Are you a runner?

In San Francisco when I was training for my first marathon my running group had a discussion over one of our long runs whether we were "a runner." I didn't consider myself one then, but do now. Not so much because It's a year and a half later, and I've been running at least 3 times a week since, or that I've run 3 marathons since, but rather because when I started Peace Corps I was running and so the other volunteers and the people in my town see me as a runner.

Running in Thailand has taken me to some gorgeous places. Going for a run is a wonderful excuse to get a little off the beaten path, or a little out of town. My runs take me down random lanes where kids are playing, or through rice fields.

I am currenly training for a marathon in Bangkok on Nov 27th. I recently did a 13.5 mile training run, and next week I do a 15 mile training run. Then it's decision time: Do I keep training or not. My friend did the marathon last year and said it's not a good one. So I'm looking into other in Thailand. I really want to do one while I'm here.

Thais aren't very into excersize. It's part of the reason obesity is becoming more of a problem here (that and the western influence of food and food attitudes). There are at least 4 places in my town where people gather in the evenings for aerobics. That is a lot of fun. And one guy I met was so proud to tell me he bikes about 20K every morning. But mostly they don't understand my running. For some reason EVERYONE who hears I run thinks I run every day. Even people I have already told I don't run everyday.

They also think I'm crazy for running by myself. Mind you, this isn't because I shouldn't run by myself, thais just don't do anything by themselves. My coteacher asked to go running w me so I met her after school and since it was the first time she had ever been running in her life we took it really slow. A few days later at school she asked if I was going running that evening, and I said I had already run in the morning. She was crushed. Turns out she recruited another teacher to go w her. It's nice to know my presence here is having at least some positive influence....

One friend is disapointed to hear I run alone because he things it's not safe (don't worry mom, it's perfectly safe). He wants me to run in road in front of my house, going no more than 500 yards away. It is impossiblbe to explain that I am NOT going to do laps in front of my house for
my 23 mile training run....

The biggest threat to my running in Thailand is the dogs. There are so many stray dogs here because as buddists they don't even kill stray ants. I'm not sure exactly why they don't neuter their pets, but I think it's a buddist thing too, and not a common practice. But there are enough strays to keep the stray population going.

As you may remember I was bit by a dog about 3 months ago, so I'm pretty afraid of them. The dogs here aren't used to runners either so they like to chase me. I've realized it's the chase they like, so if I stop I'm ok. Problem is I'm going for a RUN! Stopping is sort of anti-productive, wouldn't you say? I carry a stick when I run bc the dogs are used to getting beat and they don't like having a stick waved at them. But I really don't like to piss them off too much. Usually between the dogs barking and me yelling "Bye, Bye" (this isn't me being cute this is how you say "Go Away" in Thai) a Thai person comes to my rescue and gets the dogs to leave me alone.

And on the longstanding theme of Thais being the nicest people in the world, when I am out for a run, I often get random people offering me water. They will either offer me a bottle or motion to come have a glass. And occationally I run by a group of guys sitting outside who want me to come join their whiskey drinking.

Next time you are about to hit the gym and you grab your running bottle, running shoes, and running music, think of me in the rice fields w my running stick.