Running in the city

Running in the Dominican Republic is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Imagine dodging cars, motoconchos, roosters, and stray dogs, while having to scan the uneven roads and sidewalk every few seconds to avoid an ankle sprain or fracture. Now, add 90% humidity, blackened exhaust coming from cars, and, to top that off, Dominican men cat calling you at predictable intervals. If that doesn’t get your blood pumping and your body ready to try it out, add the constant nausea that many foreigners experience from the bacteria here on a daily basis, which is only amplified by the smells that seem to follow you the during the entirety of the run. Oh, and then there’s the fear of getting mugged.

For the past year, I have been toughing it out and haven’t had much luck finding places with good running conditions. On the verge of taking my workout to the gym, I searched the internet and asked other expats about running trails within the city. I’ve compiled a short list below:

1) Jardín Botanico (Botanical Gardens): a lovely park inside of the city with miles of running paths. I’ve heard that many marathoners train here.
2) Mirador del Sur: according to traveldk.com, this is “a large and pleasant expanse of well-tended grass, trees, and tracks, the park is a magnet for joggers skateboarders, and dog walkers. Younger, health-conscious city dwellers congregate here along with families, especially in the morning and evening, when the through road is shut to cars.”
3) Plaza de la Salud: a medical complex with nice grounds that joggers, walkers, and runners take advantage of.

Luckily, in many of the places outside of the city, the running is ideal (if you can deal with the heat and humidity, that is). In Las Galeras, a little fishing village about 3 ½ hours northeast, one can enjoy palm-lined paths that run along the water, hill climbs, and a breathtaking Caribbean beach at the end of this difficult, but enjoyable, run. I’ll continue to post ideal running spots as I find them. In the meantime, I guess I’ll just have to deal with city running.