So I've been in Tirana for about 7 weeks now, which would put my last run at exactly 7 weeks ago.
The last run was a rough one. It was 2 days before I left the states. I went about 3 miles and my arch in my ankle was searing with pain, so when I say 3 miles I mean walking/running. Only about a mile of it was ran. I just couldn't pin point my emotions, and my mind was pacing back and forth between 2 worlds. At the time, I didn't think it would take me this long to get back into it. I mean Albania is full of mountains and beautiful sights, which means people must run all the time right? Wrong. Since living here I have seen 1 person out on an actual run in actual clothes. One. Singular. I did a double take and almost followed him just to be sure he wasn't running to catch a bus or something.
Tonight I went for my first run in Tirana. I've posted some info below.
Total time: 15:58 (pretty good considering it has been 7 weeks.)
# of stops while running: 1 (below average)
# of songs listened to: 4 (one was repeated a second time.)
# of people who laughed at me: 4 (above average)
# of stares: I'd say in the hundreds. About 75% of the people I passed stared at me.
# of man-holes I almost fell into: 2
# of time I almost got hit by a car: 1
# of times I almost tripped: 2
# of face wide smiles: 5
# of amazing views: 1 (mountains. I'll take a picture one of these times.)
I couldn't repeat the path ever again. The roads are far too curvy. I attempted to take the same path home and ended up 2 blocks away from where I started on the main road. Not the best experience of my life, but one I will probably try again.
In the words of Ryan Adams (which I listened to) "I didn't travel far, but my feet were moving."
