One Run in Myanmar

If you would ever visit Mandalay city in central Myanmar, please wake up early one day and go for a run around the Mandalay Palace and get ready for some real running magic.

After a brief visit to Kuala Lumpur... yes, to run a marathon of course, my family and I could finally start our real holidays in Myanmar.

I had some minor pains and aches related to running constantly for 5 hours in the heat, but that wouldn't stop me from walking and exploring.

However I didn't really feel like running in Yangon for the first 4 days we spent there. I was seriously considering running in Bagan, where we spent our next 5 days. But it was Mandalay, that really, really appealed to my runner's heart.

There are many interesting things in Mandalay and around that are worth visiting like Mandalay Hill, Zay Cho Market, Amarapura's fabric weaving factories and U Pain Bridge (the longest teak foot bridge in the world) but... the Mandalay Palace is not one of them. There is nothing really interesting inside and almost nothing outside. I said almost, because there is one thing that appealed to me as a runner... a completely square footpath that goes around the Palace and its moat.

So one day I decided to beat the heat, and go for an early morning run there. To my surprise I wasn't the only runner and there were groups of people stretching, exercising, jogging... you name it. Most of them locals and most quite surprised seeing me at this time and place.

The run was magic. I didn’t mind quite challenging footpath with holes or low tree branches and high curbs, because the silence around, spectacular sunrise, and people exercising everywhere made this experience quite unforgettable. I really loved it and finished one 8.73km loop. A complete square with each side a bit less than 2.2km. It got really hot by the end with temperature reaching 29C but still… it was was really, really worth it.

Dear fellow runners, if you ever visit Mandalay, please try this run. You will not be disappointed.