All the best to those runners who have gone back for a second year running - you guys are amazing! Once was enough for me, haha.

After yesterday's freezing cold morning (yep, these three layered runs are becoming a bit of a regular thing now), it actually turned into a gorgeous, sunny (almost hot) day here. So, after work we headed out on our bicycles to a local park so that Puppy could run around and we could lay on the grass for a bit (felt SO good hey). We realised as soon as we got out the door and into the glorious sunshine that her newly purchased, super-stylin puppy jacket wasn't needed, but here's a couple of 'just-because' shots of her in it (just because she's so f'kin cute!):

As soon as we could, our respective jacket/shoes/boots came straight off for some prime time feel-the-grass action:

Seriously. Haven't tried just lying on the grass lately? Give it a whirl. Feels pretty amazeballs.

Here is Puppy expressing just how good it feels (we call her the dog of many faces - here's her best 'pissing-myself-with-laughter-as-am-thrilled-to-be-at-the-park' face):

And yes, an extra 'just because' shot of the autumnal colours of the leaves changing colour (had to get this before it is too late and they start to fall):

And back to some running musings now: Today I ran a 9km (ish) endurance pace run. It took 40 minutes. So, think that's roughly the same pace as yesterday's run. Hopefully, I can repeat this on race day. Felt pretty strong today and like I could have kept on running for many more kilometres, so that's a good sign. Also, I read a great quote yesterday, and wish I could remember who by or where I saw it, as my paraphrasing of it here is going to be much less eloquent, but here goes: it was something along the lines of that humans need and love to 'play' and that running is just a form of play, even when we try to be really good at it. This concept really made me smile at points during my run this morning, and I reflected on my 9km of playtime before the day really starts. This is getting added to my mental log of running mantras now, and whenever things seem tough or I get a little tired, I'll try to remember that it's all just playing anyway, and not to take it so seriously.

So, have a fookin fantastic Friday everyone, filled with fun times and PLAYING.

Feeling the cold here now. Wore THREE tops to run in on my long run this morning, plus the usual gloves and long running pants. Still cold now (having not moved much since I returned - trying to psych myself up to get into our cold, uninspiring bathroom). The weather report for the low temperature today says this:

But it feels more like ZERO methinks.

Still, it was nice: crisp and fresh on my run, not wet, which was a blessing, and there was the beautiful, big, orange orb of sun rising up as I ran past the eery, completely still river with its ghostly fog hovering just above the surface. However, it was not my best run. Had a lot of (womanly) pain for most of it (whoever said that exercise made it better??) but those excellent endorphins kicked in at about kilometre 15. An elderly gentleman speeding past me in the opposite direction gave me a hearty thumbs up as he went, to which I eagerly responded with my own thumb of course (the equivalent of a Chinese runners' high-five perhaps?), so this gave me a well needed boost. As did seeing a former student of mine near the end of the run and hearing an enthusiastic 'Hello Louise!'.

So, another week's training done and dusted = feeling awesome. :) Time for zao fan (breakfast) and probably more exploring/cycling, shopping and lots of COFFEE this weekend (once I get back up that is).

Have a great weekend everyone! And all the best to those running in a race tomorrow (i.e. Maggie! All the best for the marathon! What a great birthday present to yourself hey!).

Well, well, well. Another Monday is upon us. Unbelievable how fast these weekends go! (And we're not even drinking at the moment, so no partying/hangover to blame for the super speedy weekend.)

It has been a fairly productive weekend. These things happened:

We doubled up two to a bicycle Bali-motorbike-style to go on a covert mission:

It was HOT and SUNNY on Saturday; we rode past our usual puppy-walking park:

There was even BLUE SKY:

We ate delicious lunches out (the usual egg-plant, dumplings, tofu, cauliflower, and other vegetable shizzle awesomeness):

We went to purchase carpet/a rug for our getting-colder-apartment floor:

We stopped for kafei (coffee):

Puppy inspected the new rug. Shortly after this she decided (contrary to what we'd told her) that it was in fact grass and to be treated accordingly (pissed on):

For some reason she is being extra cuddly and loving lately, so here are another couple of our beautiful puppy Bear, just 'because':

Hmm, exciting times yes? Haha. Lots of exploring by bicycle anyhow, and legs didn't feel tired after Saturday's run, so all good. Today was a non running day - I did some strength cross-training instead. Feel pumped for tomorrow morning's run, and for the rest of the week. :)