Running in a third world country
I recently took a mini break in Costa Rica following Challenge Daytona. Fortunately, there is no quarantine or entry / exit restrictions between Costa Rica and the USA. So despite, COVID19 it is possible to travel to this stunning country with beautiful rainforests and lovely beaches. I used this time to get off grid, re calibrate my head and assess what I want for next year.
As professional triathletes we get travel to some amazing places, however, they are often less developed. Although Costa Rica has been actively working on reform to better the country and has the lowest poverty rate in Central America, it still remains a third world country. After my experience I thought I would pull together some tips for running in a third world country.
Run in the early morning just after sunrise. Usually locals are heading to work and the city is safe from the nightlife.
Tell reception where you plan to go and ask if there are any places you shouldn’t go. Never run without asking if it’s safe.
Run where you see other people. Pretty simple avoid dark alleys.
Have the details of your hotel on you. Always have a note with the name and phone number of your hotel.
Take a small amount of change but not too much. I always take a few dollars to pay for a call or a drink at the end of the run.
