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    A Runner Abroad

    Joy of getting lost in runs overseas - and finding more than just your way back
    Jul 3, 2014
    "I’ve made it a point to go for a quick run around the neighborhood as soon as I can, to familiarize myself with what the place offers." Bobby Go
    sidelines to start lines

    WHEN I was younger, family vacations with parents and siblings were mostly time-efficient and tidy affairs. Dad had the knack for keeping a free-wheeling itinerary known only to him, springing surprise activities like a visit to the museum or a walk along the beach, where he would intone his famous ‘Let’s get organized,’ loosely translated as ‘Get your shit together now since we have somewhere to go.’ It didn’t matter whether we had just unpacked or were waiting for that important call from nature, we just had to get organized. I related this to my kids on the ride from Charles de Gaulle airport to our rental in Paris, and in a salute to my dad, decided to collectively address my family (much to their annoyance and my delight) as ‘team.’ Every so often, it would be ‘Okay, team, here’s what’s going down tomorrow’ or ‘Time to get ready, team. Time’s a-wasting.’ And because I held most of the cards, my announcements were met with grudging compliance and exasperated ‘Yeesh, Daaaad!’

    The intrepid traveler in me would normally go with the flow or just wing it when going it alone, but the many years of being a husband to one and father to three have taught me to be more prepared whenever I travel with the brood. There’s the usual advance research on top 10 city attractions, how to get around, and how not to look like a tourist (Note: This never seems to work when we travel westward). I suppose I do enough running already while in country, but the pull of the road and trail is strong with this one. I still manage to throw in a few clicks when travelling here or abroad. The worst I would settle for is a boring run on the treadmill at the hotel’s fitness center, but beggars can’t be choosers.

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    There’s nothing like a quick 10k to wake up the blood and kick start your system after that disproportional amount of food you take on the plane where you want to maximize travel fare (You can leave the entire bottle, thank you). I’ve also taken my kids with me on my runs to get them to kick jetlag and stay fit in the process. Outside of running marathons in different cities abroad, here’s what I’ve learned or realized from running on foreign soil on a typical day:

    Recon Run

    A lot of travel guidebooks will declare that one of the best ways to see a city is on foot, and they’re right. Since I started my running habit, I’ve made it a point to go for a quick run around the neighborhood as soon as I can, to familiarize myself with what the place offers. I’ll take note of the nearest grocery, pharmacy, ATM, subway station, and possibly, police station and hospital. It’s a particular treat when the area you’re staying in is runner friendly, which basically means lots of long uninterrupted stretches of road to run, few crosswalks, and minimal traffic. It helps too if there are nearby public loos (but more on that later) and water fountains. By the time I’ve done my reconnaissance, I have more confidence to take the family around for a stroll around town.

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    Being Prepared

    I ran several times during this last vacation, and I learned to bring a few things essential to surviving running in unfamiliar territory. Aside from the keys to where you’re staying and a bottle of water for hydration, it’s important to bring some money in case you need to cab it back if you get tired, lost, or tired from getting lost. Bring some loose change as well - something I quickly learned while running in London, as public loos are few and far between, and they almost always charge half a pound (if you’re lucky) per entry. Take note of the nearest subway station as well, since these serve as good landmarks and can literally be your ticket back home.

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    Getting Lost And Finding More Than Just My Way Back

    In the time that I’ve spent running abroad, I’ve learned to allot enough time to getting lost. Even with the convenience of Google maps and GPS, the tightwad in me refuses to switch on my phone’s data roaming function, while Mr. Perfect Sense of Direction wouldn’t know how to use the GPS function on my watch, let alone navigate my way with the help of a compass. But there’s a lot of fun in getting lost. I remember losing my way inside Central Park many years ago and finding my way back to my rental an hour later than my planned one-hour run. My shirt was not of the sweat wicking variety and my nipples (and I) were screaming throughout bath time. I ended up eating a whole pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream for breakfast that morning, but also found new places in the park to visit. In Paris, I ran a good distance along the Seine River and got to see a lot of the city’s famous landmarks. Ducking into the grid of streets with tongue-twisting names, I managed to stray from my route and wandered along alleys lined with hundred year old buildings, calmly checking the city maps at different corners to find my way back to the flat. The run through the neighborhood unveiled a city stirring from its sleep, staring out at a new day with office workers running with their change of clothes in their backpacks, school children trotting off to school, and cafes and boulangerie opening their doors to early pedestrian traffic. My late afternoon run along the Burgundy countryside took me across fields of grazing bovines, rapeseed plantations that went on forever, and a winding dirt path that climaxed with a breathtaking view from the top of a hill.

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    Not In The Philippines

    My travels have also opened my eyes to the realities of many practices and public fixtures that exist in other countries that cannot be transplanted to our humble archipelago. The lack of discipline, inadequate infrastructure, and blatant disregard for basic traffic rules prevents us from ever having any of the following:

    a) Pay-as-you-use unmanned bicycle rental stations

    b) Bike parking areas (where no one steals your bike)

    c) Fully-functioning vending machines in unguarded public spaces

    d) Unmanned clean public restrooms and self-cleaning public restrooms

    e) Bicycle lanes throughout main thoroughfares

    f) Time-limited parking spaces (e.g. maximum 2 hours parking only)

    g) Parking spaces and public transport seating for pregnant women, the elderly, and PWD (persons with disabilities)

    h) Open-type magazine and food stands

    And the list goes on.

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    The missus is tired of hearing me openly bitch about what’s not possible in our backyard, and usually offers a token ‘yeah’ or resigned nod to quiet me down. She knows how I can go on and link a simple parking problem to how the Philippines has fallen from its once lofty status as Asia’s economic power in the mid-twentieth century because of dirty politics and ill-timed democracy. Or transform a once quiet meal over bowls of laksa and teh tarik into a spirited discourse on how Marcos and Lee Kwan Yew started out at relatively the same time, taking their respective countries on entirely different paths. I’m fun that way.

    Frustrating as it is, the pragmatic optimist in me still thanks my lucky stars for having:

    a) A decent place to run right outside my house

    b) Someone or a group to run with at any given time (though alone time is good as well)

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    c) Street hazard challenges in the form of reckless motorists and indifferent pedestrians that force me to stay alert to stay alive

    d) Coffee shops and quick service restaurant staff that cheerfully fill up my hydration bottle with ice and water while engaging me in small talk

    And the list goes on.

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    IMHO (In My Humdrum Opinion)

    Top 5 Annoying Facebook Sports Posts

    1. Status: Despite little or no training, I did well. Came in second! Everyone who finishes gets a medal these days - even when you’re second in a two-chariot race.

    2. Reposting pictures: Like we didn’t get enough of it the first time around.

    3. Status: I can’t seem to get going today. Don’t. Start.

    4. Status: Sick. Sympathy or loathing? I’ll give you the latter.

    5. Status: Selfie with (insert name here). We know what a selfie is, pea-brain.

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    The Last Time I Checked

    The last time I checked, propriety is thrown out the window in social networking sites like Facebook. Aside from cyber bullying and shame posts, there are the tactless requests in the guise of a jokey remark that deserve admonishment; here are a couple of examples:

    a) Anyone going to (insert name of North American/European/Asian city here)? Have a small favor to ask. Translation: Here’s my list.

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    Variation: Commenting on a post of travel photos: Hey, pabili naman ng (insert product name here). Or the short and simple ‘Pasalubong!’ Translation: Buy this for me. I really don’t care if it will be an inconvenience to you and your family.

    b) Commenting on a post of a product or event: May discount ba? May libreng ticket ba? Ganda naman… wala bang kapatid iyan? Translation: I’m taking advantage of our FB friendship in front of all your other FB friends. You don’t want to look like a miser/snob, do you?

    Customarily, there’s either an ingratiatingly parked ‘Hehe’ or smiley icon following the comment for equal parts cajoling and humiliation. It’s not as unnerving as hearing Kris Aquino mouth off on her latest life spectacle, but is enough to have me scrambling for the ‘unfriend’ button. And knowing how the ‘hiya’ (embarrassment) factor plays strongly on the Filipino psyche, recipients of the comments are wont to accede to the pressure. Unless, of course, that recipient is me. Hehe. :)

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    "I’ve made it a point to go for a quick run around the neighborhood as soon as I can, to familiarize myself with what the place offers." Bobby Go
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