Running in Puerto Rico

Yesterday was my second time running the "World's Best 10K" and it was just as much fun as the first, if not better! Due to the recession, less people participated this year but it sure didn't seem like it when I was struggling to get myself into running position. I've been running for quite some time now, but I had never participated in running events until I came back to the island. I enjoy doing sports and so Puerto Rico is the perfect place to be. Skiing and snowboarding, of course, would be two exceptions.

There are many running/walking events held in the island throughout the year, but here are some of the most prominent ones:

• Medio Maratón San Blas: located in the town of Coamo, this is a challenging half-marathon which is usually held on the third Sunday of February.
• World's Best 10K: takes you over the Teodoro Moscoso bridge in San Juan, usually held at the end of February or early March. You can either run it or walk it.
• La Guadalupe Marathon: held in Ponce, usually in December, this is the only marathon held in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, I couldn't find their official Website but click on this calendar of events and scroll down to the final event, where you'll find a phone number for more information.
• Maratón Modesto Carrión: held in the town of Juncos, this is a half-marathon usually held in November.
• Carrera Internacional Abraham Rosa: held in the city of Toa Baja, this is a challenging 10K race that's usually held in May.
  

Happy running!

Moving to Puerto Rico?

For those who have never been to Puerto Rico, and are interested in living or visiting the island, I have a bit of friendly advice. Please be patient, as you'll see, many things just simply don't make any sense here! Everything here takes place at a much slower pace. Although Puerto Rico is officially part of the U.S, it is not at all like the mainland. Look beyond the Wal-Marts, Walgreens, Best Buys, etc., and leave the glitz and glamour of the tourist areas, and you'll see how different life is.

First of all, Spanish is what most Puerto Ricans speak. You can get by with English, if you're in San Juan, but it's certainly to your benefit to learn how to speak Spanish if you plan on living here. Second, there is a lot of red tape here. For example, getting or renewing your license might almost take a whole day, depending on how many people are standing in line. In most cases, the local government has not given its citizens the option of using the Internet to make their lives easier. Third, the crime rate in Puerto Rico is high. You should always be aware of your surroundings, and use common sense, as you would anywhere else.

Below is a list of resources to help those who might be moving to Puerto Rico. As you'll see, most of the Websites, with the exception of the Taxation Department (of course!), are in Spanish.

The Fundamentals:

Departamento de Hacienda (the Tax Dept.): http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/
Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DMV & Transportation Dept)- in Spanish only: http://www.dtop.gov.pr/
Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica (Puerto Rico's public electricity company)- in Spanish only: http://www.aeepr.com/
Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (Puerto Rico's public water company)- in Spanish only: http://www.acueductospr.com/
Puerto Rico's Government Website (in Spanish only): http://www.gobierno.pr/gprportal/inicio
Puerto Rico Telephone: http://www.telefonicapr.com/es/index.jsp

Fun & Entertainment:

San Juan (Going Out) Guide: http://www.areasurbanguides.com/
Puerto Rico's Restaurant Guide: http://www.restaurantsinpr.com/index.php