Didn't end up going for that longish 18-20 km last Sunday but had a semi lie-in and then went to the dreaded TRACK instead. This proved to be a challenge in itself, as per the usual 'outside treadmill' mental battle, but I knew I'd feel great at the end of the workout (if only to be able to tick that off the list of training sessions that I missed when sick). I did 2km of warming up, then 2 km tempo, 1 km recovery pace, another 2 km tempo, then 2km cool down, and then my Sunday was truly upon me. Love Sundays. Forget exactly what we did, but it involved lots of eating, resting, loving, and laughing.
The rest of the week was full of training, teaching, one night of NO sleep for unexplained reasons, and an impromptu Halloween party (pictures below).
So, the night of NO sleep. This led to something that maybe I will live to regret? Was researching other running races around China at about 2 in the morning in a futile attempt to drift back off, when I might have (or ok, DID) sign up for a full marathon that takes place about a month after the all-important-have-been-training-diligently-for-months-Shanghai-half-marathon. I signed up for three reasons: 1) there is nothing more motivating than having an event to train for, and I have no doubt that this recent registration has again helped me to achieve this great week of running; 2) It will be held in beautiful Xiamen (beaches, beautiful trees and mountains; great people; tasty seafood etc.); 3) My mum will be with us here in China and she can experience all the fun of an international race, possibly picking up how to chant 'ya yo!' (probably spelt completely wrong - means something like 'more fuel!', to be chanted as runners go past, with or without the requisite flag waving or drum beating).
And as for the Halloween party? That was fun. Thought we were just meeting for dinner with a friend we haven't seen for a little while, but then we get there and it's full on Halloween party complete with costumes and bloody marys. Fun times with some great people. Is it sad that we left pretty early in search of food and for 'I've got to get up early for a training run?' Must be getting old hey... Check out our excellent costumes (thanks again to John for mine):