Comments on: Running Abroad: Journey to Madrid http://www.growstronger.com/blog/running-abroad-journey-to-madrid/ Grow Smarter, Grow Faster, GrowStronger.com! Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:37:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Chris http://www.growstronger.com/blog/running-abroad-journey-to-madrid/comment-page-1/#comment-831 Chris Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:20:44 +0000 http://www.growstronger.com/blog/?p=125#comment-831 Kristin, Thanks for the comments. The weather, in my opinion, is similar to Durango. Dry, not too hot (since it isn't summer time) with the sun always shining. It is pretty great if you like being outdoors. Cafés are indeed popular here. A lot of people "tomar un café" outside and most cafés that I have seen have seating outside. It is definitely different than in the states. The food is the Mediterranean Diet, which is obviously much healthier than the standard American diet, and it is obvious reason why Spaniards live longer on average. Kim, Thanks! I love the idea of a Spanish lesson. Perhaps I will write some articles about language learning. My meals are smaller than my meals in America. As a vegetarian, I am unable to eat paella, which is the famous dish here. A lot of people think of Spain as "ham" but really it is "seafood" as far as food goes. Mozart4Life, First off, great username. I definitely am not offended. I don't have to be running with other people to enjoy myself, that is for sure. Debbie, Thanks!! Sometimes I think the exact same thing... but alas, if I can help a few people see "the light", it will be all worth it, now won't it? Kristin,

Thanks for the comments.

The weather, in my opinion, is similar to Durango. Dry, not too hot (since it isn’t summer time) with the sun always shining. It is pretty great if you like being outdoors.

Cafés are indeed popular here. A lot of people “tomar un café” outside and most cafés that I have seen have seating outside. It is definitely different than in the states.

The food is the Mediterranean Diet, which is obviously much healthier than the standard American diet, and it is obvious reason why Spaniards live longer on average.

Kim,

Thanks! I love the idea of a Spanish lesson. Perhaps I will write some articles about language learning.

My meals are smaller than my meals in America. As a vegetarian, I am unable to eat paella, which is the famous dish here. A lot of people think of Spain as “ham” but really it is “seafood” as far as food goes.

Mozart4Life,

First off, great username. I definitely am not offended. I don’t have to be running with other people to enjoy myself, that is for sure.

Debbie,

Thanks!! Sometimes I think the exact same thing… but alas, if I can help a few people see “the light”, it will be all worth it, now won’t it?

]]> By: Debbie http://www.growstronger.com/blog/running-abroad-journey-to-madrid/comment-page-1/#comment-829 Debbie Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:43:19 +0000 http://www.growstronger.com/blog/?p=125#comment-829 Hey Christopher, it is so interesting to see how others live isn't it? Fitness is such a part of who you are and sharing it with the world is one of your passions. If more people were out running, perhaps we would have less crime, less drug and alcohol consumption. People developing a mind body connection could change the world. Keep up the great work, enjoy your time in Spain---- and keep using your intellect to challenge us all. Hey Christopher,
it is so interesting to see how others live isn’t it? Fitness is such a part of who you are and sharing it with the world is one of your passions. If more people were out running, perhaps we would have less crime, less drug and alcohol consumption. People developing a mind body connection could change the world. Keep up the great work, enjoy your time in Spain—- and keep using your intellect to challenge us all.

]]> By: Mozart4life http://www.growstronger.com/blog/running-abroad-journey-to-madrid/comment-page-1/#comment-822 Mozart4life Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:51:07 +0000 http://www.growstronger.com/blog/?p=125#comment-822 Dear Chris: I appreciate your blog and your sharing of this interesting experience in Spain. I have enjoyed your well-written and insightful text for a while. Here is a site that I hope can be helpful in finding running trails in Salamanca. http://www.run.com/city.asp?loc=Salamanca+ES I hope that the group of three runners in your club grow in numbers. Keep up the great work and continue to have fun. Don't be discouraged that others there don't understand the joy in your running. Don't be affected by the Spaniard;s effete ( oops, pardon the pun) response. Anon, Mozart4life Dear Chris:
I appreciate your blog and your sharing of this interesting experience in Spain. I have enjoyed your well-written and insightful text for a while.
Here is a site that I hope can be helpful in finding running trails in Salamanca. http://www.run.com/city.asp?loc=Salamanca+ES

I hope that the group of three runners in your club grow in numbers. Keep up the great work and continue to have fun. Don’t be discouraged that others there don’t understand the joy in your running. Don’t be affected by the Spaniard;s effete ( oops, pardon the pun) response.

Anon,
Mozart4life

]]> By: Kim Zody http://www.growstronger.com/blog/running-abroad-journey-to-madrid/comment-page-1/#comment-818 Kim Zody Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:00:48 +0000 http://www.growstronger.com/blog/?p=125#comment-818 Hello Chris! Your blog is fantastic and it's awesome to see the photos of Madrid and where you are running. The park is so beautiful and is perfectly groomed and maintained. But where are all the people? They must be too busy with their lives to take a few minutes to enjoy nature..... So, you're the lone runner over there. Time to start a trend and get those Spaniards on their feet! Maybe you could envision yourself like Forest Gump....just keep running and before long you'll have a whole posse of followers. A sidebar - I would really enjoy a Spanish vocab lesson. How about you introduce a new Spanish word or phrase each week along with the interp and meaning? The words could be related to running or anything for that matter. Also, what are your meals like over there - can you find the kinds of foods necessary to fuel your running? Take care and I look forward to hearing more from Spain! Kim Hello Chris!

Your blog is fantastic and it’s awesome to see the photos of Madrid and where you are running. The park is so beautiful and is perfectly groomed and maintained. But where are all the people? They must be too busy with their lives to take a few minutes to enjoy nature…..

So, you’re the lone runner over there. Time to start a trend and get those Spaniards on their feet! Maybe you could envision yourself like Forest Gump….just keep running and before long you’ll have a whole posse of followers.

A sidebar – I would really enjoy a Spanish vocab lesson. How about you introduce a new Spanish word or phrase each week along with the interp and meaning? The words could be related to running or anything for that matter. Also, what are your meals like over there – can you find the kinds of foods necessary to fuel your running?

Take care and I look forward to hearing more from Spain!

Kim

]]> By: Kristin Hotchkiss http://www.growstronger.com/blog/running-abroad-journey-to-madrid/comment-page-1/#comment-817 Kristin Hotchkiss Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:53:56 +0000 http://www.growstronger.com/blog/?p=125#comment-817 Hi Chris, Wow it does look like a beautiful city or area that you are in...I do like the idea of seeming more like a trend setter rather than one of the norm...Now why were people looking at you ? Maybe it was because you are a cute in shape blonde. As far as the frog picture I did not see it yet but am happy that you saved me all the expense of traveling over there to check it out..The family you are with sound very interesting and if you are able to keep up with what they are saying when they are all heated up in a discussion than you are much more closer to your goal of being a full fledged Spanish speaker...Now you know how it must feel for all the Hatian, Mexican Etc. immigrants who come without a whole lot English who have to then learn our culture and language through total immersion..While the breakfast sounds skimpy the lunches sound wonderful, especialy with a siesta or nap at the end...It really sounds like my kind of place...How is the weather there?...Are coffee houses a big thing?...What kind of food is the mainstay.Keep on doing what you do and most of all enjoy or learn from every moment as it will serve you well in your future...Love Aunt Amber ( Kris) Hi Chris, Wow it does look like a beautiful city or area that you are in…I do like the idea of seeming more like a trend setter rather than one of the norm…Now why were people looking at you ? Maybe it was because you are a cute in shape blonde. As far as the frog picture I did not see it yet but am happy that you saved me all the expense of traveling over there to check it out..The family you are with sound very interesting and if you are able to keep up with what they are saying when they are all heated up in a discussion than you are much more closer to your goal of being a full fledged Spanish speaker…Now you know how it must feel for all the Hatian, Mexican Etc. immigrants who come without a whole lot English who have to then learn our culture and language through total immersion..While the breakfast sounds skimpy the lunches sound wonderful, especialy with a siesta or nap at the end…It really sounds like my kind of place…How is the weather there?…Are coffee houses a big thing?…What kind of food is the mainstay.Keep on doing what you do and most of all enjoy or learn from every moment as it will serve you well in your future…Love Aunt Amber ( Kris)

]]> By: Chris http://www.growstronger.com/blog/running-abroad-journey-to-madrid/comment-page-1/#comment-814 Chris Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:05:22 +0000 http://www.growstronger.com/blog/?p=125#comment-814 Blake, Thanks for the comment. There are places in the States with little runners? I have yet to find one with as little here. When I told my host mom I saw three runners this morning she was shocked. Salamanca has over 150,000 people. Next time I run somewhere newsworthy! Blake,

Thanks for the comment.

There are places in the States with little runners? I have yet to find one with as little here. When I told my host mom I saw three runners this morning she was shocked. Salamanca has over 150,000 people.

Next time I run somewhere newsworthy!

]]> By: Blake http://www.growstronger.com/blog/running-abroad-journey-to-madrid/comment-page-1/#comment-813 Blake Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:23:08 +0000 http://www.growstronger.com/blog/?p=125#comment-813 Awesome!! I still find it so odd that running would not be as popular there as it is here. I would think biking would be really popular courtesy of Tour de Spain and whatnot, and the fact that some of the best bikes in the world are Spanish. I would think that being a big competitive bike culture would make one a big running culture, they are both about as aerobically intensive sports as you can get. As you say though, perhaps that can help in many ways though too. I know that sometimes I find it more peaceful with less runners out when I am out. I have too big of a competitive streak to not try to look cool and fast by other runners, so less is more in that case. As long as no one tries to run you over or shouts derogatory comments at you like people do in the states in places with little runners, I say its all good. When will we be getting the next installment of this blog? Awesome!! I still find it so odd that running would not be as popular there as it is here. I would think biking would be really popular courtesy of Tour de Spain and whatnot, and the fact that some of the best bikes in the world are Spanish. I would think that being a big competitive bike culture would make one a big running culture, they are both about as aerobically intensive sports as you can get.

As you say though, perhaps that can help in many ways though too. I know that sometimes I find it more peaceful with less runners out when I am out. I have too big of a competitive streak to not try to look cool and fast by other runners, so less is more in that case. As long as no one tries to run you over or shouts derogatory comments at you like people do in the states in places with little runners, I say its all good.

When will we be getting the next installment of this blog?

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