The winter before I turned 40 I took up running. With no goal in sight I ran the indoor track at the local fitness centre and miraculously after a few weeks I was able to run 5 kilometres without stopping. 40 was right around the corner and what better way to celebrate that year by running a half marathon. In Vegas. With the motivation of some of my favorite people, I signed up for the Rock n' Roll half marathon. I was not going to quit.
November arrived and off we flew to Vegas. After 3 days of late nights and more than a few cocktails, the big day arrived and I didn't quit! I weaved and bobbed through the masses. By the 18km mark I was wishing I was tucked in at home binge watching Netflix. But I completed the half...and that's how I became to love finishing something I started!
Moving to Panama, I was excited about the outdoor lifestyle but I didn't dream it would show it's beautiful face so early. The first week I crashed a birthday party and hiked to the top of Sleeping Indian at El Valle de Anton. With one missed turn, an extra 30 minutes, the promise of champagne at the top and a wonderful local showing us the way, we made it. El Valle is a built on the floor of the second largest inhabited volcano. Once a crater lake, now stands a town of restaurants, shops, markets and hotels. The climb to Sleeping Indian is to the top is magnificent. We viewed waterfalls, hieroglyphics and no shortage of locals who hike a portion of the difficult trail everyday just to get to and from the market from their homes. http://www.el-valle-panama.com/
Exactly one week later I was signed up for the running portion of a relay triathlon. Why not? It was only 5 kilometres (and remember I can run 5k!). The Sprint Triathlon was right here in Coronado and started with a 750 meter swim in the Pacific Ocean, followed by a 20 kilometer bicycle ride over and through the roads and pathways, finished by a 5 kilometer run ending on the beach. I loved the energy of the triathlon and it has inspired me to think about doing the entire thing by myself next year. (Although I love being on the winning team with my close friends. Shout out to Tara and Rebekah!!)
As this mid-life crisis bubbles in the fore ground of life, I can say I'm happy to experience it in Panama. I embrace the friends that live here now since moving from Calgary and those I have made while I've been here. I embrace their hikes and runs and golf. My husband is also thankful for my active Panama lifestyle. He's not quite ready to see a hot red Corvette in the driveway. (yet)
photos courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/triathlonpanama
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