Chasing History

This morning I ran in the 17th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon (http://www.angkormarathon.org/?lang=en). At the 6:30am start, it was announced that 58 countries were represented by over 5300 runners (38 of whom took potty breaks along the trail - yes I was counting! - and a good many more were running with cameras, myself included).

Me at the start with part of Angkor Wat at sunrise behind me

Waiting for go time!

The course took us around and through a number of the famous temple complexes including: Angkor Wat, Prasat Kravan, Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm, Sarah Srang, Ta Keo, Bayon, Angkor Thom, and Phnom Bakheng. The temples are currently in varying states of disrepair (they are temple ruins after all), having been completed anywhere from 900 to 1218. My favorite temple views as I sped by - well kind of - were of Ta Keo and Bayon near the end of the race.

Ta Keo Temple
a sand stone temple dedicated to Branmanish and built from 960-1000 under Jayavarman V's rule

Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom complex
a 3-story high sand stone temple mountain of giant sculptures of Jayavarman VII's divine face built from 1181-1218

The temples together made up a vast city until the Jayavarman dynasty before the decline of Khmer Empire and now are popular tourist attractions. We ran by souvenir shops and monkeys along the trail all the while dodging between tuk-tuks, motos, and on one occasion I had to give an elephant a wide berth. It was a beautiful run that I highly recommend no matter the level of training, because really it is about being with friends and seeing the sites, absorbing the history as you chug along.

3 PCVs nearing the East Gate of Angkor Thom complex

Me and my friend Sam after the race :)