The rabid dogs of Bolivia

pt 2 La Paz, Bolivia, 7th July

Just the one run here, so not a huge amount to report given I was only there for two days and one night. As I trudged through the streets though, wheezing my way up at the ridiculous altitude that La Paz house, I sometimes wondered whether my wheezes were mistaken for minor strokes.

33 minute run. Slow as hell.

pt 3 Sucre, Bolivia

Erm hmm. One week spent. Only 3 runs. Each no longer than 40 minutes. Still a lazy bastard then. Need to update you about the landfill site I ran through and the vicious dogs. I actually shat myself. Just a little.

(I did run bloody fast though. For that moment)

Hello Sucre. Hello steps. Goodbye heart

Pt 4 Potosi, Bolivia 15^th July

Managed to knock out one 45 minute run during the three days I was there. Of course not having a pedometer, having busted shoes and an MP3 player that cuts out with annoying regularity, my runs are always interesting, if not efficient.

I always opt for a straight line run, this saving me from getting lost in a new city, as I change abode with regularity.

This run was half down hill and half up, and I managed to hardly push myself at all. Dogs were only a slight issue this time, with my arse being only barked badly at once as I made my way down. What was more troublesome was the darkness I hit as I ran down straight onto a motorway minus any lights.

After 3 minutes of pitch blackness, nearly running of a cliff, and several stumbles, I decided against stupidity and ran back

Pt 5 Uyuni, Bolivia 17^th July

The morning of the day I was set to head out to the Salt Flats, I headed out and managed a 35 minute run, this time with a little more vigour!

A 8am start onto cold flat plains, with lots of staring from the locals. I ran close to a building site, over train tracks and into the ghetto, and at sight of wild dogs decided this would be my return point.

Of course, the dog hunting through trash that had seem so calm to begin with on the way there, was joined by three friends on my way back. It almost bloody bit my leg off, Deepak shitted his pants, and doubled his pace back, in search of the hostel and away from “da deadly dogs”. Oh what fun, showered, changed, packed, had breakfast, and out I went.

La Senda Verde

Pt 1: The training commences…

Hello La Senda Verde, 3oth of June.

Having been here for one week, I managed to get out onto the roads (well, the world´s most dangerous road) four times in the week I was there.

Running each time for no more than 45 minutes (usually 30 minutes), I ran alongside mountains, sheer peaks and stunning views. Being an idiot of course I have no pictures to show for it.

That being said at least the training has begun (along with some situps, 200, that left me unable to raise myself straight up out of bed for three days).

I run at a snails pace, in the most run down pair of Adidas tennis shoes you will ever see (pictures coming soon…), along with an almost luminescent orange top that advertises Lions backpackers Lima wonderfully!

So that was La Senda Verde, the winding paths, cobbled roads, and dirt that I continually kick up at around 1200 metres above sea level, it has certainly made for interesting running….