Studying Abroad as a Student Athlete in San José, Costa Rica 

At home in the US, I am a Division III athlete at a small institution, so I don’t have the same experience as a DI athlete per se, but I can provide some insight for anyone interested in maintaining their training while studying abroad or simply staying active. 

At my home institution, I run cross country, so if you enjoy running, you’re in the right spot. I have come across many people in my CEA CAPA program and students in general at Veritas University here in San José, Costa Rica, who enjoy jogging. In my experience, running with people makes the run more entertaining, and you even sometimes forget you’re running. So my first advice is to seek those people out and maybe get a group together to go for a run. I have gotten my flatmates to go on a run with me by saying we’ll run to Pops, the ice cream chain here. So, maybe all your friends need is a little push. 

One of my roommates and I running to Pops in San José 

Additionally, the weather is always super nice in San José, and I always feel motivated to lace up and go for a run. Although note I am studying here in the dry season, so the weather might look different if you study here in the fall. 

Another thing I found was running clubs! I have only gone to one meet-up because I haven’t been able to attend any of the others, but I plan to go next week (hopefully). The club I go to is called Rise & Run, and it was founded by women, which I think is neat. I went by myself, so if you’re a little nervous, there's no need to be. These people are so welcoming and want you to have a great time. A typical run is split into pace groups led by a pace leader. I remember my pace leader had a speaker and was playing some good tunes to hype us up. 

Photo of a part of La Sabana park after a Sunday run club 

Also, know that it is okay and beneficial to take a breather for a semester and train when you feel like it, or find alternatives to running, for example. At some point, training can feel like a chore, taking the fun and enjoyment out of the sport. For me, this is really important, especially for enjoying other aspects of my life. But hey, everyone is different, and this might not apply to you. 

Gyms

The gym has been an important part of my life here in San José, and I hope to bring that back to the US. I have always liked lifting, which is not a common trait among runners, but I feel best when I’m strong. So, in this section, I’m gonna give two gym suggestions: 

Gym ProSalud 

When I arrived in Costa Rica, I had already looked up gyms and pretty much had my heart set on one, but the walk to get to it was not ideal; it was a lot farther than I thought, and you had to cross a ton of main roads. So, alas, I settled for this gym, and let me tell you. I love it! I’m so glad I found this one. The atmosphere is very welcoming, and if you ever need help with a machine or an exercise, the staff has your back. The gym members are also very nice. This gym is located near Barrio Cordoba, where I live. 

Sunset from one of the treadmills at Gym Prosalud 

Go Fit Costa Rica 

Another good option is Go Fit; even though I don’t go there, my friends do, and they like it. It has a pool, too, if you like swimming. It's closer to Veritas, and I know people sometimes head straight to the gym after classes. So, that’s a good choice if you like doing that or live closer to Veritas. 

Other Classes and Activities 

Veritas offers its own yoga and dance classes for all students, which I thought was really neat. I unfortunately wasn't able to attend any of them because of academic classes, but a lot of my friends went to a class or two, learned mucho, and had fun! I highly suggest that you try every extracurricular offered at Veritas at least once if you can. 

Some of my friends dancing during one of the dance classes 

My friends found a group of students who met up every Wednesday at the Iglesia El Centro and played volleyball for two hours. I couldn't come the first time they went, so when I showed up the next week, I didn't know what to expect. As soon as I got there, I just got thrown into a semi-serious game of volleyball and had to serve. It was really funny, and it's a memory I look back on fondly. Sometimes you just randomly find things like that, but I recommend you do a little research on activities to do before you come. 

My friends and I playing volleyball at the beach 

I wish I could have started with everything I’ve become a part of right off the bat. Three months might seem like a long time to figure everything out, but there's always something new I want to try, and I'll say, “Omg we have to go there one day,” but we really only have 90 days. So again, do the research, find these places beforehand, and explore in the beginning. I’m so excited that you're considering studying abroad in San José. If you do, you won’t regret it one bit.