The answer is YES! You can run in Bangkok!

I have now been in Thailand for 5 days and so far I have ran 5 times, done two pool runs, and one swim. If anyone ever tells you that you cannot run in Bangkok, it is not true! Although heat can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius, and sidewalks are complete mayhem, I am finding there are many exciting places to run in Bangkok. 

My biggest challenge running here is not the heat, nor the traffic, although both are extreme, so far it has been the dogs. There are dogs EVERYWHERE! Every family owns a dog whether they want to, or not. Dogs are not leashed in Bangkok, they are free to roam as they please. Which means they will roam in my direction. Now, keep in mind that I am not a dog lover. I own a dog, but they are not my best friends. Dogs here will bark at you, and bare their mean fangs.

I do admit that going to the travel clinic prior to coming here may have been a mistake. The nurse that administered my shots made sure to let me know that if I get bitten by a dog, I will get rabies and die. Now that I am extremely paranoid, I will do everything in my power to stay out of contact with dogs. In fact, with any animal. I have not seen many animals here other than dogs, one cat and two or three bats. While running, when I see a dog, no matter what it looks like, I let who I am running with go first. There was actually one time today that a dog barked at us on the way by and actually jumped behind my running buddy to use him as a shield. Last night after my run, I was going to jump in the pool to cool off, but there was a small mange looking black cat sitting and guarding the pool. Okay, dog are a serious threat, but  a cat? I love cats! It looked just like my cat back home! Nope! I turned right back around and went to bed. This morning I went for a pool run at 5:30. It was great except the bats that kept swooping down at me. Logically, bats are not scary, they don't bite humans, they're no harm to us! Every time a bat swooped down towards the water, I would flail my arms and splash it with water.

What's happening to me? I'm turning into an animal hater! What's going to happen when I meet actually dangerous animals at the tiger temple or, a komodo dragon that has been seen in a local pond? I guess we'll find out!