The slow run

The car grinds to a halt. The main character unwillingly found vengeance, but not the one he was hoping for. He accidentally ran over the man presumed to be responsible for his mother’s death. The camera sits still letting us take it in.. and then it starts zooming out, pitch black, names start rolling in, the public applauds, and I wake up. It was the morning after, my alarm was yelling and I was replaying the movie in my dreams.

I’m in Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania, a picturesque place only accessible by boat in the Danube Delta. The place is surrounded by water, the Danube River is right there and the Black Sea is a 15-minute walk away. Every year in August there’s a film festival called “Anonimul”(Anonymous). It’s my first time and I’m enjoying the vibe. So much so that I almost forget about running… kiddin’ it’s a well-established habit that I keep even if I’m on holiday. Actually running is part of my holiday, it makes it better. I love discovering a place through running. It allows me to see and experience more.

I mapped a route that circles the town that starts on the dig, running along the Danube River, reaching the port, and going through the little streets towards the road to Sulina.

I take a right at the bifurcation and continue towards the sea – my goal for this morning’s run. Up until now, I had some human company, but these roads are wild and empty. I see a few cows, but that’s all. The sun is getting stronger, the vegetation is getting thinner, I’m sweaty and the flies seem to have taken a liking to me.

The road becomes sandier – I’m close. And there I see it: the sea. Wish I could go for a swim to cool down – tip for next time: wear a bathing suit. I wake up again from my wake dream and sprint back to my room. People are coming in packs to the beach, I’m running against the stream. 1.6 km more and I’m back where I started ready for a cold shower.

Running in Sfantu Gheorghe was a great experience and a very pleasant one for my feet since there are only dirt and sand roads. The route around the town provided me almost 10 km which is my usual training, but I had plenty of opportunities to go further so I think a 12-15 km route is easy to do.

Run in the morning. Beach during the day. Movies by night. Awesome holiday.