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Yoga, Kickboxing and an E-bike

9/8/2014

Well, that weekend came and went didn't it!? A bit too quickly for my liking, but there you go. Actually, we're kind of still on our weekend, courtesy of the Mid Autumn Festival that is currently being celebrated here in China, so ALL GOOD.

No running over the weekend, but I did do an intense, efficient body weight workout (courtesy of Hasfit) and some cycling around town and through the riverside parks. Feeling unexpectedly sore and stiff today, I think from the Hasfit workout (hadn't done that particular one in a long time).

Something that I did do however, was to sign up for the yoga club, and the kickboxing club!! Very excited about these two activities, just hope I can understand the instructor. Mind you, might be a good way to improve my Chinese, yes? Husband also signed up for the kickboxing club, so watch this space on how we go on this one. Many years ago, back in the day, I used to go to a kickboxing club on a Friday evening, and it was LOADS of sweaty fun. Can't wait.

In other exciting news (for us anyhow) we bought an e-bike today, so now can cruise freely and easily around town and further afield. Yay! I will not, however, be riding said e-bike, but will happily straddle it and hold on as Husband does the honours (I am a terrible driver so am sure riding an e-bike will not be one of my strengths). Watch this space for e-bike adventure pictures! (Before it gets too cold that is).

Do you practise yoga? Kickboxing? (I can see my running diminishing and diminishing until it's an every now and then thing, perhaps having been replaced by all the fun cross-training! Oh dear...)

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It Happened...

9/4/2014

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...I had to wear long running tights and TWO running tops this morning, as it was quite cold. Noo..... It's happened already. I thought I'd have at least until October until I'd be in my 'winter' running gear here. People we have asked have told us that it starts to get cold here around about October time. Brrr, we beg to differ! It was quite cool last night when we went exploring the many food-streets literally on our doorstep (an awesome discovery). Apparently it will get down to between -25 and -35 degrees C! Oh dear. We are woefully ill-prepared at the moment, and so as soon as we get our first month's pay it's off to the shops we'll go, stocking up on essentials like: boots, jumpers, thermals, trousers, facemasks, and jackets, I suppose.

It seems crazy that it's soon going to be so cold, as it's still pretty hot and sunny during the day here, maybe between 24 and 30 degrees? A climate of extremes for sure, and one we are both completely foreign to and unfamiliar with. So, my next, pertinent question to all those who suffer through arctic-esque winters with proper snow and minus degrees days for months on end: What do you wear when you go running?? Are you still able to go for your usual runs? Are facemasks the go?? I have gloves, long tights and a long top that I wear under a t-shirt, but I'm thinking if I'm wearing these already (minus the gloves) then what will I do when it gets COLD-cold?!

Still, despite the cooler weather this morning, it was still a beautiful, awesome run: about 10kms through my usual route but just cutting off a small section of it. Why? Coz I felt like it. :)

Yesterday we had no internet all day, but if we had I could have told you all about my strength/weight training in the morning, and that I had full intentions of having a slothful, chilling afternoon again with Husband (we are making the most of our lighter-than-usual schedule - it changes next week I think). However, the afternoon was unexpectedly taken up by having coffee and discussions with one of my students and his friend, and then said food-street exploration and a fun dinner and beers out with Husband. I am more than ok with that.

It's just about the weekend, so I wish you a wonderful weekend filled with fun runs and/or good times!!!

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Two Timer

9/2/2014

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Yep, that's two days in a row where I've been for an awesome, early morning run (rather than managing every other day or every third day). I'm on a roll here - two times the fun in two days! This morning's run was a perfect (I think 12kms?) run through some shady woodland paths that run alongside a kind of marshland section of the river that they seem to be regenerating or refurbishing (can you refurbish a river??). It was the first run in a long time where I wore long running tights on. Hmm, think the weather is starting to turn as it was decidedly chilly this morning (and last night). It was also the first time since the Gold Coast half in early July that I tried to pick my pace up and run a bit faster. For about half a km I ran 'faster' but no idea re: the actual pace as I was Garmin-free. It felt really good to test my legs and run fast again, if only for a short distance.

Now, something completely unrelated to running but something that made me very happy yesterday: I had two classes yesterday, lovely students, no dramas, everything going as planned and to time. Then at the start of the second class a boy stands up and says: "Good morning Teacher! I would like to sing a Mongolian song for you." He then proceeds to sing a very beautiful song to myself and the whole class. Well, I was so impressed! Such an amazing voice and such a lovely gesture. I was trying to ask him what the song was about, after I had thanked him and expressed my 'wow', when a girl stands up towards the back of the class, saying: "Good morning Teacher! I would also like to sing a Mongolian song for you." Then she comes to the front of the classroom and blows me away with her amazing voice and song! Wow, incredible talents. What a way to start a lesson, and so welcoming.

After the two morning lessons, Husband and I had a very relaxing, chilled afternoon consisting of hanging out in our bedroom, having picnics in bed, watching things on youtube, talking and discussing life and the world, and general total relaxation and LOADS of sleep. We'd forgotten how tiring this teaching malarkey can be perhaps, haha.

What's your favourite way to relax or chill when you're feeling oh so tired?

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Soapbox Alert

9/1/2014

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An awesome run was had this morning, but I'll get to that shortly.

First, I have something that's been on my mind and bothering me since the other day, so I thought I would share it here to vent/rant/get it out of my system. I overheard somebody saying this to someone else the other day: "Women are just for f*&king. Oh and making some food, making your babies. They can be beautiful sure, but they are not intelligent like men." He was quite serious too. 'WTF?!' I hear you cry. Yes, that's right, there really are people out there who think like this! Firstly I was shocked and outraged, not only on behalf of women, but on behalf of men, and well, all decent human beings, who may be similarly offended having heard something so disgustingly ignorant and wrong. But since then, I have started to feel sorry and sad for this particular dude, with his clearly messed up, backwards view of the world. Then again, there must be plenty of others who may echo his particular sentiment? Be it that we have a host of stupid (mostly male), power-hungry, psychopaths running the world?? It almost makes me want to pack up and move HERE, to this utopian sounding (albeit for the lack of decent, intelligent men there, as per the article) society in a small town in Brazil: http://www.dailyedge.ie/noiva-do-cordeiro-women-1643505-Aug2014/ . It also makes me SO glad and thankful that Husband (and all my other beloved male friends and family out there) are intelligent and beautiful people who would never hold such a strange view of women and the world, but the fact that there are people out there who genuinely still think this way is quite disturbing.

What are your thoughts?? Do you know men who think like this? To the male readers out there, what would you say if someone came out with such a statement? I am genuinely curious.

Aaannddd on with the running business: This morning's run was a coolish, refreshing, slightly drizzly 12kms run through the beautiful riverside, flower-filled park, one of my favourite new routes. It had been raining for most of the night but stopped for long enough this morning for me to get my run in. Yessss! Great way to start the day, and my legs felt really fresh and good. There might just be something in this cross-training malarkey, haha...

Now it's off to work I go, teaching two classes this morning and who knows what's on for this arvo. Have a wonderful day everyone!

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Might Change This Website's Name to....

9/1/2014

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...Cycling Through China, as it seems I've replaced running with cycling as of late. Went for a longish cycle yesterday in the beautiful hot sunshine. I'm not sure how long it was, as my Garmin wasn't charged, but it was about a two hour effort, so I'm guessing around 40kms? (based on my hour effort being just over 20 kms, or 21kms to be precise). And absolutely nothing fitness-wise was achieved today as I was so bloody tired this morning and our first class on a Monday is at a fairly shocking half past seven in the morning. Yes, you did read that right. Haha, bit of a change from our last position in Yiwu where our earliest lesson began at 10. Ohwell. They've got this awesome 3 hour siesta (AKA sleepy time) in the middle of the day here, so can't complain with that. Very relaxing. Although so far we've usually used this time for something other than sleep be it shopping, online shizzle etc...

Tomorrow morning I am aiming to get an early morning run in before work, so hopefully I'll have something more running-related to report by then. Here's some running motivational malarkey to get myself, and maybe you too, in the mood - enjoy!

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Yoga, Kickboxing and an E-bike

It Happened...

Two Timer

Soapbox Alert

Might Change This Website's Name to....

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