Some are rather entertaining while others are just peaceful and serene...
- I received my first "thumbs down" while running last week.
- I have recently been hearing a rooster early in the morning at the beginning of my run near my apartment building. This has reminded me of living in Honduras.
- A few days ago I almost killed myself twice. The first time I almost fell off the curb into the street (thankfully traffic is at a low during the early morning). The second time I almost decapitated myself on a large, thorny bush (nevertheless, the thorns did claim my hat for a moment).
- A few days ago I saw a father and young son running together along the Corniche. They were smiling and chatting. I hope I can do that someday if I ever have children of my own...
- I love it when there is a full moon and it is still shining bright in the early morning. It is even more breathtaking and placid when the sun is coming up and you are able to see both in the sky at the same time. I wouldn't surpass experiencing that part of the morning for anything.
- I find it rather amusing that men (particularly Arab men) find the need to wear cologne while they are running and/or walking in the morning. It is usually quite strong.
- The above point brings me to my next thought of what they must think of me as I tend to wear the same running clothes for the entire week. Therefore, by the end of the week, I am most likely not the best smelling person running along the Corniche. :)
- I have found very few places in this world where I can run unnoticed. Annoying men tend to be in all corners of this world. Unfortunately, Doha is not the exception. Last week my friend Ann and I were followed for a bit by two men in their car playing loud music. Really guys? No thank you. I have also been asked by a complete stranger if we could run together because I motivated him. How he could have figured that out in a matter of three minutes of running near me, I will never know. The first week I was ever in Doha, I was asked for my phone number by a complete stranger. Once again, no thank you and leave me in peace!
- I also find it very entertaining that most men on the Corniche think that they can either beat me or keep up with me. Most are proven wrong within a minute or two.
- Men in thobes will never get out of my way. They have the right away...
- I love seeing women in their abayas out walking and/or running.
- I love it even more when we exchange smiles.
- At the end of last school year, I really started to notice that I was seeing many of the same people out running and exercising in the morning. Some would just pass by and with others we would exchange a quick nod or smile. It has been so wonderful to see some of the same people again after being gone for almost three months. Some have truly transformed and their hard work has paid off.
- There is a group of four or five men that I always see walking and they remind me of a group of older women that I have seen walking in my hometown in Michigan. They are cute.
- I really don't like pigeons and I like it when it is still dark enough outside so that they remain sleeping or when it is too hot out and they have escaped the sun.
- Speaking of birds, the lovely bird songs that you can hear all throughout Aspire Park are not real. They come out of a speaker. In Doha, we must manufacture fake nature. It is still nice to hear though... :)
- Now that I am running more, driving to the Corniche and running does not give me enough time to get in the distance that I want. I now run from home to the Corniche and along the water for a bit. This run is truly like a cross country run as I get to run on pavement, sand, dirt, grass, bricks and stones. I also get to climb a hill and jump over curbs. The only downfall is the traffic. I don't like stopping for cars and they most certainly are NOT going to stop for me in this city. Some even like to run the red light at the cross walk. One must be quite cautious.
- I don't have to worry about dogs chasing and/or biting me in Doha (unlike Honduras). However, the occasional cat does tend to scare me as it jumps off a car or a dumpster. They are everywhere...
- A few mornings last week, I was smelling wonderful Italian food. It certainly did not smell like breakfast at 5 AM. There are always a variety of different smells passing through the air of Doha.
- I really enjoy seeing people out early in the morning after the call to prayer has finished. They usually have a small picnic near the water and it seems so peaceful and lovely as the sun is coming up. There are always lots of people enjoying the shade of the palm trees on Friday mornings too.
- This summer I bought a Camelbak for my long runs and it got its first test run this week. It passed with flying colors and very much helped me as I attempted my first "long run" outside in the heat, humidity and sun.
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