Anytime I move to a new place I need to quickly establish my surroundings. A good way for me to do that is by running. You can on occasion get lost but what better way to discover some of the local shops and parks in your new neighborhood. Rwinkwavu is a small village in the eastern province of Rwanda. There are no fancy coffee shops to discover or paved running paths. However I have encountered a lot of hills, snakes, goats, cows, and fan fare. Yes, I have fans. I like to think that I get just as much attention as one of the Kardashians. In my village I get many local children scream and point at me very similar to the way a girl would scream if she spotted Justin Bieber, they then address me as “The Mzungu!!” meaning in Swahili someone who wanders without purpose / someone constantly on the move, word for foreigner.
During my time in Rwinkwavu I have discovered my own running routes that display the true beauty of Rwanda. I take in the aesthetically pleasing geography and biodiversity. I have never really been into bird watching, but on some of my runs i’ll stop and take a moment to appreciate some of the most fascinating and brightly colored birds that I have ever seen in my life. There are over 700 species of birds here in Rwanda, they quickly zip in and out of the banana trees.
This past year I have completed 3 different races in various locations of Rwanda. I have had the pleasure of doing some long distance runs in Nyungwe Forest, Rwamagana and of course Kigali. Each race was unique in its own way. In Rwamagana, I enjoyed seeing the small pockets of people cheering me on as I ran up their monstrous hills. Some would even run alongside me laughing and enjoying the exercise either barefoot or in flip-flops. My new running buddies were often in better shape, providing extra motivation for me to try and keep up with my new found friends.
Nyunguwe Forest was also one of my favorites as it was in an area that I was not accustomed to seeing located in the Southwestern part of the country. It also has a wide diversity of animal species and it was really exciting during my run to catch a glimpse of the golden monkeys.
The last race I attended was held in Kigali, the International Peace Marathon. I succeeded in convincing my other GHC colleagues to run either their first 5K or Half Marathon. It was truly a rewarding experience for all of us.
I always feel at home once I have a set running route and an exercise routine put into place. You not only are improving your health but you can also meet new friends on these outings e.g. Kigali House Harriers!!! Or even better, you can bond and have your own Rwinkwavu Hash with your colleagues who share your love of running and do a 15 mile run to Akagera Park on a random Saturday afternoon (shout out to Nick & Hari) 😉
Running in Rwanda has been a memorable experience and I will always be appreciative of all whom have joined me on my running adventures, even the screaming fans!!!
