John Davis

The long run. A time for solitary reflection as one’s mind wanders with the monotony of repetitive exertion.

-The long run. Wandering ever further from the starting line, feeling the miles tick by.

-The long run. The best way I have found to stay sane since moving to China years ago.

I have been a runner for nearly a decade and in that time have raced several marathons, even more half marathons, plenty of 10k’s, countless 5k’s, and thousands upon thousands of miles. In the United States where I come from, running is much different than it is here, both from my perspective and from the perspective of the Chinese society where I find myself now.

In the States, most people understand that distance runners are a normal sight to see and a local fundraising race is a normal activity to participate in. Runners do not stick out. In China, though, I rarely see other runners and have yet to find a suitably local race to join. On top of that, it is nearly impossible to find a non-paved surface to run on.  

If one wants to run in China, be prepared for asphalt and stairs even in the public parks. If one wants to run in China as a foreigner, be prepared for the snapshots and the stares no matter where you go in the city. For me, it is hard to escape the stares as a 6-foot-2 white man wearing shorts and a bright yellow shirt in December.

Over the many months that I have run regularly in China, though, I have slowly learned to embrace my foreign-ness and the stares that come with it and even fit in. For example, my morning runs on the local college track frequently include a sighting of an elderly Chinese man doing Tai Chi shirtless no matter the temperature. I take a small comfort in not being the least-clothed person there. He and I often exchange a meaningful glance, each comfortable being who he is. When I venture to the local tourist lake for a change of scenery, I flash the “peace” sign and smile at the passers-by with their phones out to take a picture like I am a celebrity. Often the would-be paparazzi are startled that I noticed them photographing me, but in the end they smile back and everyone carries on their merry way. I have also discovered a group of expats who can look crazy with me as we run all over town every Monday evening. We even dress up for Halloween and Christmas to add to the spectacle!

Will I be in China for many more years? Probably not. Will I continue running no matter where I am? I sure hope so. No matter where I end up, though, I will never forget to embrace my foreign-ness and be myself. If I can increase the presence of distance runners and brighten someone’s day at the same time, then my job is complete.