Holy Run

I praise You. I bless You. I thank You. More times than not these phrases form part of my prayers. When I pray during a run I use the sentences without fail. Like so many other people I find running to be very spiritual. Runs during an out of town trip have become a sacred act of sorts for me.

The four-miler this morning in Izmir, Turkey, felt like a holy run for sure. As I ran and prayed I thought of the long and potent religious history of the region and felt the weight of its existence. I meandered along the Aegean Sea and looked out over the water with admiration, wonder and awe. Engulfed in an emotion best likened to Freud’s Oceanic Feeling, I felt the presence of the eternal all the while contemplating that which I cannot explain.

My prayers and thoughts about the world around me, and appreciation for the sea, which filled the horizon, abruptly ceased as the stark and hallowed Islamic call to prayer pierced the silence of the predawn. I immediately became mindful that my prayers now joined an untold number. Though our prayers were not in the same language the principle remains the same--humans individually and communally yearning for their Creator with praise, blessing and thanksgiving.

Amen and Amen.

Lost In Translation

It hasn’t happened often, but unfortunately I have lost my way while running out of town. The first and worst happened during a weekend in Alexandria, VA. Shannan attended a conference and I went out for what I intended to be a 10K in a lovely city park. I really enjoyed their path system and meandered off my standard out and back course. The overlapping paths and immense size of the park caused a great deal of confusion. This was painfully apparent when I decided it was time to return.
Being hard-headed (perhaps caused by my XY chromosome) I refused to stop running or to ask for directions. The result, over two hours of running, severe dehydration, a sore ankle, bruised pride and a terribly uncomfortable evening as I joined Shannan at a reception and dinner party.

We had to get up and out early as we had an internal flight to Izmir on our first morning in Turkey. At 4:30 AM I lit out for a short run along the Marmara Sea. As I ran through the labyrinth of streets toward the water, I worked hard to make mental notes of businesses, buildings and landmarks. Unfortunately, I had not slept well the night before. I was groggy and the morning was much colder than I had anticipated. I note this as my psychological state focused on the lack of sleep and the weather rather than the cobbled roads. When I did pay attention to my surroundings I realized how narrow, isolated, quiet and eerily dark everything seemed.

Happily, I emerged out on a main thoroughfare for a jaunt by the sea. I didn’t enjoy it much, though, as I knew I hadn’t been careful in the maze of darkened roads from the hotel. I decided to turn back early, only to discover that all the streets looked the same, especially in the dark. Is now a good time to mention I didn’t take the hotel key with me? Moreover, I had no idea of the correct pronunciation of the hotel name. I ran up and down streets for twenty plus minutes before I luckily happened upon the hotel.

No time for a shower, I toweled off and hurried out for a for a travel and tour day.

Take personal information. Take the hotel address. Take care.

Tom

Off and Running on the Turkey Adventure

Our travel agency planned a low key day for our arrival in Turkey. “Most people like to settle in, rest from the trip and acclimate,” they said. These people have no idea. In the van from the airport to the hotel I asked our transfer guide about bridges between Asia and Europe. I watched closely as we drove through the sprawling city of Istanbul, which contains ten (10) million more residents than my hometown of Atlanta. I had my sights set on a run for the day and was on the lookout for future running destinations for the days to come.

We arrived at the hotel and my traveling companions did take the opportunity to get situated. I changed and went out to explore. Indiana Jones has a whip, a rucksack and his trademark hat. I have running shoes, a stop watch and the same desire to find precious things in the world. Find them I did. Istanbul is a gem, no--she is the crown jewel in the middle of the Eurasia. What a fascinating city filled with intriguing people!

I had run for about 45 minutes, fully enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of this city that completely embraced its many historic influences. Then I saw it. I saw the “Blue Bridge” our transfer guide had described. As she had said, it was busy with men and women fishing for tiny fish, and best of all it connected the continents. I crossed the Galata, its proper name, with some effort, weaving in and out of the anglers, tourists and Turkish folks minding their daily business.

In a span of a few hours I had been running on three continents. Oh the joy!

Run adventurously.

Tom

Transcontinental Turkey

I remember one spring weekend Shannan and I visited Columbus, GA. On the Saturday morning I enjoyed a nice long run. During the course I realized I could press a little farther and cross the state line into Phoenix City, AL. Prior to that I had a five mile route in Clayton County which passed through the official city limits of Forest Park, Lake City and Morrow. Needless to say, I was thrilled to complete the multistate run.

Imagine my excitement the summer we went to Four Corners. I suited up and ran around the monument and the little market village for a half an hour. Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona all at once, incredible!

Ah, but the greatest highlight will soon be in my reach, or so I hope. Next week we take off for Istanbul, Turkey. Many of you may be thinking: So what? Here’s what. I get to run in a new country, no big deal. For those not so geographically versed, Istanbul has the distinction of being a city that straddles two (2) continents. I’ve run in Europe and Asia before, but not in one outing. This will be a geek runner’s dream. I’ll share all the grandeur of it in a week or thereabouts.

Travel and run!

Tom

Other Blogs related to the Turkey Trip

Pre-travel Transcontinental Turkey
Day 1 Off and Running
Day 2 Lost in Translation
Day 3 Holy Run
Day 4 No Run Zone
Day 5 Late out of the gate
Day 6 Multi Istanbul
Day 7 Last Day
Vacation Rain

Sink Shower?

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to write about the topic to follow. I made the mistake of opening my door today at work--that’s not the topic. The sun shone, the birds sang, the smell of new blossoms filled the air and I lost all control—still not the topic. I took off for a short run during my lunch break—not the main topic. I have done this many times over the years. I ran in a local park—almost to the point. Once finished I went in the restroom and had a sink shower, an odd sight for sure. Yes, you guessed it. My topic for the day is the old public restroom bath in the form of a simple sink.

I have cultivated this creepy and questionably legal or sanitary act into a near art form. In fewer than five minutes, I was clean (well, cleaner), dressed and heading back to work. The heat of the day and the intensity of the run caused perspiration to last longer than I would like. Sink showers have the setback of causing you to be very cold afterwards. On this day, like I have done following other spring and summer sink showers, I cranked the air conditioning in the car and managed to cool down. The whole thing always leaves me a bit salty, but The Streak stays intact, regardless of how I smell afterwards.

I’m sure I’ll soon write about the water bottle showers I use when a restroom is not available. Or maybe that’s best left to the imagination.

Run. Sweat. Shower.

Tom

Sink Shower?

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to write about the topic to follow. I made the mistake of opening my door today at work--that’s not the topic. The sun shone, the birds sang, the smell of new blossoms filled the air and I lost all control—still not the topic. I took off for a short run during my lunch break—not the main topic. I have done this many times over the years. I ran in a local park—almost to the point. Once finished I went in the restroom and had a sink shower, an odd sight for sure. Yes, you guessed it. My topic for the day is the old public restroom bath in the form of a simple sink.

I have cultivated this creepy and questionably legal or sanitary act into a near art form. In fewer than five minutes, I was clean (well, cleaner), dressed and heading back to work. The heat of the day and the intensity of the run caused perspiration to last longer than I would like. Sink showers have the setback of causing you to be very cold afterwards. On this day, like I have done following other spring and summer sink showers, I cranked the air conditioning in the car and managed to cool down. The whole thing always leaves me a bit salty, but The Streak stays intact, regardless of how I smell afterwards.

I’m sure I’ll soon write about the water bottle showers I use when a restroom is not available. Or maybe that’s best left to the imagination.

Run. Sweat. Shower.

Tom