Adventures in Guatemalan Running

Since bowing out of organized sports voluntarily I've learned to appreciate the activity that was once its punishment: running. Ironic, i know. But, I genuinely enjoy it now, whether it be to get in a solid workout, clear my head or even kill some time on a dull afternoon. Soon after picking up running, I dove rather haphazardly into marathons, having done two since I began. So, having embarked on my newest marathon plan - which will culminate on August 9th, at the Panama City International Marathon - I've been trying to repeat the methodology i've used in the past to achieve the same success I saw in the first two. And let me clarify "success" - crossing the finish line in one piece.

Considering my vastly different location and cultural situation, I've been dealing with a few minor limitations that i hadn't encountered before in my running and which I've found to be a little trying at times. Here's a few situations to give you an idea:

I would normally sport comfortable, high cut running shorts that, yes, may bear a little more thigh than what would be considered tasteful. But, considering that women in my town cover themselves up to the ankles and rarely even wear pants, let alone shorts, I'd say those shorts are basically out of the question. But it's ok, i have other options. (Instead, I've been using a pair of running tights that make my sister cringe when she sees me wearing them, i guess they leave very little to the imagination)

I'm used to running on pavement, but there's not much of that to be had around these parts. In town the streets are made of pavers and the only pavement is on the lone road leading out of town. After one reaches a point about four blocks away from the center of town, the pavers give way to dirt interspersed with a hodgepodge of stones. When I do my weekly long runs, I opt for the road out of town if I can find a running partner. But braving the dirt roads isn't so bad.

In the past I always did my long runs (more than 9 miles) darting around pedestrians on city blocks and along the Schuykill river of Philadelphia, gorgeous paths that are almost devoid of hills and definitely one of my favorite things about the entire city. While in my hometown in Guatemala there is no lack of scenery, there is no road to be found that does not consist entirely of rolling hills. For a shorter run, it wouldn't be such a bug deal, but for 15 miles let's say, hills get old really quick. From time to time, when chugging up these many gruesome hills, I wonder about who's responsible for the city planning around these parts..

Regardless of the location in the past I've always had a secluded track, or at least Gmaps pedometer - which measures distance traveled via satellite - at my disposal to do measured distances or timed laps. Since Google hasn't made it down to Guatemala to map out streets yet, I've had to eyeball distances and brave the observers on the streets with their shouts and strange looks. And who can blame them, honestly? I would be nervous about some strange foreigner running by my secluded house on a dirt road too. Although, this hasn't been so bad. Today when I did 400 meter repeats just outside town on a rare flat patch of the dirt road, i accrued a small crowd of kids who took turns racing me. I didn't have time or the extra breath to explain why i was doing exactly what i was doing while i was running, so instead i played along. The seven or eight kids tired quickly after i welcomed them to join me, but next week i expect stiffer competition. They're expecting me and I know their names now.

I'm also used to the luxury of running whenever the mood strikes. That is no longer a possibility with the rainy season. Soon, if i don't drag myself out of bed shortly after dawn to get my run in, it's just not going to happen that day. It's going to begin to rain for the majority of the day in a few short weeks and won't let up until November, when it will give way to a few months of chilly weather. Unfortunate, yes. Impossible? I don't think so.

With these minor obstacles to my training plan its been basically a question of toughing it out in more adverse conditions and being sensitive to cultural norms, just like most of the lessons I've collected thus far. While it definitely makes it more challenging, it also makes it more exciting, again, something that characterizes my life down here. When I leave the house for a run, I never know who's going to challenge me to a race, strike up a conversation or shout new terms of endearment. I could get home soaked, having been caught in a sudden downpour or dead tired because of miscalculating mileage or underestimating a new trail. Every day is different, in more ways than one. But the diversity is refreshing and the possibilities are limitless.

Until next time..