Running

I think any somewhat active Peace Corps volunteer in many parts of the world have something to say about this topic at their post. Americans are runners. We aren't all necessarily good at it, enjoy it, and definitely not everyone runs, but it isn't strange to run. We consider it a healthy habit, maybe a good release of endorphins, and something that will keep one fit. El Salvadorans are not runners. There might be a handful of people in the capital who run (they have a few more Americanized customs than in the country), but generally running is uncommon. Quite uncommon.

I don't love to run - it hurts my knee, my ankle, and a problem toe I've been blessed with. But I know I feel better after I run; I feel more active when I am regularly running; and when I go on runs in nature I do find it pleasant to see beautiful landscapes. During college when I rowed I ran some and it went from a horrible duty freshman year to a mildly pleasant workout senior year. When I first got to El Salvador a couple of us from my training community would go running a couple times a week and I continued this habit when I got to my site. Everyone was impressed. "Wow, she's running." Then some problems with one of my toes got in the way too much and I stopped running all together here in El Salvador. With some recuperation of my toe and some daily methods of pain and inflammation control, I've started running again. And the reactions I get I find hysterical.

Carol and I and plenty of other Peace Corps volunteers are going to be running in a "marathon," which they call it here but it is really only 11 K. Like I said, they aren't runners here so they probably think an 11 K is actually a marathon. When I decided to participate I upped the training I was doing. Most people have seen me going to or from one of my three running locations, and either suspect I'm doing something crazy or I've confirmed their suspicions by telling them I'm going to run an 11 K. Sometimes I think I'm a little crazy after running some 60 laps around my tiny soccer field to get in some distance. Here are some of my favorite comments I've received:

"Man, you are so red in the face." Yup, I get red in the face.
"Man, you are soooo sweaty." Yup, I sweat when I work out. That's almost the point.
"You're running in a race? You are totally going to win." Ha, ha, ha, ha. I'm most definitely not going to win. In fact my goal is to jog the whole thing without stopping. They just think I'm going to win because I'm the only person they see working out.
"I'm so impressed because you go out and run a lot, but even though you're white you don't get really burned." It's called sunscreen and is available to anyone.
"You going to go play soccer?" No, the only option for exercise is not soccer. Other types of movement exist.
"You ran all the way to Camalote?" Camalote is a town about a half hour walk and twenty minute jog away from my site. I walk out of my site to the top of a hill and then start running because if I try to jog out of my site, I die due to extreme incline. But really, it isn't far.
"You are going to get tired!" This is probably my favorite and actually quite common. I'll run by people and they'll see me sweaty and breathing hard and they will pull the concerned card and tell me that I'm going to get tired. Yup, that's the idea. I hope I am tired by the time I get home because otherwise I won't consider it a good workout. Oh Salvadorans.

I've gotten used to most of the comments now, though sometimes a couple of them surprise me. If you have ever tried to run in a third world country (where I get a feeling it is often considered strange), I'm sure you've had a similar experience. Happy running! I hope you don't get too tired!