharing in a Prestige after a tiring long day and many many laughs.
And after day one I can already see that happening again this year. And I just love it.
I will come to Haiti for the rest of my life, that is for sure. But I will also come for the run for as long as they will let me.
Today was the most physically demanding thing I’ve ever done in my life.
I’m no ultra marathon runner, but I was playing all the sports throughout high school and even after college. I must admit, when asked to bike across Haiti I was extremely hesitant. I always wanted to go, but I was hesitant because I wasn’t sure if I could do it or that I would slow down the team. It also didn’t help that every single time I told a friend they would always ask “is it safe?”
So, I committed and signed up to be a cyclist on the support crew. Leading up to my departure date I was very anxious but also very excited.
Jump to today, our first day. It was a 33 mile bike ride from Cap-Haitien to Pleasance with the first half fairly flat. We started in Cap-Haitien and it was just so intriguing. The streets are crumbling, the buildings are half built cindered block stories or homes with some french inspiration from the island’s history. Motorcycles carrying 3 people are zigzagging everywhere, massive trucks just honk and zip by you, people were walking everywhere and black smog from every single running vehicle shoots in your face. Actually, I probably got smoker’s lung today. Anyways, I kept saying that biking in this area is like a real life frogger, but Cap-Haitian had this unique charm to it I couldn’t really put my finger on.
After Cap-Haitien we went through the countryside. The natural landscape of Haiti is top notch. I would compare it to Costa Rica and Hawaii or maybe even better. Everything is so green with small streams of water randomly running through a field with a cow trying to talk to me. Unfortunately, there is trash almost everywhere, but you can still see the land’s beauty.
Once through the countryside it seemed like Mt. Everest appeared out of nowhere. Half of our route today was up a large steep hill. However, as I was peddling less than 1MPH up the hill, Haiti’s charm came to life. As I biked up the mountain I would see Haitians smiling, waving, and saying hi. I would see a hut for a family with little kids poking out or a hut there selling who knows what. This mixed into the lush greenery just seemed, right.
I’m fortunate to say, that I accomplished the most physically challenging event of my life, while being able to experience and see Haiti’s charm. I can’t wait to see more, but hopefully Mt. Everest doesn’t appear and all the trucks get smog checks before I see it.
I’d heard a lot about what to expect for my first trip to Haiti, but I learned that none of it allowed me to even come close to imagining my first 24 hours here. From extreme beauty and vibrant chaos to the real and striking poverty, the atmosphere is way more intense than is easy to describe or anticipate. During my first day on crew, I was in awe of the running team. It was a long and tough day, but they put in 33 grueling miles on day 1 while keeping smiles on their faces. Their energy and positivity was contagious to say the least. One of the best parts was how between runner visits, we were kept company by dozens of curious neighborhood children drawn by the excitement to watch the runners and talk with us. I’m so excited for the rest of the adventures that lie ahead on this trip!
Today I’m very excited to talk to you about Team Tassy’s work in Haiti.
So, before I start I would like to tell you a bit about myself. I’m Jules John and I’m the Haitian manager at Team Tassy, the one who manages all the programs that Team Tassy has here. Education, Health and Jobs creation are all parts of the work. So people in Haiti are all expected to have a job at least for them to be able to feed their families and to pay for education, as well as stuff for their families as well.
So Team Tassy is an Organization that works in Haiti that helps Haitian families through a lot of things. Today’s run was really great so this is a good sign of how the rest of the days will be during the whole RAH. So far it was a very great experience guys to be part of this big adventure for the third time. I’m so happy to have all of those volunteers here with us to support us to run for us this is amazing things guys. No words to describe how grateful we are to have you guys making all those sacrifices for us.
Today went well and then I can’t wait to see how tomorrow will be and to tell you about it again guys.
This is now my 3rd time participating in the run across Haiti with Team Tassy. Year one I was on crew, year two runner, and now I crew again. Today as we arrive in Plaisance I am feeling humbled.
I am humbled because of the wonderful people here, the work that Team Tassy is doing to lift their family members out of poverty, and this wonderfully dedicated group of runners and volunteers that made the decision to come here and give a little of themselves to make a big difference in the lives of others.
I don’t want to say too much as I am sure everyone has much to say but i’ll just say this. If you have the chance or means you should come and visit this country. Yes, it has been through a lot we all know this however, there is more here for you to see and feel. This is a majestic place, a grand place, a rich place, and a poor place yet a happy place. It is hard to have the right perspective from our comfortable living rooms. So, if you are thinking about it I urge you to just do it. Team Tassy could not be better hosts.
I just want you all to know where ever you are reading this from that this country is still in much need but it is such a bright and warm place filled with much beauty and love.
I wish you could feel what it’s like to meet the people here as we do every day during the run. In their towns and small villages along the route. That are alway most eager to know more about us and even give us a hand when needed. This is something that I feel is even lacking in our own neighborhoods and communities. The openness and trust to learn about each other when we don’t know each other. I wish we all can be bold enough to listen to these people and learn from them. They are ingenious. They make due with so little and yet are still able to thrive and even be happy despite this.
Lastly, I just want to tell you about something that happened today in the spirit of what I said earlier about openness, trust, and giving a hand. So….as we leave Cap- Haitian very early this morning at about 4 am. I set out with my crew in our 4-wheel drive Hilux truck to find our first 10k check point. The thing is we can’t seem to find the initial check point we had set up. Owen, Grace and I decided to turn around. “Maybe we passed it up?” I thought. I have to mention here that the truck Im driving the team in has the most black tinted windows you can imagine. It was hard if not impossible to see everything. Usually in the bright light of day I would have no problem with this but this morning in the country side it was dark out, very dark. I begin turning the truck around and think “no problem looks like I have a clean shot to do this in one go” it turns out I did not. I got us stuck on a very dangerous angle in some sort of a mote with 4 feet of water/ mud / garbage in it. The truck was up on just 2 wheels and we were stuck. I got everyone out of the truck and tried to move it forward but had little to no success. Owen tried giving me a little assistance but we were already in panic mode. In what seemed like just 2 minutes at 4:30AM mind you about 10 Haitians appeared out of nowhere. We couldn’t understand where they came from but we knew they were there to help. Just then a massive truck was coming down the road as well. They communicated what was going on and used a make shift piece of cloth or something to tie around the bumper. It wasn’t easy. They all jumped right into all of that mud and debris to help push. I’m talking, their once clean legs now filthy for our sake. The truck driver so happy to stop and help. It took a few tries but we managed to get the truck back onto the road and get to our check point with a little help from our friends. All I know is that would not happen in my town. I’m grateful for and humbled by all of those Haitians who helped. It was something I’ll never forget.
Hello everyone! It’s time for the daily “Medical Minute” from Ray on the RAH Medical Team! Today’s message is best read in a spoken word poetry style…
If you start to feel ill, remember to stop, collaborate and listen to your body.
Your body that’s a wonderland.
But don’t go chasing waterfalls, stick to the rivers and lakes that you’re used to.
But don’t drink the water, there’s stuff in the water.
So you should pop a bottle and let your body waddle.
Don’t act like a snobby model, you just hit the lotto.
They call it mellow yellow - your pee that is
They call it mellow yellow - your pee that is
They call it mellow yellow
Because it’s the one that we want, the one that we want, Ooo, Ooo, Ooo.
The one that we need, Oh yes indeed.
You’ve got to push it, push it real good
You’ve got to push it, push it real good
But remember to stay hydrated!
Because tramps like us, baby we were born to run!
You could say I’m a “people person.” I love talking to and getting to know people, I love photographing their faces, I love seeing over and over those qualities in us that are just so darn human. So it’s not surprising that so far, it’s the people in Haiti that have made the deepest impression on me. Some are warm, some are skeptical, most seem extremely curious about who we are and what the heck we’re doing.
We’re lucky to have several Creole speakers running this year and it’s great hearing firsthand what people are yelling. A group of kids heckled Wesley as he ran, “The blonde girl is beating you! You have to catch up!” Laurence explained to another group of onlookers on Day 1 that she was heading to Jacmel (at the other end of the country). “In a car, right? Where’s your car?” They could not understand why she’d run all that way.
Which brings me right back to the people of Haiti. That’s why we run. This country, with it’s vibrant, almost saturated, culture. The vivid colors everywhere, the music you can’t help but shake your hips to, the children that swarm you and joke with you and hug you. I’ve had so many amazing conversations and it’s only been 5 days, some in English, some in really bad French (on my part), but amazing nonetheless. They have left me with the certainty that this is a culture that needs to be preserved, a country that needs to flourish, a nation of people that deserve no less than you and I. And that is why we run and crew. #2017runacrosshaiti
When my friends and coworkers back in Vancouver, Canada, learned that I was taking two weeks of vacation to go cycle across Haiti (again.) to support a group of ultramarathoners, they were flabbergasted. “Why would you do THAT on your VACATION?!”, was the most common response, second only to “You’re crazy. That’s crazy.”
On day two, during one of the mountain climbs just outside of Plaisance, I had stopped to take in the sunrise over the valley we had just emerged from. The pastel coloured skies overflowing over the ridge line into the damp jungle below made for an unbelievable picture, so I escaped behind my camera lens. Without hearing anyone approach, I jumped at hearing a polite and raspy “bonjou!”. I turned to see a smiling elderly man holding a megaphone, seemingly eager to hear my response - clearly an outsider. Over the next ten minutes I briefly got to learn about this man, Marc-Henri, and his life. He was born in Plaisance and, with the exception of a few short trips locally, has never left. He also comes to this beautiful lookout every morning to volunteer as the very unofficial town crier. He rarely, if ever, gets paid for his work. While he’s quite engaged, earning a fair wage would be nothing short of life changing.
This week, the runners we are supporting are pushing themselves beyond their limits to raise funds for Team Tassy to do exactly that: help families earn the skills to be able to find and maintain dignified employment to provide for themselves. If vacation is supposed to be time spent gaining a little more freedom in one’s life, there is no reason we shouldn’t take a bit of that time to help others gain the same.
www.crowdrise.com/2017RAH
I think yesterday was an abrupt wake up for everyone, 4am start, running through the early traffic of Cap Haiten, into the mountains outside of the city. It seems the group was relieved by finishing one of the longer days of the run, albeit acutely aware of the daunting miles ahead this week. Today, however, runners bounced back quickly. The initial climb brought early morning mountain views, showcasing the beauty of the island. With miles feeling less like a task and more of a privilege, the runners were eager to talk about where they were from and how they came to be a part of the RAH.
Personally, I had been anxious leading up to the RAH this year. I remembered last year, cycling through crowded markets, dodging dogs, and long descents over broken roads, but today brought a new perspective. It’s an incredible privilege to be in Haiti, a place that catches every stroke of bad luck. The hurricane a couple months ago definitely wreaked havoc on the roads--it was hard to imagine them getting worse from last year. And while navigating the cratered road between runners, I wondered how the country could ever get back on its feet when constantly being beaten back down to zero. Any effort, like the building of a road, can be wiped out by a single storm. But today also showed us the potential, the stark beauty of the island, and reminded me that I should feel lucky to be here at all.
This is weird. Not “weird” in a Ninja Turtles III kind of way. Weird in a “This started with seven people… and has grown into a movement” kind of way. Every year the RAH brings firsts. This year, I have yet another personal first. This is my first RAH as a part of the merry gang of crew ninjas. It’s one thing to run across Haiti, but it’s a completely other thing to make it happen. I am so fortunate to have now seen the race from both sides of the fence and I have to admit...the rhythm of logistics is addicting. Every day you wake up and you get to solve a giant puzzle with an army of awesome. “Who was the last person to leave your station?” “Where can we get ice?” “What is that goat eating?” This is how we move 44 people across an entire country. Just like running, it’s not an individual sport. It only happens with a team.
Speaking of teams, I honestly can’t speak more highly of this team. No joke. These guys are organized, hardworking, and hilarious. Well, mostly hilarious. Every year it’s a learning process. We show up. We pivot. We make it happen it. I couldn’t be more proud of this crew. It is truly an honor to run with them and navigate this beautiful country. Now if we just had a tow strap….
Julie Noblick - St. Marc’s
While this is my 10th trip to Haiti with Team Tassy, this is my first trip traveling north of Cange and my first year crewing for the Run Across Haiti. I haven’t been to Haiti in almost two and a half years and it’s hard to describe what it feels like to be back and even more difficult to put into words what it’s like to see so many new parts of the country.
Haiti is a place of contrasts so severe as to be disorienting. I’m writing this from a balcony overlooking the sea in St. Marc’s. The water starts out a deep azure blue and brightens to turquoise where the water meets the mountains. It’s breathtaking by any measure. Yet many people who live here never get to take in this view. The obstacles presented by poverty can place even the most basic of needs of feeding, clothing, educating, and keeping a roof over your family’s head just out of reach.
The work Team Tassy does is about opportunity. Everyone should have the right to take care of themselves and their family. Dignified employment is the foothold to help people climb up and out of the hole. With every step our runners take, we get closer to providing that opportunity to all of our families.
I am currently sitting poolside outside of our hotel in Genevieve. We have been here since roughly 9:30 and unfortunately due to the travelling Carnaval de L'Independence that takes place across the country every year, some of us are still waiting on rooms. Things must have got a little rowdy last night but it was cool to see some big Haitian musicians that were playing at the Carnaval. T-Vice.. I'm sure you all know of him. To our Haitian family members who are helping us along the way, it was like seeing J Biebs. Anyway, right now everyone is surviving off of Solo bars and Pringles until lunch is served, and I feel greatly for the runners right now who are so used to being able to fuel up properly after such a hard run. I was unable to start at the beginning of the run today due to the need of support crew members but at the 15km mark once the majority of the runners passed through I was able to hop out and start running with Brandy. It was at this time when she needed it most. The little strains from the past few days are progressively getting worse and are only going to continue getting worse with the gruelling runs. She was really feeling it today with her IT band and it was beginning to wear her down physically and mentally. It's hard not to let you emotions get the best of you here but I knew she would fight through. I ran just under 10km today with her to the finish line and that was plenty. The runners started today at 5 AM, just like everyday, we start as early as we can to beat the heat. Unfortunately for me, when I started running, the sun and heat was unavoidable. My run today with Brandy Hagel was so much different than yesterday's mountainous run. The majority of my 10km took place through the markets of Genevieve. I can't begin to describe the difficulties you face running in that kind of environment. Every vehicle runs off diesel, and running along side all the traffic with the exhaust in your face is suffocating. Pair that with garbage being burnt everywhere you look, and it makes you feel like you’re breathing through a straw. The heat, humidity, pollution, stench, the crowds, traffic, and not to mention almost stepping on a dead dog... the list is endless and it made me run faster than I thought I ever could at that distance. I wasn't comfortable, and not everyone in these cities are friendly to us. But it's the moments you pass the occasional group of people who respond back to our "bonjour, excuse moi" with "Merci pour nous aidez". Or the kids who run beside you with the biggest smiles on their faces. That was all the motivation Brandy and I needed. -pou ayiti
Time with our Families - Sasha (Team Tassy Staff)
Today was “Rest Day” (TM pending), so we gathered our runners and crew members and headed to Menelas and Molea, the two communities where Team Tassy focus their efforts. All week we’ve been working hard beside three family members on the support crew, Nicole, Josette and Giordani. They’ve been a giant asset, lugging water bottles with us, cheering everyone on, applying sunscreen at every opportunity. They’ve also helped us navigate cultural situations, like when our checkstop happened to be set up in front of a funeral, or our truck was mistaken for a tap tap (Haiti’s version of a public bus) and a local fellow starting loading his stuff in the back. It’s been amazing to watch them bond with everyone else, dishing out the zingers with the rest of the crew, smiling and laughing when things go awry, talking about their children, dancing and singing when we’ve all had a couple of Prestiges. So you can imagine how meaningful it was to visit their homes.
Josette showed off her 18 month old baby and her lovely, solid home. Before Team Tassy, her family squeezed into a USAID tent, cowering in a corner when it rained, even if they were supposed to be sleeping. Giordani introduced us to his beautiful wife, and proudly pulled out a picture of his 6 children. They were all in school, an impossibility before, given the expense, so we weren’t able to meet them in person. He waited 3 years for the opportunity to work with Team Tassy, making sure to meet with them every chance he got. He has truly come out of his shell since he began working them and has worked hard to meet and exceed all expectations. Nicole’s daughter, Pascale, made a brief appearance, reconnecting with runner Sean Brennan and his daughter, Grace. Beautiful and kind, she spends any spare moment she can find studying with the goal of going to college in two years.
This visit truly put this whole run into perspective. While we get an opportunity to really witness and engage with Haitian culture on the run, nothing makes our mission resound so profoundly as getting into Menelas and speaking with the Team Tassy families. I could see how moved everyone was, and I think it will motivate folks through these next challenging couple of days. It’s impossible not to be changed after an experience like this, I’m just grateful to be able to participate.
We need your participation too. Join us at www.crowdrise.com/2017rah
Today is finally our rest day. The only rest day the runners and crew members get throughout this whole run and it couldn't come at a better time. The distance we have travelled is starting to show with the runners. Yesterday I jumped out and ran the last 6k of the 32 with Brandy Hagel. At the beginning of this run I tried my best to prepare Brandy mentally for the war that this run was going to be. I tried to relate to the best of my ability and compare it to things I had to endure mentally and physically through my hockey career. All the injuries guys play through when they are in playoffs, and the kind of character and toughness that takes. But yesterday I realized something as I was running along side Brandy. She could barely breathe, and with every single exhale she was grunting and groaning. I’ve never seen a person intentionally put themselves through that much pain, and she wouldn't stop, for anything. In hockey guys deal with all kinds of pain, but in short burst. They don't run for hours on end, in the same stride that created the pain in the first place. It was in that moment that I realized just how strong she is, and that her mental strength will never hold her back from accomplishing anything.
We have spent the last two days at Wahoo Bay resort. This place is absolutely amazing and really shows how much potential there is for Haiti to be a vacation destination. This morning may have been my favourite experience of this whole trip. We spent the morning in the town of Menelas. It's a small area outside of Port Au Prince, and this is where Team Tassy's families live. It's a very unknown area to most groups who come to help, and an area that was left devastated after the earthquake and hurricane. It was so great to see where everyone's donations are going and to see first hand the impact that Team Tassy is making. We got to spend time with each family that is employed through Team Tassy and see the how it has improved their lives drastically. We also spent time in one of the most impoverished places in all of Haiti, Molea. Molea is a community that lives within the landfills outside Port Au Prince. Kids are born and raised in this landfill and don't know anything other than sifting through garbage. It's nearly impossible for anyone in this area to earn enough money to get out of this severity of poverty and this is where Team Tassy gets involved. They are currently in the process of establishing jobs for people in this community to collect bottles in the landfill to be used in fabrics that we wear in our everyday clothing. There are some big ideas in the making with some major companies, but there will be more on that another day.
One of my favorite checkpoint moments was during the wee hours of the morning on Day 4, leaving Gonaives en route to St Marc. We were traveling through farm country full of livestock (mostly goats) and rice paddies. It was still pitch dark - approximately 4:30 or 5:00 am, and we pulled over to set up the 20k checkpoint. Within seconds, people came out of the darkness, walked up to our truck and started putting buckets and miscellaneous packages in the back next to our coolers and water bottles. Perplexed and slightly concerned, we hopped out with our headlamps to check out the situation, with Nicole translating. Turns out we had managed to place our 20k checkpoint directly in a popular Tap Tap stop for shuttling people, goats, more goats, and other livestock to the market. The market-bound sellers had mistook our large 4x4 truck for the large open truck-like taxi. We were able to move a bit to give them space, but the space was definitely bustling all morning with market-goers and the checkpoint was never dull.
In a few hours, we’ll be taking off at midnight for the final leg of our 230 mile journey across Haiti. It’s been an exhausting week (and I’m not even running!), but I’m going to be really sad to leave this incredible group of runners and crew. It takes a special kind of person to want to sign up for something so crazy as running across the entire length of Haiti, but even more so one to not let the blinding sun and choking exhaust fumes get you down while you dodge tap-taps and all manner of farm animals. I’ve watched these runners crack jokes while getting their toenails drilled and the crew make each other laugh while pulling a truck out of a ditch (again).
This week has been a week of firsts for me. I learned how to speak Canadian (it’s a very nuanced, apologetic language) and that Canadians think they invented hats (though they pronounce them ‘touques’). I rode on my first pirate ship and took my first picture containing both a drone and a donkey. I’ve learned that man cannot survive on Prestige alone (a delicious Haitian beer)… but that woman can. I also heard my first Haitian joke, which I still don’t understand, but things just tend to be funnier when the alarm to start the day goes off at 2:30am. Finally, I’ve perfected the art of the silent cheer after realizing that we’d set up a checkpoint for runners outside of a church that was holding a funeral.
Josette (Haitian Crew Member)
Hello to everyone from Team Tassy. I feel so lucky that I am participating in the race for the first time. I am so pleased that I can be useful during this race, that I can spend time with everyone and be part of this beautiful journey.
First, I say ‘mesi’ to Team Tassy for including me in the run. I also want to tell the team good job, it takes a lot of courage to run to the finish and I will try my hardest to aid the runners during their hard work, just as Team Tassy has done for me.
I trained a lot and learned about checkpoints and what runners need. I learned a few English phrases like, “Do you need water?” “Do you need Electrolytes?” “Are you feeling ok?” I learned many other things about how the support crew can be helpful to the runners.
I have also seen many new things. This is my first time at such a nice hotel in the countryside, seeing my beautiful country. So many beautiful sights! I’ve never sat down to eat with so many people, especially foreigners. They are very friendly and make me feel at ease, I appreciate that. I really enjoy spending time with everyone, especially Quinn and Justin. I love them very much!
I can never say ‘thank you’ enough to Team Tassy, for all that you have brought into my life. Thanks so very much, Team Tassy.
Nicole (Haitian Crew Member)
I worked during 10 days in RAH throughout Haiti. For me it was a big experience of all my life that I would love sharing with you.
It was a group of foreigners who came from different countries and cities, voluntarily, who want to do this huge run where they will start at Cap Haitien to end at Jacmel to help Team Tassy fundraise money for me and the poor families in Haiti.
For the first day, the travel was long for me because I don't get used to this kind of trip. Getting at Cap Haitien, precisely at Rival Hotel, the space make me completely forgot about the long route. By waiting for the runners and staff coming, I visited the hotel which was really nice. We welcomed the runners and staff with a lot of joy. At night we ate dinner together and everyone presented themselves by saying something. After that we went to bed to get some sleep for waking up at 3:30 in the morning: doing preparation for our runners, and begin the run at 5 am from Cap Haitian to Plaisance. It was like that everyday except for the last day of the run and some days we avoided the hot for our runners and staff.
We stayed in some nice places like: National school at Plaisance, Village Ennery, Amiral Killick, Wahoo Bay, Eucalyptus, and Cap Lamandou. I always shared the same room with Josette, she's so nice, I love her so much. She's so comprehensive and lovely. After work, everyday we had fun, specially for the rest day at Wahoo Bay Beach, we had a lot of fun, it was incredible and this is unbelievable.
I also had a bad moment when we visited families who are living in Truitier, we met some people who are living in a really bad conditions, inhumane, I cried in this day. It was my first time visiting an area like this, even me in my poor ways, I thought I should help them. So, I hope and pray to God that Team Tassy gets more means, to increase the list of his family in Haiti so that he could provide funds to these people in this area or elsewhere. I would also love that our sponsors help this organization without worries because Team Tassy is doing a really great job in this community.
Finally, it was great for me, the last day that appears like the dangerous; hard one for me, but I finally understood why we went out at this time to avoid getting hot in the sun and to finish it as quick as possible. I have nothing to reproach, I just to suggest that our runners wear comfortable sneakers and socks next time for some of them, and need more prudence from the runners to avoid motors' accident for next year
I am so thankful toward the teachers: Escane, Jules and the leading staff of the Run Across Haiti, Vivien, Owen, Sasha, Christina, and also the runners and crew members. I am so happy having a chance working with you.
Be sure that you will see me next year, bye and May God bless you all!
Giordani (Haitian Crew Member)
For me the run was really awesome and it was part of my best experience in my life. I am happy because I was one of the crew members during the RAH.
I think it was the best experience I have ever made before because I had the opportunity to know all of the marvelous space I have in my country. My pleasure was to know all of these beautiful faces, and the best moment I had was the way those in my crew welcomed me, the way they reacted towards me and share their stories with me.
I would like to improve in English so that I could have more communication with those who will be in my group next year,and would love learning English again this year for getting prepare for this big adventure
I was very happy because we didn't have anything wrong during the run, everything was OK, I felt like I was with my family, enjoying all of the great moment together. This run means a lot for me, I made a lot of friends there, I went to the beach and made a lot of experiences. I will be happy if ever I had the opportunity to be there again next year for being able to see all of these friends and share my thoughts with them again. Thanks a lot Team Tassy, and wish you a good year my friends. Miss you a lot!
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