Survival guide to running in Koh Samui

Having lived on this island paradise for close on two months now, and consuming more variants of rice and noodles than I had thought previously existed, I decided to slip on the secret socks and my shoes that once promised instant fitness. It was time to run again.

Koh SamuiR E M I B R I D O T / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

The South of Thailand is known for its heat and is generally dictated to by two seasons that are distinguished only by whether it’s raining or not. The average temperature never varies by more than a few degrees throughout the year.  November through February are the “coolest” of the months yet as I write this, its 31 outside.

Now that the scene is set and you’re not a Middle Eastern or Equatorial runner – in which case you could read the rest of the article for pure entertainment at my expense – let’s move onto the survival bit.

1. My first run in Thailand taught me one thing, always carry water.   Firstly, the amount you lose here during a run here versus the amount back home is significant and secondly you can’t just pit stop at the local tap as the water here is unsafe for consumption. I advise a 500ml bottle – nothing fancy is required. Naturally I have forgotten this first lesson myself and have been left looking to the sea as thirsty as a pirate on more than one occasion.

2. If you are here on holiday and intend to run you’re probably of the type that can will themselves up early in the morning – this is first prize – running in Samui before the sun sets ablaze the land is by far the best time to run. In fact, if you are to even stand a chance – only ever run after the sun has set, or in the morning. I have seen die-hard tourists run in the midday heat and it’s of no coincidence that I have never seen them again. In monsoon season you could run in the rain I suppose. Running in the rain back home in Sea Point was fun with rain drops cooling you down and the puddles to splash into. Hell – rain was fun. However Samui’s rain doesn’t drop, it pelts.  We are talking rivers people – rivers with rapids.

3. Plan your route before-hand and map it out with your scooter first. Try to avoid running near the large-grill drain inlets, they have the tendency to produce a smell that would put hairs on your chest. Attempt to end your run near an access point to the beach because you will want, more than anything, to dunk yourself into the big blue to cool down, but before giving into this primal urge I recommend doing the best thing that I have found to cooling down after a run.

4. Park your scooter at the end of your route and when you see it again, soaked in all manner of your own evil, jump on it and ride as fast as it will take you. The wind against your wet body is the closest feeling to relief that you are likely to get! You can thank me later for this one.

5. Make sure all the rudimentary things have been attended too. Charge your mp3 player, along with your GPS device and cool your water in the fridge.

There you have it, those are five of the best tips I can think of. Running in Koh Samui is incredibly rewarding, it’s fantastic for hill work and, as long as you avoid the tourist hubs, the natural beauty is immense. Just start off slow and build your distance and you will love it.