Are you on Strava?

With my alarm set, all I had to do was sleep, wake then simply jump out of bed into my workout clothes, ready to run.

Sounds easy, but it never is.

Especially on an overseas trip, when your mind cries out ‘we are on holiday’. A very valid excuse to escape any type of exercise, especially while also navigating a new time zone, and when you have a head cold.

Triple excuse.

As my alarm buzzed, I could hear my sloth voice moan, “Ignore it, stay cosy and sleep. You won’t miss anything on the run”.

Possibly true, but you don’t know what you’re missing out on tucked up in bed. Only after the run can you reflect, and consider “Was it worth it?”!.

And maybe that is where this share comes in, as I now know how special that run felt.

If I had listened to that voice I would have missed a random local encounter (very much here for this), and an enchanting sunset run. Surely one of the most magical parts of the day, but also the hardest to plan for.

What’s that saying, “Just because it’s hard, doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”

Sunrise runs feel more rewarding since you need to establish where in fact the sun is rising from, and once you establish this, what time the sun will rise.

I know from lots of experiences that when you seek out the early morning sun on a run, you will be rewarded. But it can be confusing, running in circles until you actually find the thing in the sky, rising from behind built-up areas!

As my sloth voice continued to try to keep me cosy, I overruled it due to today’s run route.

I was travelling in Central Asia, home to some atmospheric locations. Todays was definitely special. In fact, you can’t dream this stuff up. I reminded myself there is no ‘next time’ when travelling, we seize the day. And it was my 40th birthday!

It isn’t every day you rise to an alarm in Uzbekistan, to run around the walled city of Ichan-Kala, within the iconic city of Khiva, one of the most mesmerising stops on the ancient silk road.

A city founded over 2,500 years ago.

With my sloth mind at bay, I primed my curious inner child with a ‘Get ready for an awesome run’ mantra.

And just like that, with my trainers on, I was soon blending into Central Asia’s running way of life, there are no short shorts worn here. A more subdued lycra leggings and running t-shirt look allowed me to fit in.

I hit the path that circulates the enchanting wall, breathing in the crisp autumn air. I did that thing runners do, regardless of where you are in the world, and greeted the local man I ran past with a runner’s nod and smile, heavy breathing in the cool air.

Every runner is familiar with the runner’s greeting – it warms your soul.

On my second lap, passing the local man again, we again acknowledged each other.

It all felt very normal, and very surreal at the same time. A Scots lass running in Uzbekistan, who would have thought growing up? This is what I adore about travelling, each day you have a ‘wow this is happening’ moment!

After experiencing the sun peak through the modern city backdrop, beyond the walled inner city, I was soon run done, walking towards my hotel feeling refreshed and full of endorphins.   That is when I felt the local man’s presence, shouting over to me in Russian.

Plot twist. I thought our exchange ended on the 2nd lap, with the final runners nod. But, it appeared he had other ideas.

With zero Russian in my word bank, I simply replied with, “English?” while shrugging my shoulders in a pathetic plight. He continued in Russian, seemingly a man on a mission. I shook my head. This, a clear signal that we needed to speak via body language.

He soon took the lead and whipped out his mobile phone to show me his intent. He wanted us to connect via Strava (the app where us active people track our activities whether it be a run, cycle or walk).

I was not expecting this.

To say I was surprised was an understatement.

I know Strava is popular in the UK, Europe and North America, but did not anticipate the local man to be on Strava. It’s used to record your activity, and also to track those you know that run. I use it to track my training runs, and as a motivational nudge. There is something that is triggered in you when you pop on the app to see if someone you know has run and you haven’t. You are soon filled with a need to get on those trainers and run your wee heart out.

I got the impression this man only ran this route. Two laps of the Khiva walled city, at a gentle pace, politely nodding to passing tourist runners like me. Embracing the opportunity to connect, through our common love of running.

We soon abandoned the Strava method of communicating. I had no internet to connect us, and we were staring at a blank app, awkwardly. I shrugged with a meek smile, ready to leave our short moment together, to continue back to my hotel. Until he shifted to plan B and whipped out his phone, again, straight into selfie mode, soon snapping us. Again, a little awkward, but also a joy-filled moment, which comes when you couldn’t have predicted what is now happening.

He was clearly plotting this impromptu selfie moment, while I was completely unaware, probably thinking about breakfast. He seemed content he had captured our selfie.

I wasn’t 100% sure what he planned to do with our selfie, but I wanted my own memory of this moment. As cliché as it sounds, it made me super happy. I felt all light and giddy, connected to a human being I knew nothing about when I woke that morning. He seemed a curious soul, eager to capture the present moment.

And that’s what I want to leave you with from this wee random encounter share.

1.       Own the morning, and you will own the day.

An extra half hour in bed always seems rewarding. It feels cosy and comfy, you feel safe. But that is the trap, when you walk through life seeking the comfy route, you miss out on the journey of discovery. Of discovering new people, places and learning. Surely the meaning of life is connecting with the community you are part of. When you start the day with intent, an intent to feel alive and have experiences, you will have encounters that light you up. That will energise you and bring random joy into your life. Ready to take on the day.

2.       Connect and smile.

You can walk about this world closed off, fearful of strangers. Trying to get to your destination as quickly as possible, missing all the wee moments. Or you can be open to new experiences, where you can connect at a deeper level, where you feel stuff. And smile.

3.       When you vibe, others vibe around you.

That morning, after breakfast, still vibing off the random encounter, I shared my selfie story with my tour group. Along with the selfie. They loved it. Appreciating a glimpse into others’ lives. They had never heard of Stava, so the whole thing was new to them.

4.       Challenge your perspectives.

We believe our home city is safer than anywhere else in the world. But probably in your home city your guard is down more. We think we know what to expect before we even travel, when we actually know very little about what to expect. We judge people and places too soon and could easily miss out on some wonderful experiences.

Why would a guy running in Central Asia not have a running app that the rest of the world use? Why shouldn’t you engage with a ‘stranger’ just because you are unfamiliar with him?

5.       When there might not be a next time, leap into the opportunity that has presented itself.

Now that I have run the walled city of Ichan-Kala, within the iconic city of Khiva, I can safely say I am glad I dialled down that sloth voice that lives in my head and ‘seized’ the morning run. I doubt very much I will ever find myself in Khiva again.

“At the end of the day, let there be no excuses, no explanations, no regrets.” ~ Steve Maraboli