After months of debating with myself I have decided to train for the Buenos Aires Marathon to be held October 12th. I had actually begun to train without actually committing myself to the race and at this point I am in week 11 of 18. This morning as I ran my 8 miler in the rain I thought to myself, why am I doing this? Most people wouldn’t attempt to train for a marathon in the states let alone a third world country. While running I came up with a list of the things that make it difficult to run in Paraguay.
10. Lack of any real area for running. There are dirt roads with huge potholes, cobblestone roads, which are hard to run on, or the asphalt ruta which has too much traffic.
9. Rain… it turns the best option, dirt roads and paths, into mud rivers.
8. Paraguayan attitude. They think that I am super strange because I go out of my way to exercise. I am constantly getting strange looks and stares.
7. Herds of Cows
6. The presents the herds of cows left behind.
5. The fact that its “dangerous” to go down this street or that and to be out when its dark or getting dark.
4. More laundry.
3. Dogs barking and nipping at my feet.
2. Dirty Air, burning garbage is a health hazard on its own, try inhaling the stuff when you are already short of breath!
1. Piropos, otherwise known as cat calls. The men here are so macho that they think every time a girl passes they have to hoot and holler at her. It is multiplied exponentially because I am doing such a strange thing as exercising. Especially if I wear shorts.
Why am I doing it anyway?
I enjoy the challenge, it forces me to exercise and stay in shape, I like having a goal to work towards, this way I have something planned for at least four days out of every week, and I hope that one day at least one of the Paraguayans will stop thinking of me as that weird American out running again and be inspired to do it too!
I have become increasing thankful for my I-pod. My personal soundtrack to the weird world around me! It definitely gets me through my runs.
1 comment:
GOOD LUCK on your big race! I'm a PCV in Namibia and have been trying to motivate myself to get out there despite all those reasons we both have learned can make it hard. (For me, it's always the spectacle...) You've totally inspired me to get out there and give it another try. There's a half marathon/marathon here Oct 18...and I plan to get in it to win it next year. Can't wait to hear how it goes! Have fun!
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