Marathon Tourism

Seeing other peoples blogs inspired me to do a post about running. Since the temperature got above 40, I went running last Sunday and got completely lost running through parts of Brookline I've never seen before. I've enjoy running for its physical challenges, but mostly as a way of seeing new places, even those in my own neighborhood. I've lived in 5 apartments in the last 5 years in all different parts of the Metro Boston area, so I've got to see a lot. Proof of this is that I have no interest whatsoever in running on a treadmill. I want to see and explore new places and especially enjoy running in the woods. Being on the track and cross country teams in high school was a great experience, especially because Walpole, MA is full of woods and great trails.



In 2004, I was working full time at a travel company and part time in a restaurant when a friend as I decided we were going to run the Chicago Marathon. I got into the best shape of my life and was so focused on being able to physically handle it, I didn't think much about the scenery. I've been to Chicago many times, but never like this. I got to see over 26 miles of urban landscapes including wealthy North Shore neighborhoods, LaSalle St. full of skyscrapers, Chinatown, Pilsen and many more. Check out the route here. Can you spot me in the picture? After working 12-14 hour shifts daily in the restaurant, after it was over in just over 4 hours seemed almost uneventful. I was more proud of having visited the 26 mile stretch than the actual running part.

My Dad is 61 and is trying to run a marathon in all 50 states. He only has 5 left! I know that one of the main reasons he is doing this is all of the amazing things he sees on along the routes and journeys to get there. He plans to finish in Colorado in the summer of 2010 and our whole family plans on being there. I am looking forward to warmer weather to revive my wandering spirit.

Groundhog Day

Tonight at the Coolidge Corner theater in Brookline, they're showing Groundhog Day with Bill Murray. What does that have to do with the content of this blog? everything. Trapped in place he didn't want to be to begin with, the protagonist finds hedonistic, romantic, and altruistic pleasures by focusing on changing life's daily routine and trying something new. If you had to live the same day over and over again how would you change it? We tend to schedule too many things during our vacations, when we should be allowing for more spontaneity.

In January of 2004 I spent about 6 weeks traveling solo in Chile, Argentina, and Peru. Many 6 week periods in my life have gone by since then, but none more influential. I learned more about myself in that time period because each day, despite at times traveling with new friends, I started with a blank slate. Very few places I went to I had seen pictures of or too much about. It is that sense of discovery and desire to make each different than the day before that still drives me every day.

Here is a list of countries I've been to so far in chronological order,

Canada
Mexico
Costa Rica
Panama
Spain
Chile
Argentina
Peru
China(including Hong Kong and Macau)
El Salvador
Guatemala

I can still remember details from almost everyday I was in those places, and very few during the years where I was waiting tables, carrying out the same routine. I look forward to future opportunities for the same.