So despite having done more trekking recently than I probably have in my life altogether before, I have been neglecting my running a bit. Now in Copacabana, Bolivia , I was determined to get a run in in a fresh location. My intentions were great and I set my alarm for 7am. However the determination weighed heavily on my mind, and I was plagued with dreams of running. Not lovely dreams where I ran through beautiful meadows looking and feeling amazing, but dreams where I had just finished a run and was thinking ‘thank god I’ve got that over and done with’. My alarm brought me back to reality and mild disappointment.

This morning’s run was plagued from the start. On heading out at 7.15 I realised that the gates to the weird hostel/compound/commune I was staying at were locked. I headed back to the room and lay on my creaky bed for another half an hour until I could run free. Undeterred, I set off at my usual pace feeling energised and full of life. This didn’t last long.

Sorry to go on about altitude again, but Copacabana lies at over 3600m, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake (whatever that means). The best way I can describe the sudden pain in my chest and throat from running at this altitude, is that there was some sort of spiky vine wrapped around my windpipe. The vine was constricting my windpipe so very little air could enter, whilst simultaneously stabbing it and letting all the air inside out. I stopped to catch my breath and glanced at my watch. I had been running for 2 minutes and 35 seconds. I was no longer in the mood to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the vast ocean-like lake to my side.

I set off again at a more manageable pace and made it around the bay, to the opposite side as my hostel. I had had my eye on the big hill which overlooks the town and began to scramble upwards, not able to run. The climb was also hard work and I made it halfway up, where I climbed out onto some rocks and shot some views of the pretty lakeside town below.

After a few minutes chill time I started to descend again and managed to run the whole distance around the bay, only stopping to snap a picture of the beach. This little town has A LOT of swan pedalos, I wonder when demand is so high for them.

I really can’t wait to be back down at sea level again. Unfortunately my next destination, La Paz is yet another climb.