When the opportunity arose for us to relocate to Perth in Western Australia for a short stint, we seized it, viewing it as a grand adventure for the kids and, as a runner blogger, a fantastic chance to experience something different. So, you see my friends, this HUGE life decision boiled down to providing you with richer, more varied, and captivating content!

If you are new here, most of my content is based in Botswana’s capital – Gaborone, hence, the name of my blog. I’ve also been lucky to run in Ghana, Ethiopia, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Türkiye. But running in Australia is a first for me. If you’re like me, aside from kangaroos, koalas and Home and Away, you may not know much about Australia. So, you’ll be learning with me, and I can’t tell you how excited I am to bring this new city, country and continent to you.

Do you have a nice flat white next to you? [Fun Fact: The origins of the flat white are unclear, but various café owners in Australia and New Zealand claim to have invented it. It’s been around since the 1980s and is now a standard drink in specialty cafés.] Okay – let’s re-position ourselves.

Perth is the capital city of Western Australia and, as you can see from the map, the most isolated city in the country. In fact, it’s closer to Jakarta than to other major cities in Australia. According to Wiki, it is the fourth most populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million (2023), which funnily enough, is the exact population of Botswana (2022). So, let’s talk first impressions. As you read this post though, keep in mind that first impressions are often influenced by personal experiences. My focus and observations are very much shaped by eight years of running on the streets of Gaborone.

Some Initial Observations

1/ Pedestrian and Cycling Pathways. I will probably talk about this in several posts as I’m so impressed! But seriously, the most amazing thing about running here has been the dedicated and wide pathways, specially designed and marked for pedestrians and cyclists. This has felt like an absolute luxury. So far, most of my runs have been on the reddish pathway lining the beautiful Canning River.

2/ There Are No Stray Dogs (or Cats). Now, this just feels odd! Running back home often involves some clever manoeuvring of neighbourhood dogs – not always strays, in fact, most of them have a home but have just snuck out of their yards for the day. Many are harmless but I’ve been charged by a few. So, running in a place where there are no dogs on the loose has been strange. I’ve seen several dogs but most on a leash or walking loyally by their owner’s side.

Having run in Istanbul with cats chilling on every street corner, motorbike, or wall, I can also report, that I have not seen a single cat in Perth leading me to question: do they exist at all?!

3/ Early Summer Mornings are Surprisingly Cool. Botswana summers are intense as I’ve discovered Perth summers to be too. The day temperatures in Perth actually feel stronger than Botswana (probably because of the higher humidity levels) BUT the mornings are a lot cooler, and a runner’s dream if you’re out by around 6am. I’ve also enjoyed the slight breeze at this time with the gentle rays from the sun on my skin. Having said that, walking in the afternoons and evenings has been torturous as the kids and I have already discovered!

4/ Running at Sea Level is So Much Easier! Before landing in Perth, I hadn’t run since around mid-December. Whenever I take a few weeks off, I come back very rusty! But my first run here felt amazing – yes, I was as slow as a tortoise, but the slowness felt smooth. I also haven’t written in a while, so my terminology may also be a bit rusty, but do you get what I mean? It definitely felt easier than it would have at Gaborone’s 1,000m above sea level. It may be too early to call but I see some great Personal Bests on the horizon…

5/ It’s Hilly! Okay, Perth locals may say, “Perth is not that hilly.” But everything is relative right?! Everywhere I turn there is an incline. I no longer have to run 2km to a man-made intersection to get hill repeats done. I just have to walk out the door and there is a hill. My quads are already feeling it! But you know what? I am actually grateful. I know this is going to make me a stronger runner.

6/ Idyllic Surroundings. Bear in mind, I’ve only ventured out in my suburb so other places may look different. But as I mentioned earlier, my door is about 300m to a riverfront. Every morning, I run alongside the calm river with boats rocking gently from side to side. The boats, varying in size and colour, are anchored or tied to the riverbank. The scene just exudes peace, tranquillity and beauty. I’ve also run past a number of parks with tall trees and greenery and most houses have beautifully manicured front gardens which adds to the beauty of the place.

7/ Noisy Birds. Quite in contrast to the tranquillity I’ve just described are the noisiest birds I’ve ever heard! Let me explain – back in Gaborone, there is an elegance to the chirpy sounds of the birds. Here, it is a cacophony of persistent, loud, almost-human like squawks! Granted, they do bring a dynamic energy to the place! I’ve also spotted several of these swooping magpie warning signs. I think I can live with the noise, but swooping down on me? No thanks!

I hope you have enjoyed another run with me in a new city! If you are from Perth, what do you think of my first impressions? Do you have any tips for me? Should I really be worried about the swooping magpies?

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