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Holidays Are For...

9/30/2014

... Sleeping in. Stayed pretty much comatose/asleep this morning until the grand old time of half past seven! Result. Loving all the proper sleep/rest I've been attempting to get lately. What with the siesta in the middle of the day and all. Hoping this will be helping my running performance and fitness in the most relaxing, laziest way possible.

... Training my arse off. After I've slept and relaxed that is. I have full intentions of having a healthy, full week of training, now I've got no excuse of any lingering illness or even any classes I have to turn up to and teach. On for today's workouts will be some sort of strength or cross training, oh and probably some cardio in the form of the dreaded clothes shopping, eek... It has gotten dramatically colder literally overnight. So the other evening was balmy and warm? Well, the following morning the temperature has dropped to about 0 or 1 degree C with a real feel of -1. WTF. So soon?? So, cue us wearing our 'winter' clothes already, and still feeling the cold. Hmmm, this ain't Yiwu hey. So, we will be aiming to go shopping and hopefully this evening we'll be warm and toasty again. Yesterday's training (on our last day of work before this holiday) was a 12km early morning run, where I wore ALL of my running clothes! And was still cold. So, will need to get some sort of ear covering/ear muffs too, as my ears stung a little as I ran. So, anyway, I digress, but this week I will be working out, running, shopping (that counts, I reckon), running, working out, and running some more. I. Can't. Wait.

...Going on a health kick. Hmmm, this one may sound eerily similar to the paragraph above? Let me clarify. I think I may go teetotal, booze-free for a while (or forever? Not sure yet...). I was thinking about this at dinner last night with Husband. I hadn't had a single drink for 12 days straight, not through any set plan or goal, just being ill and being busy meant that I just hadn't had a sip on anything for a while. I then had a couple of beers and a couple of shots of some of China's, ahem, 'finest', beijiu (yuck) and felt, well, a bit, meh, for want of a better word. It just didn't do it for me hey. Wasn't feeling that enamoured with it, and kind of just prefer feeling healthy now, I've realised. So, I'll be doing my own version of Oc-Sober, and will go from there. Good for training and running too, yes??

...Spontaneous day trips exploring this little corner of the globe. Watch this space for this one! I hope so...

....Finally ticking off all those errands and things we've been meaning to get done over the last month or so. I.e. finally finding the post office, buying new sim cards and a phone charger, etc....

And the reason behind this seemingly random holiday we've got? Today is China' National Day holiday, so the whole country gets a 7-day holiday (when really, it's only a 3 day holiday if you take out the weekend and the days we've had to make up as a result of having this 'holiday', but hey-ho...). Happy National Day China!!!

What do you like to do on holiday? Do you still train and exercise when your on your hols??

5 Comments

Evening Running

9/29/2014

11 Comments

I take my hat off to those of you who can go to work all day and then get out there for a run after work. I did this yesterday, but I'm pretty sure it will be a one-off. My body clearly prefers the early early morning time, and later in the day, well, my legs sort of feel a bit, meh... Or perhaps it was being the first run back after a cold (thank you for your lovely messages! I am heaps better now). Anyway, I tried, and a slow, less than perfect run, is still better than no run at all methinks. What I did was, so that I wouldn't talk myself out of it, or convince myself that there are so many other things I'd rather be doing after work (i.e. eating, chilling, eating) I got into my running gear before my double lesson of the arvo (I teach a large group of nursing students from 4:40-6:30pm twice a week). Crazy, yes? Going to 'work' in running gear. (Crazier still would be having work on a weekend to make up and compensate for a holiday that's coming up this week, but let's not go into that again.) Ahh, but there was a method to my madness, namely being that for half of their lesson I wanted to discuss sports, fitness, and exercise equipment. Sooo, I could point talk and then to my trainers, running tights, camelback etc. Yeah, the main reason might have been that I wanted to get out the door and into the balmy evening as quickly as possible, and that I did: 6:30 on the dot and I was out and setting off on my run.

The evening was not too cold, not windy, and felt kind of balmy, as I ran through the dark on one of my usual routes. It is a totally different experience running under streetlights than running as the beautiful, orange orb of sun is just making its presence known, and although the park was lit up beautifully and felt quite romantic (had I not been there all alone!) I just couldn't shake the thought of wishing it was done and over already so I could be eating dinner and relaxing with Husband. I think, perhaps, for me, running in the evening or afternoon time, or any time when I may usually be hanging out with Husband or friends, seems a bit anti-social, or even feels that I could be missing out?? Yesterday I was craving some sort of tasty pancake wrap thing that they make here, and my thoughts were pretty much on: buying dinner, having a shower, eating dinner, and planning lessons for tomorrow. Which makes for a less than thrilling run!

Oh well. The great thing about running, and anything else in life, is there is always tomorrow. A bad run today can lead to an amazeballs one the next time. Hopefully, anyway.

Anyway, now that I'm feeling heaps better and all but completely recovered from this cold (still have just a tiny bit of a manly voice happening) I can get back into training, and hopefully, will remember that I am very much a morning exerciser! (Despite what I tell myself some mornings, when I'm 'too tired' to get up, so then postpone it til later on. Hmmm, note to self: this means you probably won't work out on that day.)

Do you ever run in the dark?? (It seems to be dark already when I come out of lessons at 6:30pm now! Another reason to stick to my early morning runs methinks.)

11 Comments

Another ARD Today

9/25/2014

10 Comments

Yes, still sick, annoyingly enough, so have taken today off completely - off from yoga dates/training/work - the lot. Boo.... Is all I can say, but apparently rest will cure this cold. It surely is only a cold, but apparently two rest days earlier in the week did not cure it. Yesterday, in a futile (and probably very stupid) effort to feel better / sweat it out / get back into training, I went for an early morning run before work, then did a quick weight/strength workout in between lessons in the morning, and then taught all afternoon until 6:30pm. Hmm, cue: not very well today (despite keeping up my water/veggies/garlic/chilli regime). Possibly my own fault?? I really did think I was getting better yesterday, oh well...

One thing I noticed on my run, and I have seen this often here in China, was people running in their 'civvies' or usual, everyday clothes, and not specifically any 'running' gear. (Did you see this too, when you were in China, Amy??) For example: jeans and a shirt, or jeans and a jumper. I have seen people running in leather jackets. I have also seen people running in wedge sandals instead of trainers. Hmm, this seems to go against the grain of everything that every sports' clothing/shoes company wants us to think - surely to take part in a sport, you have to buy the right equipment and clothing first, yes? China has served as a reminder that really, all you need to run is: YOU. You need nothing else: just the will and spirit and desire to get out there and run (although the pragmatist in me is adding: oh and a sportsbra for women, even if you've got small girls like me - protect those important Coopers ligaments, Ladies!). It is extremely motivating when you buy new running items, however. Nothing puts a spring in your step, like breaking in new running shoes, for example. But for times when you may feel unprepared (i.e. your usual running clothes are in the wash, or your trainers are wet/lost/broken), there is always a way to run. Sure, you may not run at your usual pace or time, but you can still run (or jog, or walk). Unless you're ill or injured. Then I think: back to listening to your body and getting some REST (note to self: take your own advice).

Hoping this cold pisses off today, as tomorrow we are being judges for an English public speaking contest. Not sure if we have to give a detailed verdict or if it's simply a case of holding up a score card, Olympic-gymnastics-judging-style. I'm hoping it's the latter. In the meantime, while resting, I'm going to give this healing ginger tea recipe a go: http://higherperspective.com/2014/09/flu-ginger-tea.html?utm_source=MAM

Aaand, for something completely unrelated to both running and sickness, here is us and some fellow English teachers with the man-of-the-moment up here in Inner Mongolia - the very famous (or infamous, depending on which country's history you are reading) Genghis Khan:

Have a great weekend everyone! I will most likely be 'off' running for the next few days (and therefore blogging too - or all you'll get is me whinging re: how frustrated I am). See you when I see you!

10 Comments

ARDs

9/23/2014

12 Comments

What is an ARD, I hear you ask? An Accidental, or Annoying, Rest Day. Why, accidental? Because you maybe got ill or injured by accident. Why annoying?? Because you REALLY wanted to get some morning kilometres in and instead you stayed in bed with a rotten cold. Yep, story of my life these past couple of days. SO annoying! Felt itching to get out and run, but my body and head told me otherwise this morning and for the first time in a very long time, I slept through my early alarm, and decided to stay put in bed when I did wake up. Yesterday, I just didn't get out of bed either - saw the early time, and just thought 'no, that's not happening today'. Boo to colds and illnesses. They have a tendency to f&*k my training plans up quite royally. Oh well, I suppose I am doing to right thing, and 'listening to my body' etc etc by not training, but to have two unplanned and unwanted rest days bang in the middle of my week, irks me somewhat.

I am contemplating getting a low-effort strength workout in a little bit later today, or even going for a cycle in the now a lot cooler weather, so then I guess it's only one extra ARD so far this week. But I've cancelled three different fitness dates so far! So, that's no good. I'm blaming said weather and it's change, together with a 'hugely busy' (lol) schedule all of a sudden, for my current cold. To combat said cold I'm eating spicy veggie soup filled with all kinds of healing goodies by the bucketful, and water, water, water, of course.

The Beijing half marathon is only three and a half weeks away now! I need to keep this in mind and keep training. I.e. piss off, Cold. Thank you.

How many rest days do you take, roughly, per week? Are your rest days planned or do you take them as and when you need them? (Mine is usually on a Saturday).

Any miracle cold cures?? (Lots of garlic, veggies and water is usually my aim, but would love to hear of any others.)

12 Comments

Biryani, Back-to-Bed, and Bad Friends

9/20/2014

10 Comments

Phew! I'm back. Feels like it's been a crazy busy week, well, for us anyhow (I still can't fathom how I used to work a 40 hour week in the past! Not sure I'll ever go back to that either). I've gone from having 7 lessons in a week to having 19, plus four different early-morning exercise dates, and then there was an extra 'English party' event that we went to (actually, I think we were required to go to) on Friday evening (although when there is a 'party', read = performances). But, always good to see some live music and dancing hey). This week also featured the most delicious, and very moreish, homemade biryani; cooked by some lovely medical student dudes from Pakistan. Definitely carb-loaded on that night. (Thanks Watson, if you're reading this! Delicious!)

As for the running bit? Well, I got a decent-ish early morning run on Thursday. I started with half an hour by myself along part of my usual riverside route, and then met a friend at the uni's sports track for the next halfa. Again, it was fun to run with someone and have a chat - sure does make time fly by too. That is one busy track in the mornings (and I suppose all day long?), and various male students told me 'Hi teacher! We are your students!' and then had an impromptu sprint race of about 100m, I think to show me how fast they can run? Haha... Verdict? MUCH faster than I can! Anymore that is...

I realised this morning, on my one longer run of the week, how much my speed has reduced in the past couple of months - paces I was keeping in my half marathon training throughout May and June, I wouldn't have a hope of meeting now. That's ok though. I mean, it's not as if I am doing any kind of speedwork or training to pick my pace back up. Plus, I have to keep reminding myself, that for this next half marathon I am not running with the aim of getting a pb, but just with the aim of enjoying the race (oh, and getting that all important race medal and t-shirt, of course). So, my easy, comfortable pace seems to be usually around 5 minutes per km. This morning I ran 16kms and it took me 1:21 (so, give or take stopping at some crossings and gates etc). It was a great run though, and I was left feeling strong and happy. Result. After shopping/showering etc, we then had a picnic on our bed while watching a documentary and then went back to said bed. Nothing better than going back to bed after a longer run on a Sunday.

Now for something else, something a little bit shit. Did you ever have a friend who, whenever you talk with them or spend time with them, they put you down or insult you or offend you? Yet, you keep on spending time with that person regardless of how they treat you? Why do we do that?? Why do we put ourselves through that and all the negative emotions that comes with it? Life is short and so is our time, so if someone treats you badly or you don't enjoy spending time with them (either virtually or face-to-face) then I think it's way ok to look after yourself and say 'enough is enough - I will no longer give my time and feelings to this friend who treats me like this'. This should be our choice to make as free individuals and we shouldn't feel guilty about doing so. We choose who to have in our lives, for the most part, and some friendships and people, sadly, change over time. Again, life is short - spend it with those who love and respect you and vice versa, and spend it doing things you love (i.e. for me: things I LOVE and do regularly: running, yoga, reading, beers with new friends, drinking tea, eating out, travelling).

Well, that's enough of my rant for today. I hope you're all having f&*ken excellent weekends wherever you may be. On the cards for the rest of my Sunday-Funday is rest/relaxation/more documentaries/peanuts/tea/ice-cream/SLEEP. I can't wait. :)

Do you have a friend in your life who no longer treats you like a good friend?? Did you cut them out of your life completely or confront them or just let that friendship slide?

Do you ever go back to bed after an early morning run? Favourite post-run activity/routine??

10 Comments

Too Busy to Blog?

9/15/2014

6 Comments

So it seems this blogging malarkey may be reduced to every other day now, or every couple of days. My profuse apologies in case you're an everyday reader! But alas, somehow we have been landed with a busy schedule, and although going from 10 hours of teaching per week to around 16 doesn't sound like much, it is making a huge dent on our usual 'free' time. Hmmm... For example, yesterday we didn't finish 'work' until the grand old time of half past six in the evening!! This is a new teaching experience for us. However, the enthusiastic, lovely students we teach are kind of making up for the hectic schedule, so I'm sure we'll get used to it.

In fact, this morning I went for a run with one of my said new students. As you may know, I'm usually very much a solo runner, however running with someone else was pretty good! We ran for about half an hour and at a very comfortable, slower pace than I am used to (actually started off uncomfortable as it felt strange to be actively slowing the pace down, at first...) but chatted the whole time. I'm sure there's some kind of valuable lesson here re: the benefit of friendship and slowing down occasionally as opposed to always running for at least an hour or more and at your hardest effort (usually).

I have another running 'date' on Thursday with another friend. That will be on the university's sports track, so that will be a first for me here. Looking forward to it.

In between yesterday's busy teaching schedule I did manage to get some strength training and the usual dog-walking in, and tomorrow I have an early morning yoga date again. So, pretty on track with my fitness, however, it's not too running-heavy nor geared towards my upcoming half marathon in October. I think I will rectify this with a weekend longer run to make up for less running kilometres during the week.

In other Tongliao related news: It's starting to get a fair bit colder here now - quite autumnal. But still hot and sweaty in the too-crowded classrooms during lessons.

That's all folks. Have a super day!

What's your usual finishing time from work? (Ours used to be 4pm at the latest! Oh Yiwu, how we miss you...)

6 Comments

Back Into Training

9/13/2014

8 Comments

Hello everyone! I hope you're having a wonderful weekend. My weekend hasn't been filled with too much training, or too much of anything at all. Oops.. Yesterday turned into a dedicated rest day after some strong Chinese drinks on Friday night. Yuck, haven't had a hangover like that in years hey. If it had been wine induced, I could have used this excellent phrase I heard the other day:

Clever hey?? Not so clever is drinking a few too many shots of beijiu (Chinese spirit; like their version of vodka). Should just stick to beer, or wine, and I'll be fine.

Anyway, after a full on rest day, copious food and water, and the power of SLEEP, all was fixed this morning and I have finally (it feels) gotten back into the training by going for a slightly longer run: I went for 15km run this morning and it took me exactly 1 hour and 15 minutes. So, not too speedy, but ok for a casual, Sunday morning run.

I have imminent plans to go for a bike ride too. Probably an hour's worth or just under, down by the riverside in the sunshine. Ahhh, feels good to be back! (No drinking for a while for me, going on a bit of a health kick. Just can't take the hangovers anymore it seems!)

Do you suffer hangovers much? What's your favourite thing to drink too much of?

8 Comments

You'll Never Never Know If You Never Never Go

9/10/2014

5 Comments

This morning I woke up and was feeling less than enthused to get out of bed and go for the early morning run I had planned before my one class of the day at 7:30am (yes, you did read that correctly!). My neck had a mysterious ache and pain in it and my eyes were reluctant to open much. So, I did what I am sometimes so prone to doing and I rescheduled with myself (in my head as I settled down for a bit more kip) and decided I could push the run back to 9am or thereabouts.

Now, usually, this rejigging of a run would either result in one of two things: 1) The run would not eventuate and the day and life would just get in the way; OR, 2) The run would happen but would be a pretty piss-poor effort: legs would feel sluggish, I would feel hungry/tired/unmotivated/hot etc. However, I am happy to report that this morning neither of these two outcomes occurred! Very strange but very happy with that. Turned out it was an awesome run (just over 11km), and had at the very late time (for me personally) of about 9:20am - WAY past my optimal running slot (I really like the 5:30-6:30 time of day). But, I am so glad I went. The sun was out, but it wasn't too hot yet, and the paths were pretty empty comparatively (owing to everyone being at work already I suppose). It just goes to show that sometimes we should ignore our past experiences and try something new, or even just something slightly out of your comfort zone or usual habit. Try doing something different and you might just surprise yourself.

Ignore your expectations!! Expectations can ruin reality hey. If you've built up an expectation of something and the reality turns out to be worse or inferior to your expectation then you may feel let down or upset, which is crazy because YOU have given yourself the particular expectation or image in the first place (i.e. you control your thoughts and environment). Then, conversely if you've had an expectation of something and then you smash and surpass that expectation, you may be left thinking 'why the hell did I even think that in the first place?' So, no limits or expectations = freedom and happiness to just see what happens.

Are you quite rigid with your running schedule and times?

Are you a morning runner/person or evening or an any time of day exerciser?

When was the last time you surprised yourself? I.e. things turned out completely differently to how you thought they would?

5 Comments

Really Liking This Place

9/9/2014

2 Comments

We kind of really like our new home. Could you tell??

This morning I went to an early early yoga session followed by a breakfast of tasty, saucy tofu (I am a tofu freak). The friend I went with goes every day to yoga, however I am going to join her on Wednesday and Friday mornings (leaving the rest of the week free for running, cycling and a bit of strength training). Should be a yoga champ (or a bit more flexible anyhow) in no time, yes? Ahh, there's something about starting the day with yoga that just makes you feel, well, great.

It is still sunny and hot during the days here too, so we're still enjoying lots of cycling and e-biking around in the sunshine. However, it's apparently cold enough in the evenings now for one of our new, go-to outdoor restaurants in one of the many food streets nearby to have dismantled for the season!! Nooooo! We got there yesterday evening, salivating at the thought of what's become one of our regular dishes (an amazingly tasty, spicy, healthy veggie soup) and it was a no go - tents were being brought down, the once crowded pavement was getting emptier and emptier, and it seemed a major clean-up/dismantle operation was in progress. Sad. Face. Indeed.

Oh well. There is still a plethora of other food choices hey, so all's not lost. Plus, Husband is an awesome cook too, so perhaps we'll get back to home-cooking occasionally.

Hmm, this is supposed to be a running blog, yes? Ok, so: no running today, but I might go for a bike ride in between classes. Then I plan on an early morning run tomorrow morning. No doubt one of my usual 12km routes (as I have to be back for a quite early lesson).

Any similar tofu freaks out there?? I've always loved tofu but since I've come to China, I've been ecstatic at the range of tofu choices here hey. You'll have to come on over and join me if you are into tofu and experience the many innovative and delicious varieties.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!!

2 Comments

Message from the Universe

9/8/2014

8 Comments

I have registered for another running race!! Pretty pumped to report I will now be taking part in the Beijing Half Marathon on Sunday 19th October! I know, I know, you were getting ready for another: 'I didn't do any running but here's what I did instead' blog post, well, that is just not on the agenda for today. I feel like I may finally have gotten my running mojo back this morning, and possibly all down to this new motivation of having another race on the horizon in the not too distant future (as the grasslands race just seems so far away still! So, hard to really focus on any proper training). I think there's nothing more motivating than having an event to plan and work towards, so I'm so glad that I have signed up for this race, and it's in an easily accessible city (from here to Beijing is an hour's flight I think) so Coach/Husband can come with this time (the last two races he has stayed behind), which will be awesome.

And the reason this random registration came about? (As, it wasn't on my mind even a couple of days ago...) Well, a new friend mentioned she will be running the Beijing marathon on 19th October, with her uncle, who she usually cheers on while he runs it. We got chatting about running for a while after that, and training etc, and I asked does she still run in the colder months here (key question for me apparently), to which she answered, to my dismay, NO, it is too cold. Boo.... BUT, she said she does yoga instead, and this then led to a discussion of where she goes for early morning yoga sessions. The result of this little tangent is that I will now be joining her on some early morning yoga classes, woohoo! But, I digress... Back to the subject at hand: the Beijing marathon.

So, later that day, as I'm scrolling aimlessly through the sometimes addictive time-waste that is the newsfeed of Facebook, I noticed a post from another friend putting it out there about it being the last chance to sign up for the Beijing marathon, and to get in by today. I had seen no mention of said race before, so, this mild coincidence I took as my cue from the universe that I am meant to be running in the Beijing half marathon! Haha, why, you may ask? I know, it's only a small coincidence, but hey I'll take it. I read some work by Deepak Chopra lately along the lines of: whenever you notice a coincidence, it is the universe trying to tell you something or pointing you in the direction you are supposed to go in. Therefore, I feel the universe was telling me not only about this race (thanks Universe!) but that I should sign up before it is too late. So, to cut a long ramble short: I have signed up for the half marathon, and Husband and I can go for a fun little weekend away in Beijing as well.

Having this race to look forward to has already improved my running, I'm sure of it, and I was up and out there early and determined today. However, for this particular race, I think I'm going to adopt a very casual training plan this time, and not worry about time, speed, pace, PRs/PBs etc. I just want to run it purely on how I feel (Garmin-free) and take in the Beijing sights along the way. I'll keep you posted with my rough training 'plan' as I go. Today I ran approximately 12kms through one of my usual routes through a park. Legs felt strong and I felt great.

As promised, here's a shot of Husband and our new e-bike! Ahhhh, felt awesome to be flying along (at 30kms/hr) with freedom and the wind blowing through our hair yesterday....

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Holidays Are For...

Evening Running

Another ARD Today

ARDs

Biryani, Back-to-Bed, and Bad Friends

Too Busy to Blog?

Back Into Training

You'll Never Never Know If You Never Never Go

Really Liking This Place

Message from the Universe

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