Running

My running routes: A-B-C-A is the airstrips route and A-D-A is to the Patuca River and back.

I’ve been doing a lot of running during my time here in Ahuas. When I was rehabbing from my Achilles tear, I realized how much I took for granted my mobility. I decided to take advantage of my health and get myself back into shape. It started out as just something I wanted to do, but the more I ran the more I realized it was something I needed. I’ve always relieved my stress by being physically active and getting my blood flowing. Back home that would consist of hitting the weights or playing basketball with friends. With those two not really being an option for me here, I turned to running. I started with running up and down the two landing strips which was a little more than two miles. I would also run the path that headed towards Ribra and stop at the first big mud pit, but with all the rain, that trail became hard to run. Now I run down to the Patuca River and back, which is about 4ish miles.

With lifting weights, I’d get rid of my stress by getting all hyped up and releasing all that built up testosterone. With basketball and other sports, I de-stress by letting my competitiveness take over. With running, it’s really different for me. As friends and family know, I tend to over-analyze things. But when I run, my mind is blank. I can start a run feeling angry or sad or depressed - some negative emotion - but after a half mile or so, it’s all gone. It's a very cathartic process for me. And when I finish I’m always relieved that I’m done, but proud that I didn’t give in to the voice in my head that says, “You should just walk that last half mile”.

Last things:
- I’ve enjoyed running so much that I have registered to run in two 5k races when I get home, the Color Run and the Rugged Maniac, which are probably the two most opposite races I could have chosen.
- I recently read a Kindle Single entitled The Long Run by Mishka Shubaly. It’s his personal story about his struggles with drug addiction and how running helped him. Really interesting read.
- If you want to take a look at Ahuas on Google Maps, search "Ahuas Airport, Ahuas, Honduras".


“You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement.” - Steve Prefontaine