"When the road ahead seems too long..."

" When the road ahead seems too long, look back to see how far you’ve come. For, even if the hill before you is steep, the view gives you hope to finish the journey."

-Daniella Kessler

Moto's zip by. Bike riders move over to make room. People turn to stare. I am approaching the Angkor Wat ticket booth. Not by bike, not by tuk-tuk or taxi but instead by foot. Wearing black running shorts, an orange singlet and my new pair of Adidas running shoes, I slowly reach my goal for the day. I make a big U-turn at the ticket booth and begin to "pound the pavement" as I work my way home. In just over 5 miles I have sweat out all of my net water intake for the day, given two kids high fives as they drove by on motos, raced teenage girls on their bicycles (they won), and almost got bit by 1 dog. 

Running in Siem Reap is nothing like I have experienced before. I've learned pretty quickly that Siem Reap is not one of those cities that has embraced the running movement, which has interestingly begun taking over in many parts of the world. As I run down crowded and traffic filled streets I completely stand out. Not because I am a white, 5 foot 11 inch Westerner wearing a bright colored shirt and shoes that have pink laces (actually men here love the color pink) but because I am doing something that no on really does. 

My most traveled route is along the river. I run out from my house till I hit the river turn right and follow it until I get tired, then I turn around and come home. I finish every run in front of a hotel called Soria Moria. The tuk-tuk driver who stations himself on this corner waiting for customers always smiles when I finish, looks at me and says one word: hot. I nod in agreement as I wipe sweat off my brow.

Between the beginning of my run and my finishing conversation with the tuk-tuk driver I spend a great deal of time watching the road. The first and most important reason for this is because I need to watch out for oncoming traffic. Drivers here are use to the traffic patterns but they are not use to slowing down or moving out of the way for pedestrians. Thus far, everyone has been extremely courteous : moving over to give me room, slowing down to let me go first and even completely stopping traffic for me so I can cross. I am still being extremely careful, sticking to sidewalks when I can and running with traffic coming at me so that, if I need to, I can jump out of the way. My other reason for concentrating on my surroundings is for observational purposes. A person can learn a lot about a place just by watching what goes on: I pass shops and notice children playing. I smell dinner cooking. I also smell garbage festering. I watch young men and women sit in the park, somewhat romantically, enjoying the end of the day. I hear men laughing, drinking beer and playing volleyball. Very simply, I witness normal life.

After my final cross country season in the fall of 2011 I was pretty much burned out from running. I had competed for the better part of ten years and just needed a break. However, since I have been here my spark and love for the sport have returned and I now look forward to and enjoy my daily runs.

Running for me has always been an outlet but now it seems ever more important. My days here are filled with teaching, planning, interacting, and preparing. When I am not doing work for TGC I am snapping photos for our website, working on The McBuddha Project, serving at Joe-To-Go, and doing some side projects that will be announced soon. This leaves very little time for self-reflection. Running through Siem Reap belongs to me and me alone. I am out there to be with my thoughts, to reflect on how far I have come and to ponder the journey ahead.

Ultimately, my goal will be to run to and from the Angkor Wat temples, which is a round trip of approximately 10miles. This will all be preparation for the Siem Reap Half Marathon which takes place on December 1st. The race will take me on a 13 mile course around the temples. Much more to come on this in the near future...

I have been in Siem Reap for a month now. Not much of a reason to celebrate as this means that I have one month less to accomplish my goals here. One month less to help people. One month less to learn and teach. One month less...

As the sun sets over the river my run comes to an end. With the end of this day comes the end of the first stage...