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Lightening Fast

4/26/2016

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That is literally how I feel about how the past week has gone by. Noooo!!! Where's that 'stop' button again - how to freeze time and stay in that moment?! The ongoing quest... So, this past week has been hugely productive, which has the drawback of making the week fly by all too quickly. Hmmm, what do they say about time flying when you're having fun. Oh so true.

So, for the running part: yes the usual training runs were had, including the standard long-but-not-very-long-long run to West Lake, around it, and back home. I need to figure out a way to increase my kilometres for my future long runs without just doing extra laps of the lake - I love running around the lake but you can have too much of a good thing hey! Severely missing my trail runs (and trail running buddies too!) and any kind of stair or hill training. On Saturday I am off to explore Cat Ba island (about 3 hours from Hanoi) though so you better believe I will be taking my trainers with me and aiming to get in a few trail runs around the jungle like national park (so I've heard). Will be amazing to be back to fresh air and nature, whatever I end up doing (I'm aiming for: trail runs, hiking, rockclimbing, and of course: G&T and cold beer drinking with new friends).

Mind you this is the 3rd day in a row where I can see BLUE SKY and the sunshine is currently streaming through my windows. Makes up for the on and off torrential rain and dramatic thunderstorms that have been happening, and the air feels a lot better and clearer too.

I'll keep this short and sweet today: off to make hay while the sun shines. For hay, read = run, do some errands, do some work, think about potential cheese jokes for tonight's 3rd round of stand-up comedy! Yewwww!! It's happening again: if you're in Hanoi, come on down to The Doors tonight for some fun times! (And ahem, yes, I know this image is not exactly true to life! Wishful thinking on my part, perhaps?)

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Food-on-Foot Tour in Hanoi, and Future Fermented Food Workshops at The Fitness Village

4/18/2016

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This past week has seen me get a few of the usual runs in, one longer one, and a couple of crosstraining / strength training sessions back at a gym, as I have joined a local BEAUTIFUL gym here in Hanoi: The Fitness Village. Seriously, it’s so beautiful and tranquil there. So peaceful. The perfect setting for a gym and a swimming pool hey. Also the perfect setting for a nutrition workshop! Oh yes. That’s right – coming soon to Hanoi, I am thrilled to be hosting a series of workshops re: fermented foods with a local amazing fermenter extraordinaire there at my new gym. More details to follow shortly, but if you’re local to Hanoi, please join us on either Sunday 8th or 9th May! Find out how you can heal your body, lose weight, have more energy, less stress (amongst other things) and exactly how to preserve your own food and ferment your way back to great health!

So marathon training officially started today! Woohoo! Didn’t get the long run of the week that I had planned in due to a later night than originally planned last night and finally having a much needed sleep-in this morning, but you know what they say: rest/sleep is just as important (if not more, sometimes) as the running sessions. Listening to my body and all that… Got a 12km ish run in at a quicker pace than my slow long run would have been, and then followed this up with some more cycling around town (as both cross training and transport, win).

Saturday was a public holiday, so no teaching side-gig for me as I usually would have had (woohoo!). I took this opportunity to finally go on one of those walking food tours around the old quarter in Hanoi: got to feel like a proper tourist again, go for a stroll, chat to some awesome people, AND eat some truly delicious things. Oh wow, this was great. Here are a few shots of the food in question. Now even though my pronunciation of all things Vietnamese is questionable at  the best of times (although I am making progress and branching out with my coffee orders and greetings I think) I will in future just be able to flash out one of these pictures, and boom: a serving of delicious ‘cha ca’ or ‘pho’ will soon be winging its way to my mouth. Mmmmmm……


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The only other thing that I really have to comment on is this: I went back to the open mic night for another bash at the stand-up comedy gig on Wednesday, and I bloody LOVED it! Haven’t had that much fun in ages. It is so surprising to me still just how much I love this, and am not shy or nervous when I’m up there, and also what a good reception I got too! The crowd seemed to love it! It was a great night anyway. Not sure I’d be able to top that in the future (I’d have to come up with a few new jokes too before I head back for Round 3). This week I will give it a rest hey, in favour of a busy, productive and super healthy week: choosing sleep, running/training, business meetings and designing new programs for Lou’s Weight Online, over: G&Ts, cold beers, open mic nights, dancing, new friends and no sleep. Rock and roll hey?! Never fear – there is a karaoke night out planned in the not too distant future (i.e. next week, yeewww!!)

 
I hope your week has been one that’s full of whatever YOU most desired, whether that was some full on running training, travelling, or simply chilling with friends and family at home. Enjoy this week and keep smiling folks. xxx

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A Red Runner by the Red River, and the Week that Was...

4/11/2016

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I thought it was fitting this morning to don the Five30runners' red singlet (sorry wonderful Wooters!) as I went on a long run in search of peaceful countryside and the Red River. I found both! Spoiler alert: the river is not red. But it sure was peaceful. And beautiful. And so close to my neighbourhood. Literally on my backdoor-step there is a muddy road (due to all the heavy rain) that leads past hundreds of kumquat, and flower farms, amongst other lush vegetation.
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On the way back from my out-and-back run, I came across the most beautiful, tranquil, hidden gem of a café. Check it out:
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Not a bad spot for an impromptu black coffee (caphe den!). I know where I will going back to when I want to get lots of fiction writing done. Perfect setting for it methinks!

The rest of the week saw lots of: running, cycling, working in and on my business, a little bit of strength training, post-teaching beers and eats in our 'local', and these things happened:
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Not sure what that last picture is about? Let me happily explain then! I did some stand-up comedy featuring my TERRIBLE cheese jokes/puns as part of an open mic night at a local music venue!! This was so much fun! And yes, I really was terrible. I will be back there again on Wednesday to give it another crack, so if you're in Hanoi and you missed the famous (infamous?) Cheesy-Louisey - never fear! I'm coming back atcha! Hanoi Rock City - late in the night (will post an update on fb for those locals who may be interested). Life long dream = realised! Seriously :)

Another thing that has me giddy with excitement is this:
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That's right! I've entered the Danang International Marathon, to be held on 6th August, in, you guessed it, beautiful Danang. It's going to be a hot and humid 4 months of training if the recent runs are anything to go by. Still, other runners must prefer that around here - I counted at least 13 other runners around West Lake yesterday in the humid and hot 30 degree midday heat. I have entered the full marathon distance and I am STOKED to have a proper event to train towards again, and this can be my replacement for not being able to take part in the Gold Coast race this year. 'Official' training starts next week (if I worked out dates correctly) so feel free to follow along with me as I post the ins and outs of my training runs, along with the most important part of the whole venture: the nutrition side of things, of course!

Talking of good nutrition, ahem, I'll leave you with this: this is the cold refreshing 'fresh beer' (Bia Hoi!) that is served in my new local just around the corner - costs the equivalent of 50cents a large glass, and after a stinking hot excursion getting lost in the streets of the old quarter (my afternoon exploration - wanted to feel like a tourist again while getting various errands ticked off) it tasted soooo good. Really loving my new neighbourhood hey.
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I hope you're all having a good week and had a great weekend just gone too. Loving all your photos and updates of various running and triathlon events guys - keep them coming! You are amazing!! Champions!!

Now, I'm off to get ready for an exciting business meeting - listen up if you're in Hanoi! There will soon be some super exciting nutrition workshops coming your way: currently in talks with a local talented fermenter. Watch this space!

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New Digs, New Cafes, New Neighbourhoods...

4/6/2016

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For friends and family back home in Aus and UK, here you go: my new abode. So stoked to be here. This is where the magic happens - my daytime office space, complete with an authentic rooftop area to chill too.

Here's more of my new hood:

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This past week has seen me being pretty busy work-wise (my own work and my new English teaching gig in the evenings), and busy with trying to sample every awesome looking new café!! That would be a full-time job in itself: Hanoi loves its cafes and bars! No complaints here.

Here's one groovy one I was in yesterday overlooking West Lake:
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Don't worry! Never too busy to NOT get a few runs in, and when I'm not cycling around from cafe to café, I have been running around exploring on foot too. This morning I went for a longer run from my new house back over to West Lake, where I ran around and took this exciting and rare non-rainy opportunity to take some photos as I went. Even needed sunnies!! Again: no complaints here.
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There has also been some epic KARAOKE this week too. F&*k YEAH!! Loved that. And a trip to a delicious street nicknamed 'chicken street' last night: the tastiest, messiest delights of honey glazed chicken and honey glazed barbecued bread (yes. It's a thing. Wow). Not usually one for meat at all, but this was ridiculously delicious and washed down nicely with a Bia Saigon. Again: no complaints!!

Chao guys! :)
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    A 30-something's running and travelling experience around the world.

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